Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology, Math, and Science Exchange

Through the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs (ECA) of the U.S. Department of State, American Councils for International Education administers Teachers to Teachers: Language, Technology, Math, and Science Exchange Program (LTMS). With support from the Ministry of Education and Science of the Russian Federation, Uchitelskaya Gazeta, and local education departments, the program aims to recognize the excellence and commitment of secondary school teachers and teacher-trainers in a broad range of subjects by providing U.S. based professional development seminars, practical classroom-learning opportunities, and preparation to conduct post-program professional development workshops for colleagues in Russia. Professional development seminars will be offered in teaching methodologies, curriculum development, and workshop design and implementation.

LTMS gives Russian educators from across the curriculum the opportunity to participate in an integrated university program that includes teaching discipline-related seminars, internships and visits to US schools, and professional development activities. While in the US, these teachers develop new teaching methods, create or expand materials and curricula, and to prepare professional development workshops for colleagues in their home country.

A four-week seminar for EFL teachers hosted by a U.S. university or college will take place in the fall of 2009. Sufficient knowledge of English to understand lectures and written materials and to communicate with U.S. counterparts in both professional and social settings is required.

A three-week seminar for math, the hard sciences, and information technology teachers hosted by a U.S. university of college will take place in the winter of 2010. English language skills are not a requirement.

Following the U.S. program, Russian participants will hold in-country workshops for non-English speaking colleagues. Teachers from the following regions will participate in the professional development seminars in 2009-10: Ivanovo, Kaluga, Kursk, Penza, and Voronezh oblasts.

Teachers to Teachers also includes US teachers who overlap with their Russian counterparts during their university programs at a US-Russia Joint Teacher Conference where they share best practices, brainstorm joint classroom projects, and discuss reciprocal visits. A three-day cross-cultural conference will be held at a U.S. university site with Russian teachers of comparable disciplines in October 2009 for EFL teachers and in February 2010 for math, science, and informational technology teachers. Each spring, ten award wining U.S. middle school and high school teachers of EFL, history, social studies, math, hard sciences, or informational technology will be invited to participate in the program. The finalists will travel to Russia for two to three weeks in March 2010 to visit schools and communities of their winning Russian counterparts, stay in their homes, and participate in teacher education programs, methodological seminars, classroom teaching, cultural exchange programs, and a variety of professional development activities.

As Russian and American teachers return home, American Councils, in collaboration with ECA, supports their alumni projects to share what they learned and experienced with their colleagues.

Applying for the Program

RUSSIAN TEACHERS
Russian secondary school teachers and teacher-trainers from the regions listed above are invited to apply for the Teachers to Teachers exchange by submitting a completed application plus two copies to American Councils. Through an open, merit-based competition, candidates will be evaluated according to the following criteria: Candidate's Ability to Teach (in the field of application), Innovation in Teaching, Awareness and Commitment to Diversity and Plurality, Professionalism, and Leadership.

Please click here for a copy of the application for secondary teachers of English as foreign language.

Please click here for a copy of the application for secondary teachers of math, hard sciences, and informational.

Applications are due December 12, 2008

U.S TEACHERS
U.S. middle school and high school teachers of EFL, history, social studies, math, hard sciences, or informational technology will be invited to participate in the program.

A copy of the U.S. Teachers application are currently available. To download an application, click here.

For additional information, please contact an American Councils’ representative or email oivanova@actr.ru in Russia or Bdunbar@americancouncils.org in the United States.

Program Resources

• Documents