Axe ’Em, Jacks!
NACOGDOCHES, Texas –– From local flavors to international classroom experiences, six graduate students in Stephen F. Austin State University’s Department of Education Studies traveled to San Miguel de Allende, Mexico, for a summer study abroad program, immersing themselves in Mexican culture while teaching local students through hands-on learning experiences.
Led by Drs. Sarah Straub and Kevin L. Jones, associate and assistant professors, respectively, in the Department of Education Studies, students in the “ESL/Bilingual Teaching Methods in the Content Area” course connected with local elementary students and explored ESL/bilingual teaching strategies such as sharing bilingual books and engaging with international approaches to education.
“I learned more from this experience than I ever have in any professional development I have attended,” said Skylar Smith, a recent graduate from Montgomery. “It was an experience that opened my eyes to different cultures, people and beliefs. It changed my perspective as an educator, and it will be an experience that I will never take for granted.”
Aside from classroom exploration, graduate students also traveled throughout the heart of central Mexico to visit ancient pyramids, the silver mines of Guanajuato and the vibrant streets of San Miguel de Allende.
“Studying abroad in Mexico was an amazing way to immerse oneself in a rich cultural environment,” said Elizabeth Pierce, a Master of Education student from Lufkin. “We were able to experience vibrant local traditions, diverse cuisine and historical landmarks on our journey. While we were there, we focused on language acquisition, cultural studies and teaching to gain a deeper understanding of Mexican society.”
In the fall, Pierce will present on the experience at the Texas Association for Bilingual Education Conference with Straub, Jones and Carrie Wright-Davis, assistant director of the Office of Institutional Effectiveness.
“Dr. Straub made this experience unforgettable,” Smith said. “She made sure we had everything we needed to make this an unforgettable experience for ourselves, but also for the students we taught. She had things for anchor charts, tactile learning pieces, art supplies and anything else you could think of to make this experience unforgettable for everyone involved.”
For Jones, the greatest reward came from watching how the international field experience shaped the students into more confident, capable teachers.
“The most meaningful part of my experience with San Miguel de Allende was observing incredible graduate students teach amazing children,” Jones said. “It truly highlighted the vital role that international field experiences play in shaping both graduate and undergraduate teacher educators' learning experiences. San Miguel de Allende is an amazing community that deeply values diversity, and we were welcomed with open arms. That spirit of inclusion made all the difference."
This study abroad trip was supported in part by a grant from the Texas International Education Consortium in order to engage in international field experiences at a graduate level.
“I want to thank the Texas International Education Consortium, the Office of International Programs and the Office of the Provost and Executive Vice President for Academic Affairs for their support in making these transformative experiences possible for our students,” Straub said. “Partnerships like these create unparalleled opportunities for future educators to connect across cultures and grow in ways that will shape their teaching for years to come."
For more information about graduate programs in the Department of Education Studies, visit gosfa.com/edmasters. To hear more about the student experiences, watch their study abroad video at gosfa.com/mexicofieldexperience.