2016
The beginning of a dream
In 2016 the first connection was made between the Federal University of Paraná and Otterbein University. At that first moment, Professor Angela Walesko (UFPR) traveled to Ohio to visit Otterbein University. Later, Professor Kristin Bourdage came to Curitiba to get acquainted with UFPR. The dream of internationalizing both universities had begun.
The next step was to send more UFPR members to participate in the Summer Academy program in Otterbein, which would inspire the emergence of the Teachers without Borders pilot project.
Summer Academy TESOL
The exchange to Ohio involved three weeks of classes aimed at enhancing the participants’ teaching practices as well as stimulating intellectual growth through the presentation of various cross-cultural teaching methods. The structure of the program consisted of “Teaching Methodology and Practices” classes taught by Kristin Bourdage; teaching practices for ESL students in public schools; and out-of-class activities such as reports and lesson planning.
Place and Activities
The activities promoted by Summer Academy directly impacted the public schools in the Westerville suburb of Collombus.
Participants:
- Kristin Bourdage – head of the Education department
- 2 assistant teachers
- 17 public school teachers, who participated in the project as students
- 45 English students (ages 12 to 16)
- 4 Brazilians as teachers/students
Brazilian Exchanges:
Angela Walesko – DTPEN and ISF
Andre Galor – Celin English
João Arthur Pugsley – PBMIH and DELEM
John Fiorese – ISF and Celin