tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-48776153008696437572024-03-13T22:28:10.273-05:00Teachers' CornerIllinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.comBlogger40125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-2327414242262098622017-10-17T10:24:00.000-05:002017-10-17T11:35:48.625-05:00Letitia Zwickert Talks TED on EdWeek Blog<i>By Cassia Smith</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlk1DjAQEIbRkRvODo3EvUhpFtlfCe_uIPVwgalL09UZw8uR6yUXIeWt13GO5OYONldMgwywY5vkGxNhxhrv5w4RaX2Z7Pd3KaPjqI1TQFdD8gLHcZ6XcuqzKgKls_PLAcFhQYixloD4/s1600/LZwickert.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="410" data-original-width="430" height="190" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIlk1DjAQEIbRkRvODo3EvUhpFtlfCe_uIPVwgalL09UZw8uR6yUXIeWt13GO5OYONldMgwywY5vkGxNhxhrv5w4RaX2Z7Pd3KaPjqI1TQFdD8gLHcZ6XcuqzKgKls_PLAcFhQYixloD4/s200/LZwickert.jpg" width="200" /></a>EUC Affiliate Teacher Letitia Zwickert, K-12 educator and Fulbright-Schuman recipient, has written a <a href="http://blogs.edweek.org/edweek/global_learning/2017/10/how_to_be_an_engaged_educator.html">guest post</a> on being an engaged educator for the Education Week blog. In it, she mentions the European Union Center's Transatlantic Educators Dialog (TED) program, along with other resources. If you're looking for ideas for your classroom, this is a brief article packed with helpful strategies.<br />
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If you want to continue exploring this topic, you can follow both <a href="https://twitter.com/LetitiaZwickert">Letitia</a> and the <a href="https://twitter.com/eucenter">EUC</a> on Twitter. There are also <a href="http://europe.illinois.edu/events/k-12-resources/">more K-12 resources on the EUC website</a>.Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-31870699470847563822017-05-03T13:26:00.000-05:002017-05-03T13:26:16.398-05:00Nordic Models of Education Course Development: Part One - Welcome to Sweden, Arctic adventures, and the central role of nature in the identity of Sami children <i>
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeremie and Betty representing the Orange and Blue!</i></td></tr>
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By Jeremie Smith <br /><br />
Jeremie Smith, Outreach Coordinator at the Center for Global Studies (CGS), is collaborating with University of Illinois’ alum, Betty Trummel, to develop a new College of Education study abroad course,</i> Nordic Models of Education. <i>The study abroad course, designed especially for pre-service teachers and other College of Education students, will debut during the Spring of 2018. <br /><br />
This course development is supported by the Center for Global Studies, the European Union Center, and the College of Education. Jeremie and Betty are currently on a course-planning trip in Sweden, Finland, and Norway. Jeremie will write blog posts during the course development trip to share his experiences and preview the course.
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After being greeted by our two of our Swedish hosts, Ingrid and Curt, at the Lulea airport, Betty and I went to their home for a dinner of locally sourced food. This “welcome to Sweden” feast included reindeer, lingonberries, fresh root vegetables, and a very thin wafer-like bread. It was a delicious meal after the four long flights I took to get to Lulea (Champaign to Chicago to London to Stockholm to Lulea).<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSp2w3ErG9V_VHxvD_7ip0157BVsAaCsftzlvrnaJl8X0BgCaPIVX14GOFyVLd27A7tXK3hLEuaOSufx0ndzHBmd4nD36YYQc7k3GOJcaaHXdZVfJvZFp0SthfC6wjpOIsbBewDqSEZE/s1600/Jeremie+1_1.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSp2w3ErG9V_VHxvD_7ip0157BVsAaCsftzlvrnaJl8X0BgCaPIVX14GOFyVLd27A7tXK3hLEuaOSufx0ndzHBmd4nD36YYQc7k3GOJcaaHXdZVfJvZFp0SthfC6wjpOIsbBewDqSEZE/s320/Jeremie+1_1.png" width="319" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Snowmobile=essential arctic transportation</i></td></tr>
