As the school year draws to an end, witnessing colleagues take student groups on a study trip abroad might have inspired you to explore setting up your own project. If you’re not quite sure where to start to turn this intention into a reality, you will find the online resource Facilitating Study Abroad to be very useful.
This comprehensive guide was created by Brett Fischer, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher at Cégep André-Laurendeau, and Danielle Viens, an ESL teacher at the Cégep du Vieux Montréal, and published by the Centre collégial de développement de matériel didactique (CCDMD). It aims to equip teachers, particularly those in the Quebec college network, with the tools and knowledge necessary to design, manage, and implement effective study abroad programs and trips.
Facilitating Study Abroad home page
The guide
The Facilitating Study Abroad website is structured to address various aspects of planning and executing study abroad programs. It is divided into 3 key sections, each focusing on a specific component of the process:
Design
This section provides a detailed framework for conceptualizing study abroad trips, starting from aligning the trip’s objectives with institutional goals and student needs, to brainstorming and prototyping ideas.
It emphasizes a systematic approach to trip planning, inspired by the principles outlined in the book Designing Your Life by Burnett and Evans. The design process is broken down into 5 actionable steps, helping teachers connect their teaching philosophy with practical trip elements and addressing potential challenges early on:
- connect the dots between teaching philosophy, objectives, and student needs
- recognize gravity problems and problems that can be worked around
- brainstorm possible trip ideas and draw up 3 different plans
- build some prototypes
- choose well
By following the step-by-step design process, teachers are led to create well-structured study abroad programs that align with their institutional objectives and cater to their students’ learning needs.
The design section also includes guiding questions and templates to help teachers assess their readiness and plan effectively.
Pedagogy
Recognizing the evolving nature of language teaching and learning, this section offers insights into integrating effective pedagogical practices into study abroad programs. It highlights the importance of student autonomy and the benefits of experiential and task-based learning.
The section also provides strategies for maximizing the educational impact of study abroad experiences and includes resources for setting measurable learning objectives and evaluating student progress.
The pedagogy section offers strategies for incorporating language learning into study abroad experiences, promoting greater student engagement and autonomy. Teachers can use the provided lesson planner and task-based teaching guide to create immersive learning experiences that extend beyond the classroom.
Trip management
Managing the logistical aspects of study abroad can be daunting, especially for teachers new to such a project. This section covers essential elements of trip management, including:
- budgeting
- fundraising
- itinerary planning
- legal considerations
It also offers practical tools such as budgeting templates and project management guides, aimed at reducing the cognitive load on teachers and ensuring smooth trip execution.
The trip management section is particularly useful for first-time trip organizers, offering tools and checklists to streamline the planning process. From budgeting templates to emergency protocols, this section ensures that teachers are well-prepared for the logistical challenges of study trips.
Resources
The website compiles a wealth of downloadable resources, ranging from trip design templates to interactive lesson planners. Sample funding applications and positive learning contracts, provide concrete examples that teachers can adapt for their own programs.
The site also includes references and glossaries to support teachers in navigating the complexities of study abroad programs. These resources help reduce the administrative burden and allow teachers to focus on the educational experience itself.
Conclusion
As detailed in the About section, Facilitating Study Abroad is based on sound research and methodology. It is a comprehensive, user-friendly resource that supports college teachers in every phase of planning and executing study abroad programs.
By providing a blend of theoretical guidance and practical tools, it will empower you to create meaningful, well-organized, and pedagogically rich international learning experiences. As internationalization of education and global competence become increasingly vital in the college network, resources like these are essential in helping teachers prepare students for the challenges and opportunities of a connected world.
Where will you be taking your students next? Share your ideas and experiences in the comments section!
