London study abroad experience video

The London Experience Video

Since the collapse of the Berlin Wall in 1989, millions of immigrants from eastern European countries have settled in metropolitan London and its schools. Given the city’s ethnic, religious and linguistic diversity, the faculty from the College of Education at Illinois State University believe that exposure to this diversity in the London schools is a valuable addition to the undergraduate teacher education programs at Illinois State. As such, the College of Education offers the opportunity for teacher education candidates to experience this urban diversity during a two-week program in London, England.

In a partnership with King’s College, which is part of the University of London, this program allows teacher educators to witness firsthand the challenge of teaching in London’s truly diverse setting. Through seminars with experts in the field of urban education, and with day-long experiences in inner-city public schools, the London Experience provides a comparative perspective for our undergraduates in how educators in another English-speaking country grapple with the growing number of learners whose first language is not English.

The cultural demographics in the United States are changing to reflect the recent increase in immigration to this country. This immigration increases the cultural diversity of urban, rural and suburban public schools throughout the nation. The goal of the urban teacher education preparation program is to broaden the cultural awareness of our undergraduate students and prepare them to generalize what they learned in England and apply it to any diverse school setting in the United States.

The trip to London is a two week experience that typically occurs each year after the end of the spring semester. While in London, students visit area schools, participate in seminars, and are given the opportunity to explore London’s history through visits to museums, landmarks and modern attractions. During this time, students will visit primary and secondary public schools in a variety of urban settings throughout the city. The focus of these experiences is to introduce the teacher educators to both the vast cultural and religious diversity that exists in the schools. Students interact with the teachers, the administrators, and most importantly, the children. The participants are often surprised at the level of cultural differences found in the public schools.

Students who take this trip will have the opportunity to discuss current educational topics that are relevant to both the United Kingdom and the United States. Both Illinois State University faculty members and British experts in the field of urban education and diversity lead these seminars. Issues of race, class and ethnicity are the focus of these discussions, along with the analysis of current educational policies, such as England’s Every Child Matters and America’s No Child Left Behind.

London’s rich history and cultural diversity offer a variety of educational opportunities for the participants to learn outside of the planned school visits and seminars. From the ancient churches and other historical buildings, to live debates in Parliament, students collect a vast amount of information. The city’s public transportation system allows the students to reach almost any of these landmarks quickly and efficiently. The famous London Underground is easy to use and makes is possible to experience everything the city has to offer.

While in London, participants will reside in modern hotels, located in the central region of the city. The hotels offer rooms for two people, a continental breakfast, and are just minutes from the public transportation stations. Students are housed in a safe, upscale neighborhood near parks, restaurants and other attractions.

This urban teacher education preparation program is an excellent opportunity for education majors at Illinois State University to broaden their knowledge of cultural diversity and teaching in an urban setting. We encourage you to find out more about traveling overseas to experience firsthand the rich, diverse educational setting that metropolitan London has to offer.