Fulbright Study Abroad in South Korea M3 INITIATIVE

Twelve Nebraska K-12 teachers developed their intercultural expertise by studying Korean language and participating in the Korean education system from June 10-July 8 2022 through a grant project funded by the U.S. Department of Education’s Fulbright Hays Groups Project Abroad. The group of teachers were chosen from across the state of Nebraska, representing Crete, Lexington, Grand Island, Beatrice, Lincoln, Gretna, Ponca, Elkhorn, and Omaha school districts. The project was led by Dr. Jenelle Reeves.

Korean language study in Seoul challenged the teachers to gain basic language skills in Korea and provided insight into the experiences of English-learning newcomer learners to Nebraskan schools. By the end of the two week-intensive language study in Seoul, the Fulbright Hays participants could read the Korean alphabet, greet others, introduce themselves, and complete some daily tasks- all in Korean.

In the last two weeks of the program, teachers studied three areas of South Korean education that overlap with issues familiar to Nebraska teachers: rural education, technological innovation in education, and citizenship education. Living at a teacher’s training college, Chuncheon National University of Education (CNUE), teachers were immersed in Korean education and made daily visits to elementary, secondary, and postsecondary school sites throughout Kangwon Province. Visits included conversations with teachers, administrators, and learners. At CNUE participants engaged in Korean cultural education including learning Korean dance and drumming.

Participants:

Dr. Jenelle Reeves, Dr. Theresa Catalano, and twelve Nebraska teachers:

Funder/Sponsor:

Department of Teaching, Learning and Teacher Education, College of Education and Human Sciences, U.S. Department of Education’s Fulbright Hays Groups Project Abroad