BROADENING TEACHING PERSPECTIVES: TEACHER EXCHANGE PROGRAMS

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1. What are teacher exchange programs?

In essence, a teacher exchange means that you swap jobs (and even your house or apartment) with
another teacher in another part of the world for a specific time period. You get to learn how teachers
teach and students learn in other locations across the globe. You can teach abroad for as little as two
weeks to as long as a full academic year. Also, instead of spending your vacay solely on Netflix and chill,
why not travel meaningfully and sign up for summer teacher exchange programs?

For some teachers tired of the routine at their home schools, an international teacher exchange is just
what they need to get motivated and back on track. At the end of the program, teachers return to their
schools and share what they’ve learned with their colleagues and classrooms, making for a more
internationally focused and fulfilling teaching career.
2. The Philippine-American Educational Foundation (PAEF) is a non-profit, binational organization
responsible for the administration of the prestigious Fulbright Scholarship Program, Hubert H.
Humphrey fellowships, and other educational exchange initiatives. Grants are awarded on a
competitive basis to Filipino and American students, teachers, scholars and professionals to
study, teach, lecture and conduct research in the United States and in the Philippines.
PAEF was established through an executive agreement signed by the governments of the United States
and the Philippines on March 23, 1948 to carry out educational exchanges involving students, academics
and professionals from both countries. Since 1948, Fulbright grants have been awarded to nearly 3,000
Filipinos and close to 1,000 Americans for graduate degree study, teaching and research in the
Philippines and the United States. Close to 400 graduate degree awards and 2,000 non-degree grants
have been given to Filipinos through the East-West Center program. Another 70 Filipino professionals
have gone to the United States on Humphrey fellowships. The Philippine program is the world’s longest
continuing Fulbright program. It has enriched several generations of Filipinos and Americans. Living in a
different culture, forming lasting friendships with colleagues in foreign countries and sharing new
horizons are all part of what has come to be known as the “Fulbright experience.”
Principal funding support for the exchange programs administered by PAEF comes from the United
States and the Philippine governments. In addition, the Philippine Department of Agriculture, the
Philippine Commission on Higher Education, and the Washington SyCip Family Foundation have
generously supported the Fulbright Program in the Philippines. Other organizations and institutions,
including US and Philippine universities (link to page which lists names of Philippine universities, which
also links to the universities’ websites), contribute through direct and indirect cost-sharing.
While continuing to strengthen links with the academic and policy community, PAEF will broaden
partnerships with the private sector and build new connections with business and philanthropic
organizations in order to carry on its mission of recruiting the best and the brightest young leaders and
professionals for the service of Philippine and American societies.
Organizations and corporations can be part of the best known and most prestigious scholarship program
in the world by being a sponsor of Fulbright awards. Sponsoring a scholarship award or awards earns the
institution the right to have its name linked to the prestigious Fulbright name. Organizations may also
sponsor Fulbright publications and orientation programs for scholars.
(PAEF)

Lesson 4 – MAKE A REFLECTION

1. Continuing to strengthen links with the academic and policy community. Globally
competitive and skilled equipped with international standard.
2. Being on the top gives you the advantage. When you had a lot of experience, job is likely to
follow.
3. Challenge is something you have to go through but its worth the hardship upon passing and
landing a job that suits your knowledge and can fulfil your needs financially.
SELF-CHECK QUESTIONS
1. Provides countless opportunities for international candidates looking to travel and gain
experience in the United States. The multifaceted programs enable foreign nationals to come to
the U.S. to teach, study, conduct research, demonstrate special skills or receive on the job
training for periods ranging from a few weeks to several years.
The general purpose of the Exchange Visitor Program is to promote international educational
and cultural exchange to develop mutual understanding between the people of the United
States and other countries. As a non-immigrant visa type, all exchange visitors are expected to
return to their home country upon completion of their program in order to share their exchange
experiences.
2. Benefits of an exchange include:
 A better understanding of other cultures
 Enhanced language skills
 Exposure to different education systems and assessment methods
 Building an international network
 Developing new pedagogy ideas
 Bringing international perspectives to classrooms and school.
3. It will give you knowledge and skill with international standards.