Six Visiting Teachers of TEA Fellows Program Bring International Flavor to Watauga High School This Fall

Oct. 24, 2014. Six visiting teachers from around the world are bringing an international flavor to Watauga High School this fall as part of a Teaching Excellence and Achievement (TEA) Fellows Program funded by a grant awarded to Appalachian State University. On Wednesday afternoon, the visiting Fellows held a question and answer session for students in the high school’s Ross Auditorium and addressed a wide range of questions with grace, good humor, and an impressive combination of candor and tact.

The questions covered a variety of both personal and social topics, including family life, religion, the educational system, the role of women, the availability of current technology, and the most popular sports in the visitors’ home countries. There were also questions about the Fellows’ impressions of life in America and how it differed from life in their country. While each visitor expressed their own perspective about American life, a few definite themes emerged.

One of the themes was how dependent Americans are on their cars. The seeming absence of taxis in Boone and the difficulty of using public transportation to get around town were noted by nearly all of the visitors. The lack of safe ways for pedestrians to cross busy roads and the observation that “Americans are all in cars” much of the time were also mentioned. One of the visitors had the expectation that Americans would have large families and small cars and now realized it was more common to have small families and large cars.

Another shared observation was that American students tend to be quieter in class and more independent and self-motivated in their school work. Several visitors also noted that classes were larger in their schools and that students have less choice about the courses they take.

The Fellows expressed appreciation for the warm welcome they have received and how friendly and helpful people have been during their visit. Mayurakshi Goshwami of India commented “I have enjoyed each and every moment of being here.”

What did they miss most about their home country? Food was the usual answer, but the most touching response came from Ismail Karatekin of Turkey. “I miss my daughter” was his reply.

Each Fellow is paired with a Watauga High School teacher teaching the same subject for their time at the high school. Four of the six teach English as a foreign language and two teach science in their home country. They spend nine days at the high school working with their American counterparts on topics such as teaching strategies, lesson planning, and integrating instructional technology in the classroom, and have the opportunity to co-teach some classes.

The WHS teachers working with the Fellows are Tom Brown, Sarah Kanipe, Sheri King, Robin Lowe, Amanda Wallace, and Nick Westveer. Kanipe, an English teacher at the high school, said “the TEA Program has given our students the opportunity to gain knowledge and understanding about the different cultures of six countries, all in one building. The global awareness that they gain through this experience is priceless.”

The visitors were previously welcomed with a reception at the high school and were also recognized at the October Board of Education meeting. As part of their introduction to Watauga County, they heard a presentation from Superintendent Dr. Scott Elliott about education in the U.S. and the federal, state, and local roles in education. They have also visited other parts of the country during their time in the U.S., including three days in Washington D.C.

The TEA grant awarded to ASU funds a total of 20 visiting Fellows from 17 countries. In addition to Watauga, the program involves high schools in the counties of Caldwell, Wilkes, and Burke. The TEA Program is designed to help the visitors strengthen their skills in teaching science and English as a foreign language, increase their knowledge of the United States, and improve the understanding of other cultures and educational systems among American students and educators.

This is the fourth year WHS has participated in the program. Those who have participated hope there are many more years to come.

See more here: Meet WCS TEA Teachers Flyer