Teaching in America

by Hutchison, Charles B.

• ISBN13: 9781402037719
• ISBN10: 1402037716
• Format: Hardcover
• Copyright: 2005-10-12
• Publisher: Springer Verlag

Summary

Globalization is upon us, causing the world to shrink into the global village. One result of this globalization process is that the skilled labor force has been responding to global pressures. As mobility has increased around the global village, the exchange of goods and services are accelerating at several levels. The movement of teachers from mostly English-speaking countries into the U.S. has expanded the flow of skilled laborers to include the area of education. Many of such teachers are coming to teach in critical shortage areas such as mathematics, science, and foreign languages. The purpose of this book is to facilitate the transitions of international teachers from their native countries into American classrooms, using original research. This is done by discussing some of the important issues and theories to consider before and after such transitions, as viewed by international teachers themselves. Important insights about the American society and the educational system are discussed, together with strategies for achieving success in American schools.This ground-breaking, original research-based book contains narratives of real-life international teachers, includes relevant, important theories, and presents targeted issues and strategies for success. In brief, this book is a compendium of the professional, pedagogical, socio-cultural, and psychological landscape of American education. The volume will prove valuable to international faculty, faculty teaching comparative or cross-cultural education, international teaching assistants, school administrators, as well as human resources and other personnel in learning institutions involved in hiring and providing faculty orientations.

Table of Contents

Acknowledgments	vii
About the Author	ix
Introduction	1	(10)
1. Making the Decision	11	(22)
1.1 WHY FOREIGN TEACHERS ARE COMING TO TEACH IN AMERICA	11	(1)
1.2 THE FUTURE OF AMERICAN EDUCATION AND FOREIGN TEACHERS	12	(1)
1.3 THE OPEN DOOR	13	(1)
1.4 SOCIO-LOGISTICAL (SUPPORT SYSTEM) ISSUES TO KNOW BEFORE LEAVING HOME	14	(1)
1.5 KNOW WHY YOU ARE COMING TO AMERICA	14	(1)
1.6 MOVING EXPENSES	15	(1)
1.7 COST OF LIVING	16	(2)
1.8 MISCELLANEOUS DIFFERENCES	18	(3)
1.9 CULTURE SHOCK	21	(4)
1.10 CULTURE SHOCK AND RACE ISSUES	25	(3)
1.11 RECREATIONAL NEEDS FOR THE NEWCOMER	28	(1)
1.12 AMERICA: THE CONSUMER REIGNS	29	(1)
1.13 SUMMARY	30	(3)
2. Education in America	33	(18)
2.1 THE PHILOSOPHY OF AMERICAN PUBLIC SCHOOLS	34	(1)
2.2 THE STRUCTURE OF SCHOOLS IN AMERICA	34	(3)
2.3 LOCAL RESPONSIBILITY FOR EDUCATION	37	(1)
2.4 THE URBAN ISSUE	38	(1)
2.5 PROGRESSION IN SCHOOL	38	(2)
2.6 LEVELS OF TERTIARY INSTITUTIONS AND FACULTY RESPONSIBILITIES IN THE UNITED STATES	40	(2)
2.7 THE AMERICAN SCHOOL YEAR	42	(1)
2.8 THE PROFESSION OF TEACHING IN AMERICA	42	(1)
2.9 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND THE SCHOOL CURRICULUM	43	(1)
2.10 ACCREDITATION OF EDUCATIONAL INSTITUTIONS	44	(1)
2.11 THE GENERAL RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE AMERICAN TEACHER	45	(1)
2.12 TEACHER RESPONSIBILITIES, INTASC STANDARDS AND LICENSURE	46	(3)
2.13 SUMMARY	49	(2)
3. Research and Issues of Interest for International Teachers	51	(24)
3.1 THE INFLUENCE OF CULTURE IN SCHOOLS	51	(8)
3.2 THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER AND CROSS-CULTURAL ISSUES	59	(1)
3.3 URBAN AND RURAL SCHOOLS AND THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER	60	(3)
3.4 BEHAVIORISM, CONSTRUCTIVISM, AND THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER	63	(3)
3.5 THE INTERNATIONAL TEACHER AND TEACHER INDUCTION	66	(1)
3.6 PEDAGOGICAL CONTENT KNOWLEDGE	67	(2)
3.7 DIVERSITY ISSUES IN AMERICAN EDUCATION	69	(3)
3.8 TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS	72	(1)
3.9 SUMMARY	72	(3)
4. Introducing the Players	75	(52)
4.1. THE AUTHOR'S PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHY	75	(13)
4.2 MARY'S PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHY	88	(10)
4.3 JOE'S PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHY	98	(10)
4.4 INGA'S PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHY	108	(7)
4.5 KOF1'S PEDAGOGICAL BIOGRAPHY	115	(9)
4.6 SUMMARY	124	(3)
5. Potential Teaching Issues for International Teachers in American Schools	127	(68)
5.1 KNOWLEDGE GAPS: INTRODUCTION TO TRANSNATIONAL EDUCATIONAL ISSUES	127	(8)
5.2 ASSESSMENT ISSUES	135	(6)
5.3 COMMUNICATION IS SUES	141	(11)
5.4 COMMUNICATION HELP FOR FOREIGNERS	152	(1)
5.5 TEXTBOOK ISSUES	153	(5)
5.6 TEACHING METHOD AND RELATED ISSUES	158	(8)
5.7 TEACHER-STUDENT RELATIONS	166	(14)
5.8 TEACHER-PARENT RELATIONS	180	(5)
5.9 KNOWLEDGE SHIFT: INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS AS ACTIVE LEARNERS	185	(6)
5.10 PEDAGOGICAL SHIFT: POINTS FOR SUCCESS	191	(2)
5.11 SUMMARY	193	(2)
6. What International Teachers Can Do to Become Successful in American Schools	195	(34)
6.1 DEVELOPING A TEACHING PHILOSOPHY	197	(1)
6.2 EFFECTIVE CLASSROOM MANAGEMENT APPROACHES FOR AMERICAN MIDDLE AND HIGH SCHOOLS	197	(7)
6.3 THE FIRST WEEK OF SCHOOL	204	(4)
6.4 PROFESSIONAL APPEARANCE:	208	(1)
6.5 EFFECTIVE INSTRUCTIONAL APPROACHES IN THE AMERICAN SCHOOL	208	(4)
6.6 TEACHING DIVERSE LEARNERS	212	(9)
6.7 DIFFERENTIATED INSTRUCTION	221	(2)
6.8 TECHNOLOGY USE AND PRESENTATIONS	223	(1)
6.9 TEACHING LARGE CLASSES	224	(2)
6.10 ASSESSING LARGE CLASSES	226	(1)
6.11 SUMMARY	227	(2)
7. Implications of Research for Employers	229	(12)
7.1 WHAT INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS BRING TO AMERICAN SCHOOLS	229	(1)
7.2 IMPLICATIONS OF RESEARCH FOR EMPLOYERS	230	(4)
7.3 TAKING ACTION	234	(1)
7.4 ORIENTATIONS: CREATING THE RIGHT INFRASTRUCTURE FOR INTERNATIONAL TEACHERS	235	(4)
7.5 SUMMARY	239	(2)
Appendix	241	(8)
References	249	(8)
Index	257