University News
Japanese Teachers Visit Western
October 11, 2002
MACOMB, IL - - A group of nine Japanese teachers visiting U.S. classrooms this fall stopped at Western Illinois University and its College of Education and Human Services to learn more about teacher education methods. The teachers were on campus Oct. 8-9 between visits to Chicago and Galena.
The visit is part of the "Dispatching Young Teachers Abroad: Japan to Illinois 2002" program, sponsored by the Japanese Ministry of Education (Monbusho) and the U.S. Department of Education. The Japanese teachers are on a three-month educational immersion program designed to support cross-cultural exchange and community involvement.
After a 10-day orientation program and tour of Illinois, each teacher spends three weeks in both downstate and Chicago area schools. While at the schools they are intensely engaged in school activities, classroom lessons and special events.
The Japanese presence encourages direct communication between the students and Japanese teachers, supports the implementation of Japan-focused curriculum, and generally infuses an international dimension in the schools, according to Robert Lombard, WIU curriculum and instruction professor.
"This is the sixth consecutive year that Western has been involved in this particular exchange program," Lombard added. "It is a unique opportunity for us to share and compare teacher education methods with a different country and culture. Both our students and faculty benefit from the global perspective this interaction provides."
Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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