MacArthur welcomes South Korean teachers

MacArthur High School Fine Arts classes are hosting three teachers from Korea who are part of the Fulbright American Studies Institute. So Hyung Koo from Dae-jeon; Hyun An Lee from Jeju Island; and Minhee Kim from Daegu are English teachers in South Korean schools.

Each of the teachers spent a month in intensive English classes in Austin and are now being given the opportunity to visit MacArthur High School and stay with host families. Staying with host families will allow them a sense of American culture from a different and more personal perspective.

Through the Fulbright Program, Trinity University and the NCTA (National Consortium of Teachers teaching about Asia), these teachers will have the experience to visit, observe, and do presentations in American schools. At MacArthur, the teachers have already visited with students in classrooms, made presentations, observed the school’s teaching styles, and participated in Q&A sessions informally in several classes.

“These teachers are fascinated by and trying to learn more about our educational system that offers students more choices,” said Pete Martinez, MacArthur High School principal. “Their system is much more rigid and does not allow choice in selecting courses and electives. They are being exposed to many different teachers and schools to allow them the best possible experience.”

Part of the mission of the Fulbright Program is to provide authentic educational experiences for the visiting teachers, their hosting schools, and the families with whom they stay. By being immersed in such a diverse educational system in America, the Korean teachers will be able to share their observations and experiences with their peers and students when they return home.

“MacArthur is proud to offer an opportunity to share the richness that our school has to offer with our foreign visitors,” said Jan Garverick, orchestra director. “This is our fourth time hosting this program, and it is a relationship that we hope to continue through the coming years.”

Posted on Feb. 10, 2012