Chilean
educators learn teaching practices at Acadia University
For Release: November 28, 2003
(Wolfville,
NS) - Since early November, thirty teachers from Chile
have been learning innovative teaching methods at Acadia University.
They are part of a group of 400 of Chile's finest teachers sent
around the globe by their government to learn best practices for
teaching English.
The program, Pasantîas
en el Exterior, supports a presidential initiative that is shaping
the future of Chile. Since joining NAFTA and developing a commercial
treaty with the European Union, Chile has realized that knowledge of
languages facilitates globalization. The Chilean government has
identified English/Spanish bilingualism as a strategic priority,
with a goal of achieving bilingualism by 2010.
"Effective teaching of
English is the first step," says Susanna Arancibia, Coordinator and
Representative from the Chilean Ministry of Education. "Canada,
being a bilingual country, is a good place to study and a good
model."
While at Acadia, the
teachers are studying theoretical aspects of teaching and learning a
second language in order to develop practical applications that
support their curriculum. Technology has assisted them in achieving
this goal. "The participants are supplied with notebook computers
through the Acadia Advantage initiative, and are using various
technologies to develop learning modules," says Dr. Nancy Van
Wagoner, Director of Acadia's Continuing and Distance Education.
"But, the focus is on the best approach to teaching language that
fits the Chilean context."
Learning has also
taken place outside of the classroom through field trips and with
homestay families. "An amazing aspect of this program is the extent
that the entire community is involved," says program coordinator
Simone Jucker. "The teachers have visited local schools and
generously shared their music, dance and culture with our
community."
The Chilean teachers
will soon return home having developed new learning modules that can
be used in their classrooms and shared with others. The teachers
hope to involve parents, develop resource centres, language labs,
and interactive methods of reinforcing the curriculum.
Roxana Ibanez teaches
in Chaitén, in southern Chile. She appreciates the opportunity to
live in Canada, be immersed in English and get to know Canadian food
and culture. "This is valuable knowledge I can pass on to [my
students]," says Ibanez. "It's important for motivating them to want
to learn English."
She feels she has
learned a great deal and will remember her time at Acadia fondly.
"The personal relationships I formed with the teachers and others
involved in the program is what I will remember most," she says. "I
feel honored to be at Acadia because it is such a respected
university in Canada and the quality of the professors is very
high."
The program will
continue long after the Chilean teachers return to Chile. A website
will be developed for the group which will allow them to continue to
work with Acadia and to help them stay in contact with each other. A
follow-up meeting is also planned in Chile for July 2004.
The Acadia program was
facilitated by CREAD, a non-profit educational organization that
develops partnerships between the Americas, and is active in Chile.
"We feel privileged to work with Acadia, one of the most prestigious
universities in Canada," says Executive Director of CREAD, Dr.
Armando Villarroel. "The program will have a lasting benefit and we
look forward to the follow-up activities when we will reach out to
teachers, wherever they are in Chile, to spread the innovations the
thirty teachers have developed."
-30-
For more information contact:
Sheri Woodland
Communications Manager
Office of Public Affairs
Acadia University
(902) 585-1362
Acadia
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