Colleges and universities incorporate international, student-teaching programs as a way to help prepare globally minded prospective teachers. This article adds to this conversation, offering insight from a multicase study analysis of three educators conducted 5 years after their experience student teaching in Kenya, East Africa. The researcher…

This comparative case study analyzes two study abroad experiences for preservice teachers--a 4-month student teaching placement in Sweden and a 3-week intensive intercultural course with school observations in France. Although they differed in duration and structure, both programs focused on developing preservice teachers' understandings of…

Research on the student teaching practicum indicates that it is a time of enormous stress. The purpose of this study was to gather information from student teachers regarding their perceptions of stress while in the midst of their practicum. The questions were designed to gather information that could be used to create a less stressful practicum.…

Based on a conceptual framework explaining the characteristics and learned traits gained from student teaching abroad, this study sought to identify common perceptions from hiring school administrators in the state of Iowa. A common question asked by teacher candidates is "Does my experience abroad help me acquire a teaching position?"…

Presents a dialog on student teacher supervision between university supervisors from the U.S. and Wales. After describing an observation of and conference with a Welsh elementary student teacher, the dialog discusses the supervisors' observations and their expectations for student teachers, and analyzes the effects of the cross-cultural…

American and New Zealander education majors completed an exchange program that included student teaching abroad. Student journals and interviews after the experience indicated that, through their international experiences, students gained more appreciation for their home school culture and acquired new attitudes and beliefs to test against the…

A collaboration between Australia, New Zealand, and the United States lets student teachers experience the educational systems of other countries. Student teachers, cooperating teachers, and teacher educators work together to ensure successful experiences for Pacific Region Student Teaching Program participants. Positive aspects, barriers, and…

This paper describes preservice teacher education in China, focusing on tracks or programs for Chinese teacher education, the current situation, innovations and reform, and prospects for the future. Achievements in Chinese higher teacher training institutions over the past 10 years are noted. (SM)

The initial training of the United Kingdom's primary teachers is undergoing major restructuring. This article analyzes the main strands of these changes over the last 10 years, examining both the politicization of teacher education and the development of theoretical perspectives that reveal the complexity of the nature of professional knowledge.…

Describes preservice teacher training in South Africa, highlighting distance teaching (including a guided self-study workbook) that leads to a one-year postgraduate higher education diploma designed to meet the teacher shortage. The paper discusses the extent to which students can be guided to bridge the gap between theory and practice in field…

Discusses how culture shock intrinsic in a cross-cultural student teaching experience necessitates that participants think critically and reflect about teaching. The article describes an international student teaching component at two Minnesota colleges. After 7 weeks of student teaching in the United States, participants spend 6 weeks in British…

Designed to promote equitable and fair student teacher practicum supervision and evaluation, contextual supervision (CS) can be used by both college and school-based supervisors. This approach is supported by current reforms in teacher education, contemporary supervisory models, and validation in actual practice. (IAH)

Recounts insights gained from shadowing a student-teacher supervisor at Kenyatta University, Kenya, noting difficulties faced when coping with deficient facilities, insufficient funding and personnel, cultural opposition to education, and classroom management. Provides information on the Kenyan University System and teacher preparation, campus…

Surveys of Australian, English, Irish, and Scottish classroom teachers who hosted U.S. student teachers examined factors contributing to program success. Most believed the experience benefitted their schools and students. Though they reported some adjustment difficulties, most were not insurmountable. They believed U.S. students advanced in many…