Asia:NZ Foundation/AFS Educator Award




Overview

In 2011, Asia:NZ through AFS Intercultural Programmes is providing up to seven educator scholarships for three weeks where participants will have the opportunity to experience school and home life in Asia.

Educators share their knowledge and skills and learn new ones in educational institutes and live in another culture as a member of a host family, where they will gain a deeper knowledge and respect for a different culture.

All fully registered practising educators, including HOD's and principals, currently involved in the New Zealand primary and secondary school sector who are interested in including studies of Asia in their schools and classroom programmes across the curriculum subjects are welcome to apply.

Jimmy O'Carroll, Tawa Intermediate, 2010

For me, it was the insight into cultures I had previously had little exposure to.The beauty of Malaysia was that I was exposed not only to the Malaysian culture, but also to the Chinese and Indian cultures.




What the Award involves

You will be required to set personal and professional goals before departure and think about specific projects you could focus on (AFS are able to assist with this) to help you and your students make the most of this experience.

This could be a specific project contributing to your classroom programme or the production of teaching resources, both paper and web-based.

Placement will be made after selection by the panel and you will be informed at that point.

While you are away, you will live with a host family and be expected to share something of your New Zealand culture in the schools visited.

Deb Atkin, Balmoral School, 2010
My host families were both quite different in many ways. I adjusted quickly to a different house, different routines, meal times, foods,transport, showering etc. I enjoyed the people I lived with. They dedicated so much time to teaching me and learning from me.They gave up a lot of what was going on in their lives to be with me.

Because you are living with a family, your own family won't be able to stay with you during this time. Some family members do, however, join up with award participants after their stay. In these cases, families must arrange their own arrangements.

On return using your goals prepared before departure you must complete a report and return it to AFS within 4 weeks of your return to NZ.

You will be asked to give presentations at Asia: NZ or AFS events and meetings about your experience and share your new learning with your school, community and local families. We would also expect you to seek out opportunities to share your experience.

Continue to work with Asia:
NZ and AFS in working towards the aims and objectives of both organisations, including projects, helping future participants, reciprocal educator support, promoting of Asian culture and awareness within schools.

The knowledge you gain from the award is valuable for promoting Asian studies and/or dealing with Asian students within your school and community, including curriculum associations.

Fleur McCorkindale, Worser Bay School
It was such an incredibly eye opening experience, thank you so very much for providing teachers with this opportunity. I think it is fantastic to have this experience available. Coming back from this experience I am so passionate about Asia and the Philippines that I try to fit it into class where ever possible, and because of this enthusiasm the children then become enthusiastic about learning about it and hearing about some of my experiences. It is a great way of creating relationships and connects between countries and cultures by breaking down the walls created by distance.

I would most certainly recommend this scholarship!! Not only will it strengthen your knowledge of another culture and country, but also of yourself.




Application

Applications for these awards close on Friday, 18 March 2011. Complete applications must reach AFS by 5pm that day.

Post to:
Prue Elwood
Project Coordinator
AFS Intercultural Programmes
PO Box 5662
Wellington 6145

If scanning documents originals must also be sent.

You are required to complete the application form, including a personal statement, current cv, TWO letters of recommendation and copy of your current passport (please state if not current).

TWO letters of recommendation are required, one should be a professional reference either from a HOD, your principal or senior teacher, and one recommendation should be personal but can be from another colleague if you wish. Your school should also state their support of your application and support for introducing, or their current, Asian awareness into the school.

Travel include 2 weeks of the New Zealand school holidays and be determined by the host country, relief costs for the 3rd week are not covered under the Scholarship.




Costs

Selected participants will be expected to cover their own medical and travel insurance, any pre-departure medical expenses required, including vaccinations, and personal spending. Teacher relief costs are not covered.




What other teachers say

Howard Young, Greenacres School, Wellington to The Philippines July 2010:

Probably the most significant learning I had personally was gaining greater appreciation for being willing to sacrifice some of my own comforts for the benefits of others. People I met everywhere would not hesitate to assist me regardless of the effect of their action on themselves. This selflessness was of course evident within my wonderful host families, but extended to people who hardly knew me as well. People would not hesitate to show me where something was even if it was in the opposite direction to where they were going. This occurred even if it meant an expense for the people showing me, in the form of jeepney fare or tricycle fare. I learnt from my host family in Batangas that this is known as Bayanihan system which is a tradition in The Philippines. It translates to "helping hands" and means that if you see someone in need or building something you assist without any thought of reward for yourself. Initially this began because people would move house and they would literally carry their house to its new location. Obviously to do this they needed help and the community would band together. It is such a wonderful idea and one that I want to implement into my own life as well as educate others about it.

I attended a fourth year High School English lesson at The University of Batangas and I was amazed at what they were working on. The lesson centered around varying the length and beginning word of the sentences they were writing. This to me seemed very easy and something I work on with my Year 2 students in New Zealand and something that I would have expected from all Year 6 students when I worked at that level. As I continued to observe the teaching and the work of the students I discovered how unreasonable my judgements had been. This was a class of 16 year old students who were learning English as a second language. It was only as I observed and spoke to the students that I realised how difficult it is to learn a second language. These students were doing fantastically, but they had to be taught every little step as this was not familiar to them. I believe as someone who is a native English speaker that I do things instinctively and I previously had little concept just how hard it is to learn English. As a result of my experience I have developed a far greater understanding of and empathy for those who are non English speakers trying to learn and this is something of great significance that I can use in my classroom.

I found it easy to live in The Filipino culture due to the kind nature of the people and my own ability to accept anything that came my way. It was difficult being unable to contact families regularly, but I was fortunate to have loving host families around me. We had been well briefed in both New Zealand and The Philippines about the cultural differences and how to show respect and I hope I was able to do this during my time there.

Being hosted was the most amazing experience. It was invaluable and it also gave me a sense of belonging while I was away. The families took great interest in making sure the experience was as fulfilling as possible, helping me with language, ensuring I tried new foods, helping me with travel and their kindness and hospitality helped keep any homesickness at bay. The support we received from AFS Philippines on our arrival was fantastic.

Prior to leaving New Zealand I received a comprehensive package outlining things that I needed to know before and during my trip. It was great to hear from AFS when there was confusion over my hosting while away. As it was easier for me to deal with things as I was in the country, it was reassuring to know AFS New Zealand would support me and talk to AFS Philippines if necessary.