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During dinner, Ingrid, a retired teacher, described her decades of experience as an elementary school teacher in Lulea and explained how experiential learning experiences are a hallmark of the education of children in Sweden. Her students were accustomed to taking many field trips and engaged in multidisciplinary project-based learning at a very young age. We also discussed how cultivating independence in young children is a central aim of elementary education in her country. <br />
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The next morning, Betty and I embarked on a road trip to the family cabin of Gunnar Jonsson, a science teacher-educator at Lulea Technical University. This drive took us 275 miles north, passing the Arctic Circle marker and stopping at the Sami Cultural Museum in Jokkmokk. Though small, this museum had an extensive collection of artifacts and explanations of the cultural relevance of the cold climate, reindeer, and the traditional homeland of the Sami people which spans across northern sections of Norway, Sweden, Finland and Russia (often referred to as “Lapland”). As we continued, we ran into a bit of a late April blizzard, which is evidentially not uncommon in the Arctic. When we arrived near Gunnar’s cabin, located on the glacial lake Tornetrask, there was too much snow to approach the cabin by car, so he met us at the road to take us the final 4 km to his cabin by snowmobile. <br />
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During dinner, we had edifying conversations about one of Dr. Jonsson’s research projects that included a comparison of how different communities of children perceive nature and their relationship with the natural world. The methodology of this research focused on drawings produced by 8-11 year olds in several countries, including Sweden, Denmark, the USA, and Australia. For this task, he asked students to draw a response to the prompt, “What will your life look like in 30 years?” He showed us several drawings from different communities of children which focused on home life and their future jobs. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAAXIUE7vlmbAmmCXHNFmG7LmymzNW9uYs44ZiJSUv7PnU2Pe8_2SelSbYAr5Zc-KLLcdaWE8iqb8gnUEgvkwNS-g_AJHp9kRLyu7xgyNPNKcO0idva_lurMsuq1BXX59Mw44Yj6SoLU/s1600/Jeremie+1_3.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="224" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNAAXIUE7vlmbAmmCXHNFmG7LmymzNW9uYs44ZiJSUv7PnU2Pe8_2SelSbYAr5Zc-KLLcdaWE8iqb8gnUEgvkwNS-g_AJHp9kRLyu7xgyNPNKcO0idva_lurMsuq1BXX59Mw44Yj6SoLU/s320/Jeremie+1_3.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Swedish child's perception of their future in 30 years (Focused on work and home life)</i></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81A0lTFmkjOdW12gLYLu-WmroMF9LF34ogvKzi7iyAW9x6BnNF6Lh4fvQfxiD-tUHD7iQ6di3RFGfMgv5FbM6dxDjnXcg2reBWmIJN7K9t_cNpariivzkffxfQINN4XVVfDjH9YEprZI/s1600/Jeremie+1_4.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="232" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj81A0lTFmkjOdW12gLYLu-WmroMF9LF34ogvKzi7iyAW9x6BnNF6Lh4fvQfxiD-tUHD7iQ6di3RFGfMgv5FbM6dxDjnXcg2reBWmIJN7K9t_cNpariivzkffxfQINN4XVVfDjH9YEprZI/s320/Jeremie+1_4.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sami child's perception of their future in 30 years (Notice the cactus and the ecological bubble in which snow is falling. This reveals a strident fear of climate change hurting the Sami way of life.)</td></tr>
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Most fascinating were the several drawings from Sami children, deeply rooted in nature, and often featured reindeer, frozen landscapes, fish and other animals. One drawing was particularly memorable because it expressed a clear concern about the impact of climate change on the child’s way of life, depicting reindeer skulls in a desolate, cactus-laden scene and a bubble in which they could preserve the cold climate and Sami way of life. This theme of concern about how climate change will impact the natural world, people, and cultural traditions of the Arctic region was ever-present as several people mentioned it to us and it was the subject of a special exhibit at the Sami cultural museum.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><i>Jeremie and Betty with Gunnar's cabin in the background</i></td></tr>
