Simon Fraser University
Notes from Panama

Notes from Panama: Student teacher writings from the International Teacher Education Module

April 19, 2007

Notes from Panama: Student teacher writings from the International Teacher Education Module

Cover art from "Notes from Panama: Student Teacher Writings from the International Teacher Education Module

 

Anne Souther dashes off a quick e-mail on a day of especially wild weather in Panama. As the downpour from the morning turned into a wonderful thunder, lightning and rainstorm, Latin music blasted from a classroom down the hall where a limbo contest was in progress and students from a rural Panamanian school enjoyed their first-ever student dance.

 

Such was just one momentary experience while Anne, a faculty associate in Professional Programs at the Faculty of Education, and a group of student teachers were developing their global perspectives. The group was in Panama as part of the International Teacher Education Module (ITEM) to examine such issues as diversity, global education and intercultural communication.

 

While in Panama, Anne Souther guided the student teachers through many 'phenomenologically-flavoured' writings, to encourage them to look beneath and beyond the surfaces and reach a deeper understanding of place, teaching, and learning. Upon their return, Anne compiled a selection of the writings into a booklet called "Notes from Panama: Student Teacher Writings from the International Teacher Education Module". From the foreword of the book:

 

As the days and weeks passed, we all began to 'see' below and beyond the surfaces of things, to notice 'pedagogical spaces' and the ways in which these spaces affect how children learn, and how teachers teach. We watched 'play', and noted its unique and universal characteristics 'played out' in Panamanian play spaces. We wandered around, had all manner of encounters - and then wrote about them. As in every place, in Panama we also saw 'undersides', and in writing out the emotional turbulence arising from some of these encounters we tried to reach, not acceptance, but some understanding. Sometimes, turbulence arose not from whom we encountered, but from who encountered us - particularly when they encountered us behind a camera lens. We were all forced to confront how our presence in a place may impact, or even alter, that place.

 

"International experiences for student teachers encourage the development of their global perspectives," explained Anne. "This book is a wonderful expression of a sense of place and a sense of teaching in an unfamiliar place."

 

In a time when the global community is growing smaller, communication is ever more important. Diversity and understanding is an integral part of classrooms and our society. To learn more about the ITEM program in Panama, contact:

 

Anne Souther , Faculty Associate
E-mail: asouther@sfu.ca or asouther@firstclass.educ.sfu.ca

 

or

 

Jana Milloy, Program Assistant
E-mail: janam@sfu.ca
Phone: 604.291.4149

 

To purchase a copy of "book title" for $2, contact Susan Warren at susan_warren@sfu.ca or 604.291.4213


Last Updated April 24, 2007 FOE