Twelve Ohio State students and K-12 educators in Ohio will have an opportunity next summer to teach English in a public school in Taiwan and learn about multilingual and multicultural education through a comparative lens. Travel and in-country expenses will be fully funded for participants thanks to a U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad grant awarded to Professor Becky Huang, and Ivan Stefano, director of Intercultural English Language Programs, in the College of Education and Human Ecology (EHE).
“We designed the study abroad program for pre-service and in-service teachers with intercultural competence and language learning as major components,” Stefano said. “By immersing themselves in a different culture in Taiwan while teaching English and learning Mandarin, the participants will not only broaden their own perspectives but also enhance their teaching and linguistic abilities.”
Undergraduate and graduate students enrolled in teacher education programs and K-12 teachers or administrators currently teaching or working in a K-12 school in Ohio will be able to apply for the four-week program that will take place May 10 – June 6, 2025. The application is open and the deadline to apply is January 16, 2025. Select candidates will be interviewed and final decisions will be based on a combination of criteria, including the strength of their application and the relevance and importance of the project for their future goals.
Participants will enroll in a teaching practicum or special topic course through EHE for the study abroad program. The course will include a pre-departure orientation that covers an overview of the languages and cultures in Taiwan, intercultural awareness, curriculum design, and lesson planning that integrate language, culture, and/or content areas and teaching demonstrations.
While in Taiwan, participants will be assigned a classroom and a Taiwanese mentor teacher. They will conduct classroom observations and collaborate with their mentors to design culturally effective curricula and take Mandarin Chinese language courses. There will also be opportunities to use their language skills during multicultural excursions exploring Taiwan.
Educators who engage in intercultural experiences develop a deeper understanding of different cultures, perspectives, and worldviews, Huang noted. “This awareness can help them appreciate diversity in the classroom and foster a more inclusive environment. Exposure to other cultures and languages also cultivates educators’ empathy and sensitivity toward students from diverse backgrounds. Finally, intercultural experiences afford educators the opportunity to reflect on their own beliefs, biases, and teaching practices. This self-reflection can lead to personal growth and a more thoughtful, informed approach to education.”
Once the cohort returns to campus, they will participate in a group reflection to learn more about how they can share their experience and the curricula they developed with their peers and colleagues, as well as through outreach activities and at conferences.
“These experiences will hopefully help them understand what it's like to be a language learner in another country, similar to what their English learner students experience in the U.S.,” Stefano explained. “I hope that by participating in the program, they can foster adaptability, and a deeper understanding of people with different backgrounds. When the participants bring these insights back to the U.S., I also hope they can be a change agent within their respective context and create a learning environment that is engaging for their students.”
The U.S. Department of Education Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad program is designed to contribute to the improvement of the study of modern foreign languages and area studies in the United States at various levels of education. Awards are made under the program to conduct overseas group projects in research, training, curriculum development, and advanced foreign language study. Competition for the Fulbright-Hays GPA program is held annually. Interested Ohio State faculty are encouraged to contact the Fulbright Scholar and Fulbright-Hays Programs Director Joanna Kukielka-Blaser to discuss the programs and applicant support available through the Office of International Affairs.