Brighton study abroad experience video

The Brighton Study Abroad Video

Transcript

The town of Brighton, England's most populous seaside resort, is a young and vibrant place to live, work, and study. It borders the southern coast of England, joining seaside community, fast-paced urban sector, and countryside. Brighton and the adjacent city of Hove have undergone socio-economic change, reflected in the livelihood of the thriving community.

This diversity is also present in the school system, integrating the urban and rural children in the same school district, many with different family structures and economic backgrounds. As such, the College of Education offers the opportunity for teacher education candidates to experience how schools motivate their students using different learning styles during a three-week program in Brighton, England.
Brighton is known for its presence of rich cultural arts, and teachers in this seaside town incorporate some innovative techniques into their classroom settings. The people of this community value diverse lifestyles in which artistic expression is highly encouraged. Their dedication to the arts is evident through the teaching of arts, crafts, drama, and music in the classroom. This education system is designed to reflect a child's development and nurture social and creative abilities with an emphasis on literacy attainment. Illinois State University students will be able to witness first-hand these differences in teaching methodologies, including an emphasis on theatrical performance and role-playing.

During their time in Brighton, students will visit two or three primary and secondary public schools in a variety of educational settings throughout the city and surrounding rural areas. The focus of these experiences is to introduce teacher educators to a variety of school settings, teaching strategies, and the incorporation of the arts into the classroom activities. It also provides them with an opportunity to interact with elementary and secondary school children.

The trip to Brighton is a three-week experience that typically occurs each year in July. Students who take this trip will have the opportunity to discuss current national educational initiatives that are relevant to both the United Kingdom and the United States. Both Illinois State and University of Brighton faculty members lead seminars about diverse educational settings and pedagogy. The focus of these discussions is the use of technology in the classroom, parent involvement, general and special education practices, and other socio-cultural topics.

Prior to leaving for England, students will spend a semester participating in coursework and various activities that will prepare them for the Brighton experience. While in Brighton, students also have the opportunity to explore the city's history through visits to museums, landmarks, and other attractions.

A cosmopolitan city enriched by the arts, Brighton offers a variety of educational opportunities for the participants to learn outside of the planned school visits and seminars. Nestled between the South Downs and the sea on the stunning south coast of England, Brighton is home to an array of cultural attractions and has long been known as a holiday destination. Students will have an opportunity to visit historic buildings, such as the lavish Royal Pavilion, and the magnificent churches of the Victorian era. But perhaps one of the most enjoyable attractions students will see is the nearly 2,000 foot-long Brighton Pier, home to various food and drink outlets, fairground attractions, and the Palace of Fun arcade.

While in Brighton, participants will reside in student housing at the University of Brighton, a thriving school whose student body is comparable to that of Illinois State’s. The University has been heralded as the University of the Year by the London Sunday Times. A variety of public transportation is easily accessible from the housing dormitories. Modern buses provide regular transportation between the University and the City of Brighton. These buses provide students with the opportunity to experience England's countryside, and to visit neighboring communities like Eastbourne, home of Beachy Head and its famous chalk cliffs and lighthouse. Excursions to nearby cities like London and Paris provide students with an opportunity to experience everything that these major metropolitan areas have to offer.

This teacher education preparation program is an excellent opportunity for education majors at Illinois State University to broaden their knowledge. We encourage you to find out more about traveling overseas to experience first-hand the rich, culturally diverse setting that Brighton has to offer.