*EPF408 08/05/2004
Fulbright Teachers Prepare for International Exchange
(300 teachers to participate in 2004-2005 Fulbright program) (930)

By Todd Bullock
Washington File Staff Writer

Volkan Oguz, an English literature teacher from Turkey, is enthusiastic about his new teaching position in Hawaii.

"I am looking forward to teaching my new students about Turkish culture and language and enhancing their knowledge about Turkish society," he said.

In a recent interview with the Washington File, Oguz said he also looked forward to his new job as an "opportunity to gain more knowledge on the United States and its culture from my students."

Oguz is teaching in the United States as part of the State Department's Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program. The program is conducting its annual orientation for incoming and outgoing U.S. and international Fulbright teachers for the 2004-2005 year August 4-5 in Alexandria, Virginia. The orientation offers sessions on cross-cultural issues and comparative educational systems.

Since 1946, the program has provided opportunities for teachers, and administrators to participate in direct exchanges with colleagues from other countries. Foreign teachers teach in schools throughout the United States for a year, while their American counterparts travel abroad to teach. The program is sponsored by the State Department's Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA).

"Our Fulbright teachers and administrators establish relationships in their exchange host communities that form the foundation of strong, mutually beneficial partnerships in the years ahead," said Patricia S. Harrison, Assistant Secretary of State for Educational and Cultural Affairs. "Their efforts are critical to the future of communities, countries and the world, and I am confident that each will use his or her Fulbright experience to make a positive difference."

According to Jennifer Gibson, chief of ECA's Teacher Exchange Branch, there are 300 participants in the 2004 program. This includes 140 international teachers who will teach in 42 U.S. states and 160 U.S. educators teaching in 24 foreign countries.

"This exchange is an opportunity to gain firsthand knowledge of another culture, expand your professional knowledge as educators, and help others learn about your country and its traditions and values," Marianne Craven, ECA's managing director of academic programs said at the orientation reception to honor the 2004-2005 Fulbright teachers.

Craven also noted ECA's recent effort to bring three groups of women teachers who defied the Taliban to teach Afghan girls in unofficial schools to the University of Nebraska for teachers training. She said in 2005 ECA also plans to bring a group of teachers from Iraq to the United States and launch a joint teacher exchange with India and Pakistan.

Mary Mellor, the U.S. 2004 National Teacher of the Year, delivered the keynote address at the orientation session, saying, "Curiosity, respect of others, and a desire to teach and learn, those are the foundations of the Fulbright program."

Mellor also advocated the expansion of teacher exchange programs into the Middle East and South Asia.

"I am looking forward to experiencing the culture and diversity of the United States and learning more about the rich Hispanic culture in California," said Eija Partanen-Kivinen, a physical education teacher from Finland.

Partanen-Kivinen spoke about her plans to share aspects of Finland's Nordic culture with her American students by introducing unique sporting events. She also discussed how she planned to teach her students in Finland about U.S. culture when she returns.

"I keep in touch with people from every continent. Fulbright is about the people and the tremendous value gained from exchange of cultures and ideas," said Marilyn Turner, the recipient of the 2004 Fulbright Teacher and Administrator Exchange Program Alumni Award.

Turner participated in a Fulbright exchange in 1978 to the United Kingdom and in 1979 to Australia. She helped found the Colorado International Teachers' Exchange League (CITEL) in 1985 to provide support for international teacher exchanges in Colorado and assists with international outreach for the Fulbright program.

James Murphy, an English teacher from Vermont going to Hungary, said, "I wanted a chance to immerse myself in another country and to help eliminate false stereotypes about the United States by showing the cultural and intellectual diversity of the United States."

Murphy said that he viewed his upcoming position as an important opportunity for a U.S. teacher to gain meaningful international experience that can be shared with his American students to help them learn more about the world and other cultures.

Angela Kahn, who recently returned to the U.S. after teaching English for a year at a school in Dakar, Senegal, will expand her U.S. students' knowledge and understanding about Africa.

"Most of my students only know Africa as a place on the map they hear about in the news, but through my experience in Senegal, they will be able to learn about the dynamic and thriving West African culture that is not covered in the news," Kahn said.

As an alumna of the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program, Kahn is helping with workshops for the 2004 Fulbright teachers before they depart the United States and for international teachers coming to the United States.

"One of the most important things the teachers should do is to meet people, not just in the school, but throughout their community," Kahn said. "This is an excellent chance for the teachers to immerse themselves in the local culture and gain experience about a country that they can share with their students when they return."

More information about the Fulbright Program is available on the World Wide Web at:
http://exchanges.state.gov/education/fulbright

(The Washington File is a product of the Bureau of International Information Programs, U.S. Department of State. Web site: http://usinfo.state.gov)

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