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After dinner at Gunnar’s cabin, we talked for several hours about education policy, teacher training, and other matters related to public education and did not notice the time pass as the late night sun was shining brightly. That evening was my first experience with the extraordinarily long days one can find in the warmer months of a far northern region. I realize now it is one thing to know intellectually that the sun would be a near constant companion and another thing altogether to experience the disorientation of such long days. <br />
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The next morning, by a fortunate coincidence, the biggest annual ice fishing competition in Scandinavia was being held on the lake. After watching the more adept fishermen vigorously drill holes in the meter deep ice and lay down to peer into the clear glacial lake water, I tried my hand at ice fishing with no success. Take my word for it, ice fishing is both more fun and more difficult than it appears. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWcS-2tMXBjlgEG_SXbIPhdjiO7IEx8aCH-I8JU7KJXM_Nh17MACGxJ-gWoKHDGUjGdpxefuGOGgF0iPeJcWuBG2FOSbh5eAPa3070n2_zDkDlKHwFmvuCWmGPXZHKZRLMZuxugK9b8o/s1600/Jeremie+1_5.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjuWcS-2tMXBjlgEG_SXbIPhdjiO7IEx8aCH-I8JU7KJXM_Nh17MACGxJ-gWoKHDGUjGdpxefuGOGgF0iPeJcWuBG2FOSbh5eAPa3070n2_zDkDlKHwFmvuCWmGPXZHKZRLMZuxugK9b8o/s200/Jeremie+1_5.png" width="200" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMM3DZ0Yw-pbROq0q3IIXJXlgmss6H7WVr6xE_hm3JBF9OpTsLEctWzkyqYqGUrluB5wUZi0fJOqyWnSOUxBMYQ1KeOwltk1RwrSl1S8wNQ_SVaooKCNq8g0sZXkqO0ML7U6TkUajzt4/s1600/Jeremie+1_6.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtMM3DZ0Yw-pbROq0q3IIXJXlgmss6H7WVr6xE_hm3JBF9OpTsLEctWzkyqYqGUrluB5wUZi0fJOqyWnSOUxBMYQ1KeOwltk1RwrSl1S8wNQ_SVaooKCNq8g0sZXkqO0ML7U6TkUajzt4/s200/Jeremie+1_6.png" width="200" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-size: x-small;"><i>Jeremie learns how to drill the ice holes and tries ice fishing (without success)</i></span></div>
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We then proceeded to Abisko National Park, in the northern most region of Sweden. There, we investigated the possibility of rental cabins for University of Illinois students next year and guided tours/science education workshops with scientists working at the park. Driving back to Gunnar’s cabin, it struck me that the region is stark, foreboding, and beautiful beyond description. <br />
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In the next few days, we will visit local schools and Lulea Technical University’s teacher education program. I am grateful for the learning opportunity and am keen to share with other educators that join us for the study abroad course next spring.<br />
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<i><b>Author's Note:</b></i><br />
<i><b>If you are interested in reading more about Dr. Gunnar Jonsson’s research, I recommend the journal article, “Too Hot for Reindeer, Voicing Sami Children’s Visions for the Future” - <a href="http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2012.672668">http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/10382046.2012.672668</a></b></i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-76503619502883843082016-04-27T11:43:00.000-05:002016-04-27T11:43:16.958-05:00Transatlantic Educator's Dialogue (TED) Series-Week Eight<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OhaYHcCvHRg4rC1Mh5QbSraZ6DIaeou6bA-79g13-tjWc-mIU-0I97Jtc4oKnxXskP1JK5a0Qtxs8ytsjU9QM-y8Qbnt8FaXgtML_BYnlGkyb2MzlgY0WbIAKvo19VEPOIoS8fhLp90/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj6OhaYHcCvHRg4rC1Mh5QbSraZ6DIaeou6bA-79g13-tjWc-mIU-0I97Jtc4oKnxXskP1JK5a0Qtxs8ytsjU9QM-y8Qbnt8FaXgtML_BYnlGkyb2MzlgY0WbIAKvo19VEPOIoS8fhLp90/s320/ted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life.
