Making the Most of International Experiences

Making the Most of International Experiences

Making the Most of International Experiences

Faculty WorkshopAugust 24, 2005

Dr. Juan CastroDr. Ken FairweatherDr. Scott HummelMr. Arturo Morales

International ExperiencesInternational Experiences

Discover Europe 2005

WHY International Experiences?

WHY International Experiences?

• Students get first-hand experiences which leave an effective and lasting impression

• Students interact with people and see them “in action.”

• Consider the following areas:

CultureCulture• Helps students see other cultures.

• Helps them compare others to their own backgrounds.

• Helps them to understand other cultures as being “different.”

• Help minimize the concepts of “ethnocentric” vs. “geocentric.”

FinanceFinance• They experience the exchange of foreign

currency.

• They experience making financial transactions and relative values.

• They compare differences between several countries, not just their own.

MarketingMarketing• They see how differently marketing is

carried out in several different countries.

• Different methodologies and technologies are easily observed and discussed.

• Some things are the same and some things are different.

Results?Results?• Students and faculty now approach all

their business classes from a global perspective.

• They now consider the opportunities in other parts of the world and how they need to adapt or strategize.

• Students see how they personally have more career options.

Estudiando Español en MéxicoEstudiando Español en MéxicoSummer 2005

¿Por qué Español?¿Por qué Español?

Second most used languagein the USA

Second most used languagein the USA

Second most used languagein international communication

Second most used languagein international communication

Intellectual development &Cultural competency

Intellectual development &Cultural competency

Español en LeTourneau UniversityEspañol en LeTourneau University

First 4 semesters of Spanish(Elementary and Intermediate)

First 4 semesters of Spanish(Elementary and Intermediate)

Minor possible only throughCCCU

Minor possible only throughCCCU

No international exposure tostudents at intermediate level

No international exposure tostudents at intermediate level

Español en LeTourneau UniversityEspañol en LeTourneau University

Our students want to minor in Spanish BUT do not want to spenda whole semester abroad just for that

Our students want to minor in Spanish BUT do not want to spenda whole semester abroad just for that

So, what do we do, Speedy?So, what do we do, Speedy?

Ándale, vámonos para MéxicoÁndale, vámonos para México

Not a whole semester…Let’s go for a summer term

Not a whole semester…Let’s go for a summer term

Offer the experience to studentsat different levels: intermediate

and advanced

Offer the experience to studentsat different levels: intermediate

and advanced

Immersion is THE BEST wayto achieve language and

cultural competency

Immersion is THE BEST wayto achieve language and

cultural competency

Students begin touse Spanish withoutrealizing it. All their

communicativeskills improved:reading, writing,

listening, andspeaking.

Exposure toanother culture.

Students begin touse Spanish withoutrealizing it. All their

communicativeskills improved:reading, writing,

listening, andspeaking.

Exposure toanother culture.

We spend 14 days in Puebla, Mexico.

Our students take traditionalclasses

in the morningand conversation

classeswith native speakers

in the afternoon.

We spend 14 days in Puebla, Mexico.

Our students take traditionalclasses

in the morningand conversation

classeswith native speakers

in the afternoon.

Learning ProcessLearning Process

Students with both Elementary courses completed can receivecredit for intermediate courses.

Students with bothIntermediate courses completed

can receivecredit for advanced

courses.

Students with both Elementary courses completed can receivecredit for intermediate courses.

Students with bothIntermediate courses completed

can receivecredit for advanced

courses.

Priorknowledge

Priorknowledge ImmersionImmersion InternalizationInternalization

BenefitsBenefits

Affordability

Knowledge

Culture

Fun

Spiritual

Usage of thelanguage

Physical Settings of the BiblePhysical Settings of the Bible

Israel

Greece

Turkey

Egypt

Jordan

Italy

Travel ExperienceTravel Experience

• Biblical Sites• Historical Sites• Archaeological Sites• Religious Sites• Cultural Sites

Academic ExperienceAcademic Experience

• Reading• Site Presentations• Teaching on Site• Evening / Lesson

Discussion• Travel Journal• Exam• Paper

Cultural / Religious ExperienceCultural / Religious Experience

• Broaden

• Interaction with Christianity (Orthodox, Catholic, Coptic)

• Interaction with Judaism and Islam

• Hear cultures and religions in “their own voices.”

• Deepen

• Devotions (on site, evening)

• Reading the Bible is a cross-cultural experience

Why Experience the Holy Land?Why Experience the Holy Land?

• Incorporates all learning styles

• Challenges misconceptions• Cultural competency• Connection • Contextualization• Continuing Education• “Makes Bible come alive.”

General Benefits of Study AbroadGeneral Benefits of Study Abroad

• Survey of study abroad programs from 1950-1999. [Mary Dwyer and Courtney Peters, “Benefits of Study Abroad,” Transitions Abroad (March / April 2004).]

• Increased self-confidence 98%

• Increased maturity 97%

• Lasting impact on worldview 95%

• Enhanced interest in academic study 80%

• Better understand own cultural values 98%

• Continues to influence interactions 94%

• Ignited interest in a career direction 62%

Making the Most of other International ExperiencesMaking the Most of other International Experiences

• International Experiences of faculty

• International Experiences of students

• Cross-Cultural Classes

MANAGING THE PROCESSMANAGING THE PROCESS

Academic CreditAcademic Credit• What kind of International Experience for Students?

– CCCU -Council for Christian Colleges and Universities -http://www.cccu.org/ -China, Russia, Middle East, Costa Rica, London (Oxford), Uganda, and Australia

• Ask student to send application using the CCCU guidelines.

– Third Party University -Trinity Christian College –Consortium Agreement, Student find own university (transfer courses)

– Own Trip• What classes will be offered? How many classes?• Talk to the Dean• Talk to the Provost• Once classes are approved, send request for listing to Registrars

office.

FINANCES / TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS FINANCES / TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

• CCCU – send names of students to Business Office to start process. Business Office will work in finances for students. CCCU makes all the travel arragements

• Third Party University – provosts of both universities will sign the consortium agreement including cost and classes students will take. Send agreement to Business Office for finances. University most of the time make travel arrangements in the foreign country. Students arrange USA flights

• Own Trip –– Travel Agent –Full Services (reservation, tour guides, translators, itinerary,

payments of airline, hotels, meals, etc)

• All costs included for the group

FINANCES / TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTSFINANCES / TRAVEL ARRANGEMENTS

• Own Trip (Continued)

– Travel Agent –limited services – arrange reservations for flight, hotel, and transportation in foreign country

– Instructor responsible for itinerary and academic program– Payments to Travel Agent, may be individual or as a group,

depending of student location (summer)– Contact Rica Payton (Continuous Studies Program) to work in

approvals, account, and paper work for trip

–Do it Yourself – instructor and students make all reservations for flights, hotels, transportation, etc. Responsible for the “whole enchilada”

– Contact Rica Payton (Continuous Studies Program) to work on approvals, account, and paper work for trip

PREPARING FOR CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

PREPARING FOR CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

• Prepare an “excellent” Itinerary – Places to visit, attractions, relation to classes

• If you don’t know the country, call missionaries, or people who can help you in the country to visit.

• Ask students to research the countries and places expected to be visited.

• Assign students topics or places to become “an expert” so that they can lecture during the trip.

• Prepare students about possible culture shocks • Have meetings with students about similarities and

differences of cultures.

MARKETINGMARKETING

• Start promotion with students early

• Use required classes or classes that can substitute required classes (no electives)

• Have a deadline for purchasing airline tickets or deposit

• Seek the collaboration of other professors to promote trip

• Students from previous trips naturally market for the next trip.