VIETNAM: AN OPPORTUNITY FOR INTER-CULTURAL EDUCATION (VOICE)

The Fulbright-Hays Group Projects Abroad Program provided $82,775 of funding to support a month-long (July 2010) sojourn in Vietnam. Titled "Vietnam, an Opportunity for InterCultural Education," VOICE focused on an in-depth study of Vietnamese history and culture to support the integration of International studies and culturally relevant curriculum/instruction in K- 12 schools in Los Angeles County. VOICE was designed for a cohort of 14 teachers working in or with Southern California elementary and secondary schools: 12 "interns" [teacher candidates enrolled in Claremont Graduate University's Teacher Education Internship Program (CGU's TEIP)] and 2 "master teachers" selected for their curricular expertise, mentoring experience, and involvement in the preparation of TEIP interns.

VOICE was sponsored by TEIP and hosted by Vietnam's University of Social Sciences and Humanities (USS&H). The co-director of TEIP, Dr. Delacy Ganley, directed VOICE. Dr. Phan Thi Tim Hien, co-director of USS&H’s Department or Culturology, provided in-Vietnam support. Ganley and Hein, VOICE's Faculty, were collaborative partners.

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VOICE had three phases:

1. A 25-hour pre trip orientation funded by CGU;
2. The sojourn funded by Fullbright-Hays and
3. A post trip program funded by CGU.

In Phase 2 (during the month long sojourn), VOICE Participants

1. conducted a one week teaching practicum in schools;
2. designed and conducted a six-day community outreach project;
3. received 18 hours of Vietnamese language instruction;
4. went on guided excursions;
5. participated in academic seminars Monday-Saturday; and
6. completed two different anchor projects (a standards-based curricular unit on Vietnam and an multimedia memoir that chronicles their experience and their evolving sense of what it means to be a culturally relevant educator).

The activities associated with Phase 2 contributed to the requirements associated with earning a California teaching credential and MA in Education