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<b>Week Eight Prompt</b>: Please discuss how your country has approached recent developments in technology, especially information technology. Do many people use the internet? How fast is wifi and mobile networks? Does your country conduct frequent initiatives to further technological development, or is it left primarily to the private sector? Is there a vibrant local technology market, or are high-technologies exported in from other countries? Which technological sectors is your country primarily known for? Are the people of your country consume much technology, or do they tend to spend their money on other items? How heavily engaged are the people of your country on facebook or other social media sites? Does your country have strong measures in place to address new areas of cybercrime like identity theft, online bullying, hacking, etc?<br />
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Bulgaria’s Tech Industry</b><br />
<i>Lindsay Ozburn, MAEUS<br /><br />
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While an admittedly small country in Europe, it has been growing as a tech giant since the early 2000s. According to Forbes, Bulgaria is ranked 5th in world for high-quality broadband and 1st in Europe. Despite having some of the fastest internet in the world, as of 2013 only 53.1% of Bulgarians use the internet, according to the World Bank. Regardless, the country is becoming known as Europe’s Silicon Valley, steadily growing the technology and IT industry since – with the exception of 2008-2010 during the peak of the European financial crisis (Marko Benda, <a href="http://edukwest.eu/bulgaria-europes-silicon-valley/">edukwest.eu</a>, 2015). According to Benda, while Bulgaria’s market is considered one of the least developed in Europe, steady growth is expected to push Bulgaria amongst giants. <br />
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Bulgaria has a wealth of high-skilled programmers, working for hundreds of smaller software companies. These smaller companies hold contracts with some the world’s biggest customers, including BMW, Boeing, CISCO, HP, vmware, and Nortel, according to the “Information Technology in Bulgaria” report published with support from the European Fund for Regional Development. As these skilled laborers are relatively low-cost compared to other parts of the world, they are often the recipients of outsourcing from large businesses in major countries such as the US. Additionally, their strategic geographic location allows them access to European, Russian, and some Asian markets. Bulgaria’s IT industry appears to be a good mix of private and public companies, and some NGOs, as well.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-1699094469442747442016-04-05T09:30:00.000-05:002016-04-05T09:30:03.506-05:00TRANSATLANTIC EDUCATOR'S DIALOGUE (TED) SERIES – Week Seven<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life. </i><br />
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Week Seven Prompt</b>: How does your country handle issues of bullying and youth violence. Who makes the decisions regarding what is or is not acceptable? Are they done at the school level, school district level, state/provincial or national level? Has there been national attention or top-level efforts to stop bullying and youth violence? Have they been successful? In the last ten years, has there been a stand-out case or cases that brought media attention to this topic? Is bullying more common in a particular level of education (elementary, secondary, post-secondary) or is it widespread?<br />
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<b>“I am not scared” – Combating Violence and Bullying in Bulgarian Schools</b><br />
Lindsay Ozburn, MAEUS Student<br />
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As technological advancements have crept into many corners of the world, so, too, has cyberbullying amongst young children and teenagers. The European Commission and several member states have recognized this increase in bullying amongst its youth over the past decade. In response, several countries, including Bulgaria, have participated in the “I am not scared” project, supported by the European Commission under the Lifelong Learning Program. Bulgaria has participated in this program since 2010, aiming to “identify the best European strategies to prevent bullying”, with a bottom-up approach (<a href="http://iamnotscared.pixel-online.org/files/exploitation/press/psye%20org.pdf" target="_blank">Staneva, 2011:79, 87</a>). In Bulgaria, it is supported specifically by Zinev Art Technologies.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniCSTAcgSkKEdDOrWDq-0qMwswMyzm7EuPa-sfTWTH7Af-mXsvU09p91unuN-K0hDLAeBjcyM_KbUlu0sxwUW1AENCjWnNcZ8BA0Q2b723OFCSuXAWDSeZfzSL1pQqQCn6J99PbExVSk/s1600/stop-bullying.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgniCSTAcgSkKEdDOrWDq-0qMwswMyzm7EuPa-sfTWTH7Af-mXsvU09p91unuN-K0hDLAeBjcyM_KbUlu0sxwUW1AENCjWnNcZ8BA0Q2b723OFCSuXAWDSeZfzSL1pQqQCn6J99PbExVSk/s320/stop-bullying.png" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Figure 1: uclacommons.com</td></tr>
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According to a poll conducted in 2006, almost 70% of Bulgarian students admitted there were cases of aggression in their school, with three-quarters of parental responders citing poor family environment and lack of discipline at school as the main proponents of this aggression (Dimitriova, 2006). Polling performed by UNICEF in 2007 showed the 25% of children believed they were bullied once a week or more (Staneva, 2011:83). In regards to cyberbullying, again, 25% of teenagers 10-14 believed they were bullied at least once a week, through a variety of electronic mediums. Adding to this issue is the unlikelihood of a child reporting the bullying, according to Staneva.<br />
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While Bulgaria does participate in the “I am not scared” program, it does not currently have state policy to reduce or prevent violence and bullying in schools. There are resources, however, for children in situations of domestic abuse or bullying outside of the family. One in particular, the National Programme for Child Protection, offers support “for the better coordination and implementation of sectoral policies to achieve more effective protection of fundamental rights of children in Bulgaria” (Staneva, 2011:86).<br />
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For more information and statistics on violence and bullying in Bulgaria, including the “I am not scared” project, see <a href="http://iamnotscared.pixel-online.org/files/exploitation/press/psye%20org.pdf" target="_blank">Zornitsa Staneva’s article</a>.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-42508979450908283132016-03-30T11:59:00.002-05:002016-03-30T11:59:28.475-05:00TRANSATLANTIC EDUCATOR'S DIALOGUE (TED) SERIES-Week Six<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uTC5YnHKRuPU2H4WtPZgSrfY0BlytLEOqSs-4JtNBzF203uZLEHYeSUyexfmAdtpRk4qnIfvWADU2fHEDjqKFgoCC_RYf0MGKlQk3H9mEy8IdoM7D4SjMQDN7yiMFxb_erxBTHvaFjo/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uTC5YnHKRuPU2H4WtPZgSrfY0BlytLEOqSs-4JtNBzF203uZLEHYeSUyexfmAdtpRk4qnIfvWADU2fHEDjqKFgoCC_RYf0MGKlQk3H9mEy8IdoM7D4SjMQDN7yiMFxb_erxBTHvaFjo/s320/ted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life.</i> <br />
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<b>Week Six Prompt:</b>How does your country approach higher education? What is the student debt situation like? How many colleges and universities does the country have? Are any of them world-renown / famous? How is the transition between their high-school analogue and university handled? Do students frequently get scholarships, or do they tend to pay for themselves? Do good students get automatic acceptance into public universities?
