The following questions were posed by university colleagues concerning EA Student Teaching placements (EAST). Most responses also apply to our Practicum and Teachers, Go Abroad programs.
School Placements
All pre-k, middle and secondary school subjects including special needs education. Some subjects may only be available in limited locations.
Student teaching: The number of weeks the student’s university requires with a normal minimum of 10 up to 18 weeks.
Practicum: 2 to 4 weeks; Teachers, Go Abroad: 4 to 8 weeks.
Any time year-round that students and potential host schools are available. Placements during USA summers are an excellent option for students who have finished all other requirements and thus can be employed when the new school year begins.
Each EAST placement is designed for the individual participant even if a number of students are placed in the same community. The EA is designed for individuals or groups of participants.
The EA Practicum is designed for individuals or groups of participants.
The final determination of start and end dates depend on university requirements, student availability, and the calendar of the host school and can be longer than the required number of weeks depending on school holidays.
Click here for EAST; Practicum; and Teachers, Go Abroad fees.
Generally, one maybe two. There may be several students in the same community and accommodation, but in different schools.
The EA placement process is no different - except for location - than what university placement directors do when seeking placements in their local communities.
EA placements have been arranged in government and UK/USA English medium international schools worldwide based on the professional judgment of EA colleague who are familiar with schools the requested country.
In all cases we ask, but cannot control whether a school will accept a student. Where a school is unable or unwilling to accept an applicant, alternatives in the same region or another country are considered in communication with the student.
We have placed students in over 1,100 schools worldwide all of which are recognized by the government in the host country and in many cases by a USA or UK government body and/or accrediting agency.
Educators familiar with schools in the host country make selections where EA and the host school can provide support required for the student’s professional and personal development.
Equally, host schools make their own judgment as to whether to accept an EA student their ability to support the student and assessment of the student through their application. We can ask schools to work with our students, they have the final decision.
Yes, based on the number of weeks of the placement. The payment varies from USD $300 to $450 with allocation decided by the school that include transfer to the mentor teacher or used for a wide range of department or school needs.
School principals and head teachers decide whether there is a qualified teacher available/interested/willing to take on this professional mentoring role.
Generally, two or more years teaching experience. Some are well known to us having served multiple student teachers, others are new. The EAST handbook outlines expectations of all participants.
Like most any student teaching experience that ultimately depend on the student’s readiness to take on further responsibilities. For a ten-week placement they are expected to observe/learn in initial days, become actively involved in the class as soon as possible, and assume full charge of all classes for at least two weeks toward the end of the placement.
School policies and abilities demonstrated by the student teacher influence the time student teachers are allowed to be in sole charge including the time they are responsible for all aspects of teaching toward the end of a ten-week placement.
Each student’s primary communication is with their mentor teacher and EA supervisor who visits on-site and remains in contact electronically.
Where possible, we place two or more students in the same school/area so they have someone to share their experiences with. Otherwise, given today’s technology we find students arrange their own communication with peers.
The response depends on the nature of the problem:
Health and Safety
All students placed overseas are provided medical/liability/emergency evacuation insurance from CISI for the duration of their placement - including travel to/from the location. The cost is included in the program fee.
The first priority is to avoid problems by choosing appropriate locations and host schools. If an emergency does occur, EA emergency procedures, that have been tested over the years, are followed.
Yes, it is a prerequisite to being admitted to EA school based programs, is sent to potential host schools as part of the student’s application/request for placement, and is verified on entry to the host school.
Professional Development
EAST materials/processes are used. EA colleagues use InTASC criteria as a globally accepted framework for participant professional development and assessment.
EA observation, interim, and summative report/assessment forms are accepted by all partner universities.
InTASC characteristics of effective educators guide professional development and assessment of student teaching candidates.
Yes. Students following the have consistently passed and one university’s comparison between results between local and international placements found no difference in outcome. We encourage universities, if they require ta local placement, to complete edTPA during that placement.
Over 130 universities in Australia, Canada, England, Russia, and the USA.
EA participants use EA services to complete courses in their university’s state approved program. For nearly 30 years, state departments of education and national accreditation agencies (NCATE, TEAC, CAEP) have always approved university programs that use EA services.
In addition, several partner universities have been recognized by these bodies for providing their student's access to international and domestic professional development experiences in other cultural settings.
Qualified colleagues in the EA global network of professional educators who care, work together, and with proven ability guide the professional development of each student while helping to assure their personal wellbeing during their placement. Many have served dozens, even hundreds, of EA participants.
Support as students make decisions for their application, are admitted, arrange placements, supervise, and report.
No. But, you might consider assigning a faculty member who is copied in on participant/EA supervisor communication while assuring that everyone understands that the EA supervisor is responsible for developing and accessing participant abilities.
Yes. Throughout this process designated university colleagues have username/password access to the records of each student through which to monitor their progress.
Travel and Accommodation
This is a common option, but does not always work in every cultural setting - or fit the choice of all students.
EA and host schools advise and assist, but students are responsible for determining where they will live, how much they will pay for their accommodation and food, and for fulfilling their financial obligations for these expenses while in the host country. The cost of accommodation and meals is the responsibility of each participant and is NOT included in either the placement or program fee.
EA Arrangements with universities
The simple answer is, if you have students ready to participate, let’s begin. Equally if you want to learn more and explore options, EA Student Teaching Manager. Ultimately we will want to have an EAST arrangements document on file so expectations are clear if/when a student from your university is approved to participate
None. We do require that the college not double charge their students for the same service (e.g.charging full tuition then having student pay EA fee).
Zero. Our approach is to serve one student at a time from any university that supports this option. Participation has ranged from one or more students on a periodic basis from a university to 5% to 15% of graduates participating. One university has about 1/3 of their graduates’ complete student teaching overseas, 1/3 placed in other cultural settings in the USA, and the remaining 1/3 in the home area.