Intercultural Student Teaching

In response to the changing global climate and the growing recognition of the professional associations in the teacher education community, universities around the country are beginning to recognize the need to add a global dimension to their education programs. One way to prepare teachers to address the challenges associated with teaching children in a global age is through carefully structured, international and intercultural field experiences where candidates are immersed in another culture. Since student teaching requires candidates to show they can translate theory into practice over a sustained period of time, it is ideally suited for strengthening candidates' intercultural understanding. Intercultural Student Teaching demonstrates examples of these successful programs and provides documented experience from professionals currently engaged in intercultural teaching practice. Readers will learn from the contributor's experiences through carefully crafted chapters that focus on major elements of program implementation and delivery. The contributors report how they have created, organized, and maintained programs in their purview and address program features such as selection, orientation and supervision of participating candidates, interaction with host families and communities, and strategies for enhancing understanding of global and domestic diversity.

In response to the changing global climate and the growing recognition of the professional associations in the teacher education community, universities around the country are beginning to recognize the need to add a global dimension to their education programs. One way to prepare teachers to address the challenges associated with teaching children in a global age is through carefully structured, international and intercultural field experiences where candidates are immersed in another culture. Intercultural Student Teaching demonstrates examples of such successful programs.

Kenneth Cushner, Ed.D. is executive director of international affairs and professor in the College and Graduate School of Education, Health, and Human Services at Kent State University, Ohio. He is author of numerous books and other publications in multicultural and intercultural education and is internationally known for his work in the professional development of educators through workshops and consultation. Sharon Brennan, Ed.D is an associate professor in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction at the University of Kentucky, Lexington. She serves as director of field experiences and school collaboration and has interests in global education, teacher mentoring, and program development in teacher education.