TEACHER PERSPECTIVES

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Briony Price UK Charter School Music and Drama – New York City Click here for video testimonial on Briony’s culture shock experiences: www.vimeo.com/615562001/b9e6e4693c Also click on this link showing students’ work: YouTube: VOICES ON – New York

Kurt Moore Morales Philippines Public High School teacher Kurt teaches in a High School in Alaska. He was chosen by the principal to escort a group of indigenous students to Washington, DC, where they met Senator Lisa Murkowski, and then he also took them on a tour of New York City. After being disturbed by some of his students interactions with each other, he worked with the students and the student council to create a program to prevent bullying, and found funding to support students’ progress. Click here for full bio.

Caroline Ettig France Charter French Immersion – Public School teacher Caroline teaches in a rare public charter school that offers the prestigious French government curriculum. The school is run by a combination of dedicated parents and staff bilingual in French and English. Caroline organized an art exhibit of her students work at the Barlow Market in Sebastopol, California. Click here for full bio.

Peile Tian China Public Elementary School Chinese teacher Known as Lily to her students, she was beloved in Bend, Oregon where she taught for two years, continually taking workshops to improve her Mandarin-teaching skills for US students. In summer of 2021, she transferred to New Orleans after her program closed in Oregon. Click here for full bio.

David López Ibarra Spain High School Robotics – New Haven, Connecticut David teaches robotics and digital skills in the largest comprehensive high school in New Haven. His students are multilingual learners, most of them with little STEM background. As a dedicated educator passionate about technology, he thrives on inspiring the next generation of innovators. He also keeps the school’s website updated with daily announcements and information relevant to students and teachers. Read more >>>

Romildo Ghezzi Peru / Canada Spanish Immersion/ESL – High School A talented linguist, Romildo Ghezzi is fluent in French, Italian, Japanese and Portuguese, plus English and Spanish. In the U.S. he taught in a public Spanish-Immersion Middle School. He has visited CHF’s Spanish programs in Oregon and Michigan, observing and interviewing bilingual Spanish teachers. He is now living in Toronto. More at >>>

Dolly Morantes Colombia Spanish Immersion – Public Elementary School Intern Dolly Morantes completed her internship in H-3 Visa status sponsored by CHF. She shared the rich culture and heritage of Colombia with her U.S. students. While in the U.S., she attended St. Thomas University where she took classes in English, Sociology, and Children’s Literacy. More at >>>

Wu You China New England Boarding School – Mandarin Wu You worked in Connecticut as part of the Start-Talk Program. Click on Photo at left for a narrative and pictures depicting her experiences teaching Mandarin to U.S. students. Read more >>>

Keiko Mitsugi Japan Sister City Public School CHF was requested by a Congressman to assist with Keiko Mitsugi’s Sister-City exchange. She dedicates considerable care and attention to creating educational exchange opportunities for American students and teachers to visit Japan each year. Read more >>>

Zhiming Wang China Mandarin and Chinese culture Essay: My Terrific School in Maine! Click on second photo of Zhiming Wang at left for detailed description of his four-month sister-city exchange and the his vivid description of professional, sports and cultural experiences in a very welcoming Maine town. More at >>>

Angela Watson Australia High School Angela Watson teaches History and Geography in a Seattle high school. Every year she creates a unit on Cordell Hull and his influence during World War II that helped inspire his Nobel Peace Prize Award in 1945 as “Father of the UN.” Read more>>>

Andre Sockmack Cameroon French-Immersion Charter School Third Grade Andre Sockmack inspires his students to be better citizens while teaching in his native language, French. He completed his Masters degree in Education while under sponsorship of CHF’s teacher exchange program. Read more >>>

Celine Garnier France High-School French Celine began her experience in the U.S. teaching French in two NY State high schools. Though the school district tried to persuade her to return, she opted to go to Ecuador to teach in a university. She is fluent in Spanish as well as English. After a year in Ecuador, she moved to Canada, bore two children, and has returned to France to complete her PhD in instructional technology. Read more >>>

Maria Carmen Triola Italy Charter School – Elementary and Secondary Italian Maria Triola taught a sequential k-12 curriculum for an advanced and updated approach to teaching of Italian language and culture. The Cordell Hull Foundation worked directly with the Italian Consulate in Boston and the Embassy in Washington, DC to facilitate her J-1 visa sponsorship. She was well-loved by her students and staff in a couple of Boston public schools. Unfortunately, we lost her, as there was no way to extend her visa status. She is now teaching in Cambridge, England.

Zhiming Wang China Sister City Program – Mandarin and Chinese culture Zhiming Wang, a university professor in China, shares his experience to help future teachers who apply to obtain a J-1 visa through the Cordell Hull Foundation (CHF). Also, you will find several photos chronicling his winter outdoor activities during his teaching days in the U.S. Northeast – in English. Read more >>>

Janine Weers Germany German Immersion School – California Article on outside work opportunities and parameters under J-1 visa status. Janine previously worked in a different J-1 visa category. After returning to the US, she was asked to be an advisor on a part-time basis up to 10 additional hours per week allowed by CHF. Click on photo to read her story giving an excellent example of how teachers in J-1 status can also serve the community and further fulfill the State Department Exchange Visitor mission and purpose. Read more >>>>

Eloise Engel Switzerland German Immersion – International School Taught first-grade German in an international school. Eloise is fluent in several languages. She offers a fascinating look at how a foreign exchange teacher is able to assimilate comfortably into American culture, then bring back a more accurate view of life in America and the US education system. Click on photo for her articulate essay. Read more >>>

John Bradfield New Zealand High School Baccalaureate – Boarding School John Bradfield began teaching Baccalaureate Math at a large boarding school for girls. It was his first experience teaching outside of his native New Zealand, and the CHF teacher exchange enabled him to come with his family to live in America. Previously he was a professional sheep shearer growing up on his family’s farm in New Zealand. After only two years at the school, his infectious personality and intelligence won him a promotion to Dean of Education. Read more >>>

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