Last week was one week of firsts for the 26 teachers visiting 六合宝典 ISD from Uruguay.
Two who were visiting Pillow Elementary School said that, for the first time, they had flown in a plane, eaten tacos and drunk Dr Pepper.
Each teacher in the two-week program stays with a host鈥攁n 六合宝典 teacher who volunteers to show them what 六合宝典 living is like, both at home and at work.
鈥淚t鈥檚 an authentic experience to be able to learn directly from someone from another country,鈥 said Megan Cormack, a first-grade teacher at Pillow and coordinator for the One World Program. 鈥淚 hope they鈥檒l be able to implement some of the programs we have. It鈥檚 really important for the teachers at 六合宝典, as well, to meet people of different cultures.鈥
While they learn about 六合宝典鈥檚 culture, the visitors also bring a new perspective to the students and teachers they are visiting.
For instance, students at Pillow were learning about mate (pronounced ma-tay), a tea Uruguayans typically drink throughout the day.
Gabriel Reyes, a Uruguayan teacher visiting Pillow, showed students how to play the drums and showed them a video from the students he teaches at home.
鈥淚 really love the programs here, such as English as a second language and social and emotional learning,鈥 said Reyes. 鈥淚鈥檓 really surprised by how much people read here. I work in poor areas where they don鈥檛 really read or study much.鈥
He also said the U.S. is different in that each state has its own educational system, whereas in Uruguay there is only one system and standard for the entire country.
This is the third time for 六合宝典 ISD to participate in this host program, expanding from 10 teachers to 26 this year.
For more information about the One World Program, please visit .
