Who?

Undergraduate and graduate students majoring in any area of education.

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What?

A study abroad program in its 22nd year (after 2 years off due to the pandemic) that features the following:

• Placement in a carefully selected Italian host family; participants live with, become a part of, and develop a close relationship with their respective volunteer host families for a unique cross-cultural experience.

• Placement in an Italian classroom (preK - high school based on each participants' career interests); observe and help teachers and students, as possible given the language differences; and, teach English related to:

  • PreK-K: picture books, games, songs, indoor and out play, art activities

  • 1st - 3rd grade:  pictures books, familiar concepts (e.g., seasons, animals, people, food), games, songs, outdoor play, art activities

  • 4th grade - middle school: academic concepts (e.g., math, science, social studies), stories, songs, American culture

  • High school: academic concepts, pop culture, American culture, vocational skills (e.g., tourism, culinary arts)

• Local field trips and visits to places of professional and cultural interest.

• Weekend trips as a group to Florence (3 days, 2 nights) and Venice (2 days, night) with plenty of to explore the city; transportation and lodging arranged by the program.

• An opportunity to meet and interact with education majors from other universities (e.g., University of Kansas, University of Missouri, Rockhurst University, and possibly other universities).

• An opportunity for participants interested in early childhood to experience firsthand the application of the Reggio Emilia philosophy and its pedagogical principles of child-centered instruction with teachers and children in a preK-K class setting.