After just over a week of being in the U.S., eight Russian teachers
participating in a three-week professional development and exchange
program with the University of Georgia feel right at home.
“Visiting your schools I feel like I’m home,” said
Sergey Abramov, who teaches computer science to 9th, 10th and
11th graders in his home region of Tomsk.
Abramov and his seven colleagues, speaking through a UGA student
serving as a translator, talked about the educational structure
in Russia, along with its strong mathematics and science curriculum,
during a crowded brown bag lecture in UGA’s College of
Education.
The Russian teachers in math, science and informational technology
are visiting the UGA campus and schools in northeast Georgia
for Teachers Training Teachers to learn how they can improve
education practices in their own country. The program is a partnership
that includes UGA’s Office of International Public Service
and Outreach, the College of Education, the College of Agricultural
and Environmental Sciences, and four Georgia school districts.
It is sponsored by the American Councils for International Education.
The visitors are in interested in learning how American teachers
motivate students, address communication and language issues
surrounding new immigrants and use information technologies to
aid instruction in the classroom.
“The Russian educational system is known for its strength
in math and science,” said Glen Ames, UGA’s director
of International Public Service and Outreach and primary supervisor
of the program.
One of the main reasons for this is that math and computer science
are implemented into children’s curriculum at an early
age, the teachers explained.
“Russian children are first introduced to computers in
2nd grade,” said Russian teacher Yelena Taleyko. “Children
become familiar with computers and we use special computer games
to teach children, and as they grow older they learn the basics
about computer design, animation and modeling computer language
programs.”
Similarly, math in Russia begins in 1st grade and continues through
main school. Students have the option of taking advanced mathematics
in secondary school to better prepare them for the university
test, the teachers said.
Regardless of which grade children are in, both Russian and American
teachers agree that teachers and parents must work together in
order for students to succeed. In Russia every teacher has two
roles: teacher and advisor. Teachers have Saturdays off from
school, but set aside times for parents to drop in and talk about
their children.
“One aim of these trips is to show our guests how Georgia’s
economic success depends on education, similar to Russia,” said
Ames. “Quality education is the key to succeed in a global
economy.”
Competing
in a Global Economy
The University of Georgia is at the forefront of the globalization
movement in higher education with a wealth of opportunities for
international experiences. Our students are flocking to study-abroad
programs, thriving on the challenges inherent in confronting a
new cultural environment. More and more, students on campus are
also making choices that reflect an understanding of the importance
of global awareness—from living in a residence hall-based
language community to starting a radio program in another language
to minoring in a foreign language. These experiences, whether at
home or abroad, influence how our students perceive the world and
their place in it. We’re producing graduates prepared to
be world citizens—well informed, culturally sensitive and
technologically sophisticated. They’re ready to take on the
challenges of our global society, and they’ll be equally
at home whether in the Peach State or the Republic of Georgia. |
Russian
Teachers Natalia Klimenko (left) and Yalena Taleyko hold an albino
corn snake in the Cedar Shoals classroom of science teacher George
Bullock during their recent visit to the school.