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<b><u>Bulgaria in Higher Education</u></b>
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Like many EU member states, Bulgaria has been steadily making progress in higher education reform in the 1990s, driven by Bulgaria’s necessity to revitalize their economy and labor force.
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According to the <a href="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/">Fulbright Office of Bulgaria</a>, the country has 51 accredited higher education institutions – 37 public, and 14 private. There are four different types of higher education institutions: Higher Education College, University, Specialized Higher Education Institution, and Academy. Admission to these higher schools, in general, requires entrance exams and a diploma from a completed secondary education. Admission requirements do vary, though, depending on the nature of the higher education institute (i.e., technical schools have different requirements than university).
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Cost of living and attending higher education institutes in Bulgaria is very low, compared to the United States, making attending a university more feasible for individuals in the middle class. Tuition rates in the mid 2000s were between 2,500 and 5,000 euros, depending on the school (tended to be more expensive at trade schools). No recent (within the past few years) data is available on student loan debt ratios, from what I can dig up in English; but, in the early 2000s, scholars began suggesting Bulgaria implement a stronger student loan program to accommodate students from poorer socioeconomic backgrounds. Since Bulgaria participates in an EU-wide education initiative that provides funding to schools for a variety of educational needs, it is likely that they provide more financial support than universities in the U.S. It is unclear to me, at this point, though, whether or not Bulgaria offers free tuition in any form to its citizens, like most other European nations.
</div>
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-57121707146951283262016-03-12T14:59:00.000-06:002016-03-12T14:59:26.192-06:00Transatlantic Educator's Dialogue (TED) Series-Week Five<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uTC5YnHKRuPU2H4WtPZgSrfY0BlytLEOqSs-4JtNBzF203uZLEHYeSUyexfmAdtpRk4qnIfvWADU2fHEDjqKFgoCC_RYf0MGKlQk3H9mEy8IdoM7D4SjMQDN7yiMFxb_erxBTHvaFjo/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6uTC5YnHKRuPU2H4WtPZgSrfY0BlytLEOqSs-4JtNBzF203uZLEHYeSUyexfmAdtpRk4qnIfvWADU2fHEDjqKFgoCC_RYf0MGKlQk3H9mEy8IdoM7D4SjMQDN7yiMFxb_erxBTHvaFjo/s320/ted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life. </i><br />
<br />
<b>
Week Five Prompt: Please write about your country's immigration policy, esp. now during the current refugee crisis. How many refugees have they let in, and how many more do they plan to admit? What sort of migrants (if any)? Is it their decision, or is your country being compelled by the European Union? Is there support for this additional immigration in the country you are studying? Has there been a far right party backlash?</b><br />
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<b>Bulgaria and the refugee crisis</b><br />
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Up until the recent immigration crisis, Bulgaria applied the EU’s visa policy to its national law since January of 2007. Bulgaria, however, is not part of the Schengen Zone – the EU’s transnational free travel zone that is now, due to the refugee crisis, at risk. Since Bulgaria does not participate in the Schengen Zone, only national visas are issued, and these do not necessarily allow travel into the EU. According to <a href="http://www.mfa.bg/en/pages/109/index.html">the Bulgarian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website</a>, foreign visitors entering Bulgaria must be in possession of regular foreign travel documents, as well as a visa if planning any length of stay (Visa C or D) or for airport transit (Visa A). Visas must be submitted at least 3 months ahead of time. According to the site, persons applying for long stay visas under asylum or in relation to refugee status are <b>not</b> required to provide extensive document when applying for the visa.<br />
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Having signed and ratified the European Convention for the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms and cooperating with EU law implementation, Bulgaria produced a national law called the ‘Law on Asylum and Refugees’ (LAR) to cope with forced migration. Under the LAR, there are four types of protection for immigrants seeking asylum: asylum, refugee statues, humanitarian status, and temporary protection. For the purposes of the current refugee crisis: asylum is granted to those persecuted for reasons of their convictions or expression of rights and freedoms; refugee status is granted to those who have a well-founded fear of persecution based on race, religion, nationality, social circles, or political opinion and does not have protection in their home country; humanitarian status is granted due to forced migration under threat of serious harm; and temporary protection is granted <b>“in the event of mass influx of foreign nationals who are forced to leave the country of origin as a result of an armed conflict, civil war, foreign aggression, large-scale violations of human rights, or violence in the territory”</b> (<a href="http://www.migrationeducation.org/36.1.html?&rid=202&cHash=5c19ffc76c01bfc89ef19da584aabfe0">Migrant Citizenship Education, Bulgaria</a>). <br />
