A Day to Inspire; A Lifetime to Learn: Chicago Foundation for Education (CFE) Teacher Workshop at Whitney Young High School

by Dinah Armstead The “A Day to Inspire; A Lifetime to Learn” one-day teacher’s conference in Chicago certainly lived up to its title. It was very exciting, fast paced, and packed full of stories, lessons, tools and networking opportunities for teachers.  Here I’ll describe one of the workshops I attended, but first I’ll pass on some information that may prove to be very important to educators reading this blog. Part of what I did was to help out by sitting at the University of Illinois...

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2012 High School Essay Contest: Open Now

The European Union Center at the University of Illinois announces its ninth annual high school essay contest. All participants (teachers and students) who invest serious effort in research and writing will receive a certificate of participation.  The best essays will be singled out and honored with a first, second-, and third-place award. The first place winner will receive a $200 cash prize, and the teacher of the winning student will win a place on a study tour to Europe in Summer...

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Coming Soon: Euro Challenge 2013

Credit © European Union, 2012 The Euro Challenge 2013 is an exciting educational opportunity for high school students (grades 9 and 10) to learn about the European Union (EU) – the largest trading partner of the US – and its single currency, the euro. For the competition, students research problems and solutions to Europe's economic challenges. A team of three to five students presents its findings in a competition format. The best teams from each region travel to NYC to compete in the national...

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Career Opportunities in the EU

by Alicia Henry In which region of the world have United States businesses made the greatest investment? China? Japan? India? Latin America? Africa? Russia? If you answered “no” to all of the above, give yourself a pat on the back. U.S. investment in Europe is sixteen times greater than in China, India, Brazil and Russia combined! The transatlantic economy employs fifteen million people. Within the European Union, U.S. businesses have the potential to reach 500 million consumers in a single market....

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Teacher Development Outside the Conference Room, Outside the Box, indeed, Outside the Country

by Fanny Clonch This year not only did I attended a meaningful professional development workshop offered by the European Center of the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, but I was actually given the chance to go to Brussels and visit many of the institutions we talked about during the “Food and Energy Security and Sustainability” four-day workshop. How often does a Chicago Public School teacher get to stroll the street of Brussels and Luxembourg? Considering that the resources of the...

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The Production of Chocolate: A Sweet Social studies Lesson

By Christine La Rue Part of the University of Illinois European Union Center’s 2012 Summer Study Tour included a visit to Barry Callebaut in Belgium, which is the largest chocolate factory worldwide. The production begins with the cocoa bean to the finished chocolate product. Our visit began with coffee and a taste of their delicious chocolate. As I sampled their fine chocolate, it reminded me of the many lessons I have done on the history of chocolate, and how it relates to many socials...

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Barry Callebaut: The Economics of Willy Wonka

by James Garcia To answer the most pressing question, no, there were no Oompa-Loompas. As a part of the European Union Center 2012 Summer Study Tour to Belgium and Luxembourg, the tour participants toured the Barry Callebaut chocolate factory in Wieze, Belgium.  Barry Callebaut is an industrial chocolate producer, which means that they supply companies with liquid base chocolate, or other bulk chocolate products. Those products are then used by so-called “artisan” chocolatiers or companies...

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Europe's Future Firsthand

by Letitia Zwickert US news paints a concerning picture of eurozone stability and the future of the European Union. We are often faced with headlines such as: “Can the EU Survive Europe’s Crisis?” , “The European Union is Falling Apart”, and more recently “The Euro Crisis: Back to the Brink”.  From within this environment of concern and uncertainty, a group of teachers, politicians and a journalist ventured out, beyond the US to two European capitals, and the heart of it...

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Peace and Prosperity: The Underlying Purpose of the European Union

by Chris Bryant For those currently cynical and skeptical about the European Union, I have some advice: go visit a cemetery from one of the numerous wars fought in Europe. That ought to put things in perspective for you. It is no secret that the European Union is in crisis. By all accounts, it is extremely serious. We are in “day to day” territory. It is impossible to make predictions about what will happen. Some see catastrophe, others see some minor reforms coming and others see opportunity...

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From Brussels to Luxembourg; A Gardener's Perspective

by Kristin Aye-Guerrero As I was scurrying about preparing to make pickles from my cucumbers in the garden, my mind drifts back to Europe. This year’s EU Center summer study tour took us to Brussels and Luxembourg. I would like to thank the EU Center, Illinois Trade Office in Brussels, University of Luxembourg, as well as the EU for this trip. The theme of our visit and four-day work shop before we departed was titled; “Seeking Sustainable and Secure Connections in Food, Energy, and Governance”....

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European Union Center 2012 Summer Curriculum Development Workshop: Food & Energy Security and Sustainability: A Comparative Look at the European Union and the US

2012 Summer Curriculum Development WorkshopFood & Energy Security and Sustainability: A Comparative Look at the European Union and the US Tuesday, June 12 - Friday, June 15, 2012 Pertinent Info On-line registration Schedule Background Readings The University of Illinois and The European Union Center (EUC) invites K-12 and community college educators to take part in this 3 1/2-day workshop to develop a more effective curriculum on energy and food security and sustainability issues...

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Curriculum Development Workshop visits Local Farm

On June 15, members of the EUC staff and attendees of the 2012 Summer Curriculum Development Workshop visited the Prairie Fruit Farm and Creamery, a farm located in Champaign, IL. This visit was part of the workshop's theme, "Food and Energy Security and Sustainability." Check out a photo album of the visit here. Curriculum Development Workshop visits Local Farmvar a2a_config = a2a_config || {};a2a_config.linkname_escape=1;a2a_config.linkurl="http://eucenterillinois-teachers.blogspot.com/201...

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