Global Experience Programs
International Student Teaching
Education majors have the opportunity to fulfil part of their student teaching requirements by completing a student teaching placement abroad. Education majors participate in these programs during their student teaching semester - depending on the program, the 4-9 week placement abroad may take place before, after, or in the middle of the student teaching placement in Wisconsin.
Student teaching abroad is a valuable opportunity for students to learn about the culture and educational system of another country and gain competence working with learners from diverse backgrounds. Financial aid, grants and scholarships are available for these opportunities.
Current Placement Opportunities
• Ecuador
Cuenca Ecuador
8 weeks in fall or spring semester
Student teaching in Ecuador is an opportunity for students in Early Childhood Education, Special Education, Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence, Art Education, Music Education, and Bilingual Education to complete eight weeks of directed teaching at CEDEI School in the Andes Mountains. Up to ten students are accepted to the program every semester. A program agreement between Centros de Estudios Interamericanos (CEDEI),the College of Education and Professional Studies, and the College of Arts and Communication is set up so that students can teach at the bi-lingual CEDEI Primary School during eight weeks, complete the workshop "The People and Cultures of Ecuador" (EDUINDP 490), and other courses at CEDEI such as Spanish, cooking, dance, and weekend trips.
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Anne Tillett, to get more information about the Ecuador Student Teaching Program and to set up an appointment for approval.
Ecuador Application Information
• Jamaica
Mandeville Jamaica
4-5 weeks during January (for both fall and spring semester student teachers )
The Jamaica Student Teacher Program is organized much like a traditional faculty-led course; program participants and the faculty advisor travel together to Jamaica. They live and work among Jamaicans for the duration of the student teaching placement in the mountains surrounding Mandeville in Manchester Parish and cultural group outings are included. Student teachers are placed in placements that meet their program/licensure requirements with a minimum two student teachers per school. Students in Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence (Elementary) Education, Secondary Education, Physical Education, and Special Education may participate in this program. Find us on facebook at UWW Educators in Jamaica
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Amy Stevens, to get more information about the Jamaica Student Teaching Program and to set up an appoinment for approval.
Jamaica Application Information
• Mexico
Guanajuato Mexico
Oaxaca Mexico
Approximately 9 weeks in fall or spring semester.
Two locations are available for international student teaching in Mexico, one in Guanajuato, a UNESCO World Heritage site in north central Mexico, for student teachers in the elementary grades, and one in Oaxaca, a center for indigenous culture, history, and the arts in south central Mexico, for student teachers in the secondary grades. The Guanajuato program was developed as a partnership between the University of Guanajuato and the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. The Oaxaca program developed as a program agreement with Ollin Tlahtoalli, Center for Languages and Mexican Culture. Both programs take place at the beginning of the fall or spring semesters for approximately 9 weeks. Student teachers return to the U.S. to complete a full nine weeks of student teaching in Wisconsin. Student teacher applicants should have an intermediate level of Spanish in order to benefit maximally from the program. Provisions for home stays and for studying Spanish or partner language exchanges are available in both programs.
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Jenna Cushing-Leubner, to get more information about the Mexico Student Teaching Program and to set up an appointment for approval.
Mexico Application Information
• Sweden
Umea Sweden
5 - 6 weeks in fall or spring semester
Student teaching in Sweden is an opportunity for students in Art Education, Early Childhood Education, Middle Childhood/Early Adolescence (Elementary) Education, Music Education, Secondary Education, and Special Education to complete four weeks of directed teaching in Umea, Sweden. A program agreement between Umea University and the College of Education and Professional Studies, is designed so that students enroll in the course "Teaching and Learning in an International Content" at Umea University. This course is composed of International student teachers who are participating in the Sweden Student Teaching Program. Enrolled student's study the Swedish School System along with exposure of school systems from across the globe as shaped by the course participants and their home country. Student teachers are placed in placements that meet their program/licensure requirements. Students list their major on the Umea University application and are assigned placements based on their identified major. Once students submit the Student Teaching Abroad Application form, the Subject Aria Coordinator (SAC) of each student candidate will be contacted for final approval.
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Tia Schultz , to get more information about the Sweden Student Teaching Program and to set up an appointment for approval.
Sweden Application Information
Ojibwe - field studies
Ojibwe Nation -Hayward Wisconisin
3 weeks Mid May to Early June
In this cultural immersion program students will study the Ojibwe culture with Dennis White, past school administrator, elder and leader in the community. Simultaneously, UWW students will be placed in 1st, 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms and work with children, families and teachers to experience Indian education within an academic curriculum at the K-12 LCO Community School. UWW students will stay within the Lac Courte Oreilles Ojibwe Nation and attend cultural events including Pow-wows, academic and cultural ceremonies. The UWW supervisor/faculty is Lucy Heimer, PhD and past LCO 4th grade teacher.
Please contact the program coordinator, Dr. Lucy Heimer , to get more information about the Ojibwe Nation program and to set up an appointment for approval.
Ojibwe Nation Application Information
For more information on the International Teaching program logistcs, application details, budgets and other global experiences, contact, Han Ngo, Global Experience Coordinator.