Position: Senior Lecturer
Teacher Education Program, UTS School of Education
International prac location: Samoa
I have accompanied UTS pre-service teachers in our Primary Education program on two International Professional Experiences (IPEs) to Samoa, one in 2012 and the other in 2016. As a tertiary advisor to these pre-service teachers, I have accompanied them to local schools in Apia and supported them, both in their teaching placement but also in broadening their cultural experiences. Being ‘on the ground’ with the pre-service teachers is so professionally enriching for me as well; we share in the planning of lessons, I can both observe them teaching and assist them if needed, and then reflect collaboratively also. I am also there to help with any ‘just-in-time’ troubleshooting, if needed.
The professional growth, as well as the personal growth, afforded by the IPE is something that is unique. There are challenges teaching in an unfamiliar cultural context, which raise awareness about assumptions that we hold. For example, there are so many learning technologies that we can draw on in an Australian school context; in Samoan schools, our pre-service teachers need to creatively and flexibly design and teach lessons in the absence of access to such technologies.
I believe the IPE helps to positively contribute to strengthening the professional identity of pre-service teachers. It focuses each of us on the essence of quality teaching — the importance of the relationship that’s built between the teacher and the learners.
One of the strengths of the UTS IPE, I believe, lies in the requirement for pre-service teachers to team-teach with one another. This means that there is a great deal of professional collaboration and also that there is constant support in the classroom. Pre-service teachers can problem-solve together as they teach, and share in the joys of working in Samoan classrooms.
During our 2016 visit to Apia, we were fortunate that our visit coincided with Culture Week in the schools. We were privileged to join in the celebrations of Samoan dancing, singing, and cooking. There are cultural insights gained and relationships formed with Samoan people through this IPE that just aren’t possible as a tourist to the country — and that makes the opportunity remarkable in itself.
Samoa is such a beautiful destination too — so many fun and relaxing things to do on the weekends! A swim at the end of the school day is a must … and make time to add a few days to your trip, both before and after the placement, to explore this friendly, scenic country.