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With all of this information, how does Bulgaria actually handle the Syrian refuges? According to many reports, Syrian refugees avoid settling in Bulgaria because there is little to no monetary of physical aid available to them; nor are the welcomed or wanted in the country (<a href="http://america.aljazeera.com/articles/2015/9/17/in-bulgaria-refugee-struggle-underlines-evasive-european-dream.html">Ayres, 2015</a>). But, Bulgaria has accepted their refugee quota imposed by the EU, processing 10,600 asylum requests by August of 2015. Riddled with corruption, a weak economy, and anti-refugee sentiment at the moment, the country is not a viable place to start a new life. If there is funding support from the EU, it is not being disseminated to the refugees, who are being housed in former Communist party buildings and given meager living stipends. Additionally, while these refugees have the option and right to attend school, immigrant integration programs are few and far between. <br />
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To stem some of the illegal migration, Bulgaria erected a barbed-wire fence along the Turkish border and increased patrols. As of January 2016, the UNHCR has been extremely concerned over the safety of refugees attempting to cross the Bulgarian borders due to several reported deaths. They also remained concerned due to multiple reports of abuse and extortion against refugees seeking asylum in Bulgaria (<a href="http://www.unhcr.org/56aa19556.html">UNHCR</a>). Like many other conservative EU member states, it is possible Bulgaria does not welcome these refugees due to differences in religion. Unfortunately for those with anti-refugee sentiments, the crisis is not predicted to stop anytime soon. As one of the gatekeeper countries to the EU, Bulgaria is in very serious need of physical and monetary assistance to help both usher those refugees seeking passage to northern Europe and provide humane assistance to those wishing to settle in the country.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-32750086893722197932016-03-05T15:28:00.000-06:002016-03-05T15:28:10.089-06:00Transatlantic Educator's Dialogue (TED) Series-Week Four<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s320/ted.jpg" /></a></div>
<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life. </i><br />
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<b>
Week Four Prompt: Please write about your country's youth employment situation, remedies, and the availability of youth programs in general.</b><br />
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<b>Bulgaria’s Youth</b><br />
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Youth unemployment, defined as ages 15-29 by the National Youth Strategy (2020), has been very high in Bulgaria. Statistics from 2015 report the highest percentage at 22.5% unemployed in March 2015, and its lowest at 20.4% unemployment in September (<a href="http://www.tradingeconomics.com/bulgaria/youth-unemployment-rate">tradingeconomics.com</a>). According to the <a href="https://www.blogger.com/ec.europa.eu%5Csocial%5CBlobServlet?docId=13464&langId=en">Employment, Social Affairs, & Inclusion report</a>, Unemployment appears to be slightly decreasing since 2014. However, with the Eurozone in flux, these numbers likely change with every quarter.<br />
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In response to this high unemployment rate, the Bulgarian government partakes in and EU-wide program to support young people not in employment or educational training, in regions with unemployment rates above 25%. This program, The Youth Employment Initiative (2012), is support by the European Commission to implement <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1079&langId=en">the Youth Guarantee </a>schemes. Under Youth Guarantee, member states are encouraged to put measures in place to ensure good quality employment offers, continued education, or an apprenticeship/traineeship within four months of leaving school or being unemployed (<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1176">EU Commission</a>).<br />
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For the year 2014-2015, Bulgaria, with support from the European Commission and several other countries, requested an advance of one billion euros to the YEI, for use by all member states. This was meant to speed up the implementation time for the Youth Guarantee scheme created by the EU institutions. The funding can directly support high-quality traineeships and apprenticeships (the meaning of ‘support’ is unclear), placement for first job post-college, start-up support for young entrepreneurs, and educational training. According to <a href="http://www.youthpolicy.org/national/Bulgaria_2012_Youth_Policy_Briefing.pdf">the Country Sheet on Youth Policy in Bulgaria</a>, (2012), the Ministry of Education, Youth, and Science is responsible for youth initiatives and programs, including their implementation. The Ministry’s goal is to make Bulgaria attractive to all young people by establishing economic and educational opportunities.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-9752215295147711662016-02-21T12:46:00.001-06:002016-02-21T12:46:42.962-06:00Transatlantic Educator's Dialogue (TED) Series - Week Three<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s320/ted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life. </i><br />
