Elementary teachers partner with USF to host visiting teachers from Korea

The English Language Institute (ELI) at the University of South Florida is running a special one month Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) program for a group of 31 elementary school English teachers from Korea January 19 - February 12. Carrollwood Day School participated in a similar program last year. This year CDS was selected to host two site visits in coordination with a micro-teaching project for the program participants. Mrs. Sabrina McCartney, CDS PYP Coordinator, has been working with Michelle Bell, Academic Programs Director at USF’s ELI to coordinate this program.

While these experienced teachers are already fluent in English, this program is designed to help them enhance their English abilities and become more familiar with pronunciation, idioms/slang, and American culture. They will also be taking courses that focus on teaching English to young learners. As part of their Teaching Practicum course, the Korean teachers will visit CDS on Monday, February 1. Small groups of teachers will visit each 2nd through 5th grade class. The visiting teachers will observe the class and have time to meet with their host teacher.

On Friday, February 5, the visiting teachers will return to CDS.  After being welcomed back to CDS during Morning Opening, the teachers will give a short lesson on Korean culture including some Korean language to the class they observed. In addition to providing an invaluable experience for the teachers, these lessons about Korea will be a wonderful and unique learning opportunity for our students.