Fulbright exchange experiences
In November 2004, as a teacher at Knoxland Primary School, I applied for a Fulbright exchange between Scotland and the USA. After interviews, I received confirmation that Fulbright was willing to offer me a Scholarship.
In the spring of 2005, I was matched with an American 4th Grade teacher, Kirsten Franklin, from Petaluma in California. We arranged to swap houses and cars for the duration of our three-month exchange. Therefore, I agreed to swap my Dumbarton bachelor’s pad for a spacious villa, complete with hot tub overlooking the famous Sonoma wine valley.
Meeting your exchange teacher
To give exchange teachers the opportunity to meet before their exchanges started, Fulbright arranged a conference in Washington DC in August 2005. The aim of this conference was to fully prepare both sets of teachers for the challenges that lay ahead when they started teaching in their exchange school. A very structured programme of lectures and tutorials ensured that the aim was met and I found the week to be very informative and interesting. There was also an opportunity to experience a city rich in monuments and beautiful architecture.As our exchange didn’t take place until the March of the school year, Kirsten and I organised pen friends for our pupils, who then corresponded for the entire school year. This gave the children the opportunity to learn about the cultural differences between Scotland and California. The children then presented their findings at school assemblies to share their learning.
My arrival in California
On arriving at the school on my first day, I was surprised to learn that the parents had put on a ‘Welcome Mr Hill Party’. Draped across the entrance to the school was a banner welcoming me to Grant School and the parents had gone to considerable efforts to organise food and drink for the whole school. I was very touched by this and realised how pleased the Grant School parents were for me to be at the school.
Children's learning experience
Prior to arriving in America, I had spent some time putting together a topic outline and resources to teach my new class about Scotland. This outline covered subjects such as the Geography of Scotland, Scots History, Culture and Famous Scots. The children had the opportunity to act out landmark battles in the classroom and dance the Gay Gordons in the playground! They really embraced everything I taught them about Scotland and many did their own research in their spare time.
Based on the children’s learning about Scotland, my 4th Grade class then presented a show on Scotland. This was watched by the whole school. Some of the highlights of the show were a re-enactment of the Battle of Bannockburn, a performance of the Virginia Reel and the singing of ‘The Flower of Scotland’. This show was challenging to put on in view of timescale. However, it was made a reality by the children’s enthusiasm about Scotland and their commitment to their learning.
My learning experience
During my time in Grant School, I had the opportunity to work alongside some very experienced teachers and learn from their examples of good practice. I worked closely with a 2nd Grade teacher who organised a very worthwhile paired-reading session for both classes throughout the year. This boosted the confidence and self-esteem of my less able readers and provided peer support for his children. I learned so many things that I could incorporate into my everyday teaching: from effective ways to get the full attention of my class to new ideas on structuring a Circle Time session. Since returning to Scotland, I have incorporated these ideas into my teaching and have also shared them with colleagues, whose teaching has also benefited as a result.
As I am a qualified football coach and being aware of the sport's growing importance in the United States, I decided to organise an after-school football club. For several weeks, I taught the children skills through games. This culminated in a ‘World Cup’ tournament in the last week where the children dressed in the colours of their country and many painted their faces. This event was attended by the ever enthusiastic parents.
I was very impressed at the enthusiasm and commitment of parents in the school. Throughout the week, I had parents come into my class to help me with various administrative tasks and assist me in subjects that required group work. They did this in a very professional manner and they really helped me settle into my new environment as they had a very sound knowledge of my classroom and the school itself.
Benefits of my Fulbright exchange
The Fulbright exchange also gave me the opportunity to immerse myself in Californian culture and life. I became a passionate fan of the San Francisco Giants Baseball team, spent weekends hiking in the enchanting scenery of Yosemite and enjoyed a private tour to the top of the Golden Gate Bridge. I made some very valued friends who I still keep in contact with today. These friends made such an effort with me, inviting me to local events and showing me such warm hospitality. They enhanced my Fulbright experience no end.
I would strongly recommend the Fulbright experience to any teacher who is open-minded and willing to put in a lot of hard work to make the opportunity a success. Each teacher receives support from the British Council to ensure they are well prepared for the exchange and all the necessary paperwork is taken care of. I look back on my exchange with very fond memories and hope, one day, to do it all over again.