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<b>Week Three: Prompt – Please write about your country's educational systems and relationship to EU. Focus in particular on its structure, both within the government and within the actual system (ie: how do they organize their school levels?)</b>
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<b>Bulgaria’s education sector</b><br />
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Across the EU, member states are supported by the Directorate General for Education and Culture, who is responsible for policy and the management of initiatives – most notably, the Erasmus+ program. They are to support member states in developing coherent policies for: schools, vocational education and training, higher education, and adult education (<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/index_en.htm" target="_blank">EU Commission</a>). According to <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/education/policy/index_en.htm" target="_blank">the Fulbright Bulgarian American Commission for Education Exchange</a>, the education system in Bulgaria is supported and governed through the Ministry of Education and Science on the member state level. They and the DG for Education and Culture create and implement education policy, working together to achieve EU-wide goals of improving educational standards and completion rates.<br />
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School systems in Bulgaria consist of public and private sectors, similar to the US. Public secondary <br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/#prettyPhoto" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;" target="_blank"><img alt="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/#prettyPhoto" border="0" height="263" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEit94fFQwYetiHjMIcxYdWr7q4zn7QRggo1EENG-48mYwO9CGGwTjPdXTeQ8zy2hJbOeDaFpAwVbkn1h8sQsP1WpZUbY0S49mz5iZel-92qRwJ7f5zR_inJAo_gX8FuTs7r2NhIxB14XnU/s320/chart.tif" title="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/#prettyPhoto" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/#prettyPhoto" target="_blank"><i>Table 1</i> Fulbright Bulgarian American Commission for Education Exchange</a></td></tr>
</tbody></table>
schools include: general education, vocational, language schools and foreign schools. Additionally, there are fifty-one higher education institutions in Bulgaria for undergraduate and graduate (Master’s and PhD) degrees. This chart shows a comparison of age-to-grade levels, as well compulsory and basic education levels.<br />
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Education in Bulgaria is compulsory – or, required by law – from the ages of 7-16. Basic education (grades 1-8) are divided in two parts: primary school (grades 1-4) and pre-secondary school (grades 5-8). The upper secondary level following the receipt of a Basic Education Completion Certificate is broken down into three types of schools: comprehensive (general) secondary schools, profile-oriented schools (literature, mathematics, humanities, etc.), and vocational-technical schools. Secondary education is a stepping stone a job within a particular trade or to university. In higher education, there are four types of institutions: Higher Education College, University, Specialized Higher Education Institutions (technical schools), and Academy. Higher Ed offers degrees for: “Specialist in…”, First or Bachelor’s, Second or Master’s, and Third or PhD. (<a href="http://www.fulbright.bg/en/educational-services/educational-services-for-visiting-us-schools/educational-system-of-bulgaria/#prettyPhoto" target="_blank">See Fulbright site for more info</a>). Schools are accredited by the Ministry of education and Science of the Republic of Bulgaria and various other accreditation agencies.<br />
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Primary and pre-secondary (basic education level) is free in public schools. Curriculum is unified for all schools, include private. There are no honors or advanced placement courses in the school system; but, students are required to taken advanced courses in the last two years of secondary school. Like education in the U.S., the school year is divided into two terms, starting in the Fall and Spring, ending in Winter and Summer. Students are given grades at the end of each semester, based on a 6.0 scale (equivalent to 4.0 to the American system):<br />
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6 (A)= Excellent (91.5-100%)<br />
5 (B) = Very Good (80.5-91.4%)<br />
4 (C)= Good (70.5-80.4%)<br />
3 (D)= Sufficient (59.5-70.4%)<br />
2 (F)= Poor (0-59.4%)<br />
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However, as a matter of policy, schools do not rank or rate their students as a whole like the American system does.<br />
