International Student Teaching Opportunities: Mexico

Locations:

University of Guanajuato
Guanajuato, Mexico (for student teaching in the elementary level)

Colegio Bachilleres del Estado de Oaxaca (COBAO)
Oaxaca, Mexico (for student teaching at the secondary level)

Program Information:

Student teaching in Mexico is an opportunity for students in ESL, Bilingual Education and/or Spanish to complete eight weeks of directed teaching in either Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage site in north central Mexico; or Oaxaca, a center of indigenous culture, history, and the arts in south central Mexico. A program agreement between the University of Guanajuato and the College of Education is set up to offer student teaching in the elementary grades. A similar agreement is in place between the Collegio Bachilleres del Estado de Oaxaca (COBAO) and the College of Education for student teaching at the secondary level.

Program Faculty Advisor:

Melanie Schneider
Department of Curriculum & Instruction
Winther Hall 3042
Tel. 262-472-5439
Email: schneidm@uww.edu 

Program Duration:

9-10 weeks during the Fall or Spring semester.

Program Requirements and Application Procedures:

1. This program is open to students who are pursuing licensure in English as a Second Language, Bilingual Education, Spanish, or who have advanced proficiency in Spanish.
2. Obtain a Student Teaching Abroad Application form from Winther Hall, Room 2036. Follow the instructions exactly as noted on the Form!
3. Schedule an appointment with a program Faculty Advisor.
4. Schedule an appointment with Dan Colleran, Center for Global Education, Tel. 262-472-5757, Email: collerad@uww.edu 
5. Program participants must enroll in UW-W CIGENRL 470: Student Teaching for the semester they are student teaching.
6. Schedule a pre-departure orientation meeting with the UW-W Center for Global Education by calling 262-472-5759.

Program Application Deadlines:

The deadlines for students to notify Cheryl Wegner (Office of Field Experiences) that they plan to student teach abroad are:

• February 1st (those who are planning to student teach the following fall)
• September 15th (those who are planning to student teach the following spring)

The deadlines for students to turn in the Student Teaching Application form to Cheryl Wegner are:

• February 15th (those who are planning to student teach the following fall semester)
• October 1st (those who are planning to student teach the following spring semester)

Preparing for a UW-Whitewater Student Teaching Placement in Mexico

Student Teaching Assignment & Placement:

Student teaching placements are in English as a foreign language or other content specialty areas at the primary school or high school level. Students typically complete eight weeks of student teaching in Mexico before completing nine weeks of student teaching in a Wisconsin school. Contact the Program Faculty Advisor (PFA) for more information about the placement process.

Student Teacher Supervision:

Guanajuato:
The teaching placement is facilitated and supervised by faculty in the Department of Languages at the University of Guanajuato. They have been prepared to supervise international student teachers. UW-Whitewater faculty make on-site visits to supervise placements.

Oaxaca:
A COBAO teacher with a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from UW-Whitewater supervises placements and meets with student teachers on a regular basis. A UW-Whitewater faculty member will visit student teachers on-site during the student teaching experience.

Program Course Registration and Enrollment:

UW-W College of Education: CIGENRL 470: Student Teaching Seminar

Passport and Visas:

A valid U.S. passport is required in order to participate in this student teaching program. Please allow at least two months for processing the passport application. A Mexican visa is not required.

U.S. Passport Application Information: http://www.uww.edu/international/getting-started/passport-information

Housing:

Students must make housing arrangements in Guanajuato or in Oaxaca, Mexico before accepting a student teaching placement in a Mexican school. Housing arrangements are facilitated via the UW-W Center for Global Education and the local program contact at each site in Mexico. Homestays and furnished apartments are options.

Travel to Mexico:

We suggest that students travel together both for companionship and for cost savings. Students will have a chance to meet and discuss travel plans at UW-Whitewater. The schedule provides a few days to explore the country and become acclimated before starting the student teaching placement, and students traveling in groups have found reasonably priced accommodations in Guanajuato and Oaxaca. Students have had success with several local travel agencies in arranging reasonably priced airfares. (They have also discovered that online ticket agencies may have lower prices, but only for restricted tickets, and that the personal service of a traditional travel agent has been helpful especially for those new to international travel.)

Cultural Background:

Guanajuato:
For general cultural and historical information about Guanajuato, please see the following links: Guanajuato on Wikipedia, UNESCO World Heritage site, whatguanajuato.com

Oaxaca:
A thoughtful website devoted to the many cultures of Oaxaca can be found at http://www.planeta.com/oaxaca.html. In addition to developing Spanish throughout homestay options, there are opportunities to study Spanish at the Universidad Autónoma de Benito Juárez de Oaxaca (UABJO). Prof. Susan Huss-Lederman (hussleds@uww.edu), who spent 2009-10 in Oaxaca as a Fulbright Scholar, is also a valuable source of information.

Estimated Program Cost:

The total cost for Program participants is estimated to be $3,500 in addition to regular UW-Whitewater fees. This estimated cost includes roundtrip airfare from Chicago, housing/lodging while in Guanajuato or Oaxaca, two meals per day, local transportation and internet access. Spending on optional travel and other optional personal expenses (clothing, eating out, etc.) can vary greatly, and can add several hundred dollars to this estimate. Students are advised to budget carefully for such optional expenses.

Financial Aid & Scholarships:

Participants in the Mexican Student Teaching program are eligible for financial aid. Please contact the Office of Financial Aid for more information. Tel. 262-472-1130

For information about study abroad scholarships, the Wisconsin State Grant for Study Abroad and deadlines and the application process, please use the link below:

http://www.uww.edu/international/getting-started/funding/financial-aid-and-grants

Payment:

UW-W student teachers are billed for mandatory UW System health insurance and UW System Contingency Fee directly via their student account. Students pay separately for housing/meal plan. Obtaining a U.S. passport and the optional International Student ID card are the responsibility of the student teacher. The Center for Global Education can assist student teachers with many of these items.

Recommended Steps for Prospective Program Participants:

1. Obtain a Student Teaching Abroad Permission Form from Winther Hall, Room 2036 and obtain permission signatures as noted on the Form. 

2. Schedule a Study Abroad advising appointment with Daniel Colleran, Travel Study Coordinator, Center for Global Education, (262) 472-5757, collerad@uww.edu.

3. Apply for a U.S. Passport. 

4. Apply for the International Student Teacher Program* and secure housing in Guanajuato or Oaxaca.

5. Purchase airline ticket.

6. Prepare your resume and letter of introduction according to instructions provided by the Office of Field Experiences at UW-Whitewater. You will use this as your introduction to your cooperating teacher and principal in Mexico once your placement has been confirmed.

* The program includes placement at a Mexican school, orientation to the schools, supervisory visits, and seminar meetings.

For more information about the application process, please contact:

Mrs. Cheryl Wegner
Office of Field Experiences
Winther Hall 2036
Tel. 262-472-1935
Email: wegnerc@uww.edu