Three Fulbright Scholars in a School!!  This would seem incredible, but it’s true.

 We, in Little Rock, have three Fulbright Scholars.  Mr Harikrishna, Mrs Bindu Jose and Mr Shaji Philip.  We congratulate them on this unique achievement and  present their experiences and insights in a nutshell.

 Mathew C. Ninan, Principal

HARIKRISHNA D

Participating in Fulbright’s International Leadership in Education Program(ILEP) wasn’t my dream at all just because being a teacher I couldn’t dream of getting an opportunity to spend five months in  U S Universities and Schools. But by God’s grace this happened!

The experience I got during these months is unmatchable at professional as well as personal levels. I could gain a lot of insights by attending university classes and observing and teaching in secondary schools. The exposure to diverse cultures of fellow-scholars from different countries as well as to American culture is worth mentioning. The travels I made during my stay in the U S too were very enriching.

Overall, ILEP was a life time opportunity for me. I am sure this will help me a long way throughout my teaching career and I will cherish the memories all my life.

Attending the welcome seminar at Washington, DC

Preparation for a Poster Presentation on Indian Education system

Closing Seminar at Washington, DC

Commencement Ceremony at Southeast Missouri State University(SEMO)

SHAJI PHILIP 

I had the unique opportunity to be in the United States for five months on an educational and cultural exchange programme known as International Educators’ Programme. The programme was initiated and organized by the International Research and Exchange (IREX) and funded by the US State Department. The IEP which commenced on 22^nd January 2007 had three components: the inaugural seminar at Washington DC, intensive training and cultural exposure in four different universities situated at different states and the closing seminar in Washington DC. The programme gave us a bird’s eye view of different cultures and their educational system by interacting with 53 teachers from 13 countries. Thus the five month long programme had enough ingredients to make it ever memorable and immensely embellishing.  It has bolstered my confidence level, increased the fund of knowledge and broadened my horizon and vision of life.

Shaji Philip with the Director and Dean of the Georgia Southern University.

At a presentation at Washington DC

The five IEP fellows from India with the IREX team

BINDU JOSE

I got the opportunity to attend the International Educators Program 2007 (IEP) which was sponsored by the US department of state and administered by The International Research and Exchanges Board (IREX) for the secondary school teachers from 10 different countries Algeria, Bangladesh, Egypt, Indonesia, India, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Malaysia and Morocco. The south Indian states were given preference for this program and 5 of us – 2 from Tamil Nadu, 2 from Karnataka and 1 from Kerala got selected after the submission of our statement of purpose, a personal interview and an English test.

I had to go to the Southeast Missouri State University (SEMO) at Cape Girardeau, Missouri for the 5 month training program from January to June 2007. The training program consisted of

1)     Weekly seminars where discussions on the different educational systems and various techniques of teaching were highlighted.

2)     Use of technology in classrooms.

3)     Preparation of the Teacher work sample.

The most interesting feature of the program was the 8 week internship in a public school which was a real experience!!.

In front of Jackson senior high school with a teacher from Bangladesh.

With the Principal and Vice-principal of JHS.

The 14 of us at the university with our academic coordinators.