I'm Jim Tedder with the VOA Special English Education
Report.
Everyone knows about exchange and visitor programs that give students a
chance to study in another country. But today we are going to talk about two
programs that give teachers a chance to teach in the United States.
One of them is the Visiting International Faculty Program. VIF is based in
North Carolina and says it is the United States'largest cultural exchange program
for teachers and schools. This program has brought about seven thousand teachers
to the United States since 1987.
The program is open to teachers from Latin America, Europe, South Africa,
Canada, Australia, the Philippines and New Zealand. It places them in schools in
seven states for one to three years. After that, they must return home.
The seven states are North Carolina, South Carolina, Maryland, Virginia,
Georgia, Florida and California. The teachers work for local school systems and
are paid the same as an American teacher.
The majority are placed in elementary education, Spanish language and English
as a second language, special education, math and science. Some teachers are
placed in other language classes and other subjects.
Teachers in the program must have an advanced proficiency level in English.
They must have a teaching or university degree equal to an American bachelor's
degree. And they must have three years of teaching experience with students
between the ages of five and eighteen. Two years of driving experience is also
required.
Visiting teachers may also be able to earn a master's degree while in the
United States.
Another visiting teachers program is offered by the Spanish government.
Teachers from Spain are placed in elementary, middle and high schools in several
American states and in Canada.
This program is also for one to three years. The teachers from Spain are
teamed with teachers in Spanish language classes. They also help students who
speak English as a second language.
This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. To
find this report online, and for links to the Web sites of these two programs,
go to voaspecialenglish.com.
And one more thing -- if you are a teacher using Special
English in your classroom, please let us know. We are interested to know where
you are and what you teach, and how you put our programs to use for your
students. Write to special@voanews.com. I’m Jim Tedder.
（來源：VOA 英語點津姍姍編輯）
