GlobalU.P.: Teacher Education Abroad - NMU School of Education

TCs participating in GlobalU.P. will complete ED495X: Children's Literature Abroad, a required course for all undergraduates taken early in NMU’s teacher preparation program. The course supports TCs in developing culturally relevant teaching practices learned during the pre-departure coursework and applying them in the local school and community while working with children and alongside K-8 educators in Belize. 

This opportunity is provided to undergraduate students through a grant provided by the IDEAS Program.

Graduate students participating in GlobalU.P. will complete ED595 - Global Perspectives: Educational Research Seminar (2 credits). This ED595 course can be substituted into graduate education programs for ED 574 Seminar in Educational Research. Students pursuing any form of Ed. masters are eligible to participate. While teaching and leading in classroom settings, graduate students will research and analyze global citizenship, culture, and intercultural understanding from multiple disciplinary perspectives. 

The program's central theme is global citizenship as a way of living for personal respect and respect for others. Adopting this open-minded stance, we will explore diverse cultures to learn about leading, teaching, and learning in a global context, emphasizing global approaches to English Language Learners. In this program, students will learn...

• Teaching on a global scale
• Working in school systems outside of their country of experience
• Gaining professional development from practicing teachers in Belize
• Learning how to work with children from culturally diverse backgrounds
• Explore Belizean culture and its influence on children and families. 

• Participate in a traditional Belizean cooking class
• Learn about chocolate-making
• Visit a family-run organic coffee farm
• Host a family literacy event at the local farmers' market
• Participate in professional development with local early childhood, elementary, and middle school teachers
• Co-teach with local early childhood, elementary, and middle school teachers
• Snorkel with nurse sharks along a barrier reef
• Stay overnight at Caye Caulker, an island off the coast of Belize City
• Hike around and climb a Mayan temple
• Explore a cave and cool down with a swim in a river
• Visit the botanical gardens or a medicinal plant walk
• Enjoy the sounds of Garifuna drummers 

The undergraduate study abroad for 3 credits is estimated at $6,600. This cost includes tuition, housing, meals, excursions, school visits, and ground transportation in Belize. It does not include airfare, passport fees, health insurance, or spending money.

The graduate study abroad for 2 credits is estimated at $6,300. This cost includes tuition, housing, meals, excursions, school visits, and ground transportation in Belize. It does not include airfare, passport fees, health insurance, or spending money.

Financial Aid can be utilized for this opportunity