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School completion rates, particularly among the Roma, have been low compared to other areas in the EU. In the European Commission’s 2015 Education and Training Monitor on Bulgaria, it is noted that Bulgaria has not yet adopted its School Education Act, meant to address these issues. This act would assist with their higher (in comparison to the EU as a whole) under achievement rates, low job placement post-university, and would “provide a framework for implementing the comprehensive reforms needed in the school system, including modernizing curricula and improving teach training” (<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/education/tools/docs/2015/monitor2015-bulgaria_en.pdf" target="_blank">European Commission, 2015: 3</a>). While this may be the case, according to statistics in the report, Bulgaria has been improving their numbers more rapidly than the EU as a whole, across the board. As the Europe 2020 goal grows closer, I will be eagerly watching Bulgaria’s progress within the education sector.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-24566111788508173002016-02-13T13:28:00.001-06:002016-10-14T14:32:56.153-05:00Transatlantic Educator’s Dialogue (TED) Series-One: Week One and Two<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s1600/ted.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="256" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjKXMEjBaNdeL16l2EB99Ry3dhotvh2tr7YZ2iftsaUsbvI-2sT2VVkB2HV-RlAEIdY_KvSewK1aJVEn5iEvTsmXx8kT9GMznNKkk4k6M6_9QgDlrd9C9RCQKG0U15zZJKERZzckiTgl44/s320/ted.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
<i>By Lindsay Ozburn</i><br />
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<i>From January to May, the European Union Center invites educators from throughout the world to come together in an online setting and discuss important topics in modern educational practice and politics. As part of this discussion, students from the University of Illinois are invited to follow the discussion and write short posts about related topics on a country of interest. Lindsay Ozburn, a student in the EU Center’s Masters of Arts in European Union Studies program, will be contributing to this series through a multi-week study of Bulgarian politics and government. Her research will provide a thoughtful and helpful case study that will give TED participants a chance to see how their discussion topics are expressed in real life.</i><br />
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<b>Week One: Prompt – “Identify three current major news stories within your chosen country. What are they about and why are they so important? Is there one more important than the other two? Why do you think so (or not)?”</b><br />
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<b>Bulgaria, where have you gone? </b><br />
As a student in European Union studies and aficionado of Greek culture, my focus has recently been on Greece and their relationship with the EU. Hoping to become an area studies specialist, I decided to branch out from my heavy focus on Greece and turn my view to its neighbor, Bulgaria. In my initial purview on the various news networks outside of Bulgaria itself (whose validity and bias I could not ascertain; thus, I chose to stay away from their reports), I noticed a common trend: Bulgaria was mostly absent from news reports, especially in the last few months. This was very surprising to me, for two reasons: one, they are on the frontlines on the immigration crisis in the EU and are some of the ‘gatekeepers’ of the EU’s borders; two, often associated as an Eastern European country, they were very recently concerned about the threat of Russia. I’ve chosen three very different articles to share. While it appears I have chosen one important article per month for December through February, the fact of the matter is, there was only one important article published each month relating to Bulgaria (other than news about Bulgarian Olympians being excluded from the upcoming games due to steroid use; which, could be another interesting indication in itself on the state of outsider media coverage of Bulgaria).<br />
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This <a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17202996" target="_blank">first article </a>(20 January, 2016) addresses why Bulgaria has had such a difficult experience as a market economy, and offers its evidence in a unique format: a survey of major historical events and the current political powers. The article softly argues that Bulgaria’s past communist rule is the main culprit – a regime whose policies are still doing damage to this day. Bulgaria was one of the later countries to join the EU (2007), and still isn’t eligible to join the Eurozone. While the piece doesn’t address whether their absence from the Eurozone is a good or bad thing, it is possible that Bulgaria may not have survived the deflation of the Euro. Overall, the importance of this historical piece lies in its ability to share, in one location, a concise history of Bulgaria, giving readers information on the progression of post-communist effect on their market economy.<br />
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This <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/politics/2015/dec/04/david-cameron-warned-avoid-condoning-abuse-refugees-bulgarian-border" target="_blank">second article</a> (4 December, 2015) discusses British Prime Minister David Cameron’s December visit to Bulgaria, where he ruffled some feathers when he praised Bulgaria’s barbed wire fence and attack dogs on its border with Turkey – aimed at halting refugees crossing the border. His sentiments in this instance reflect Britain’s anti-refugee position, being further played out in Cameron’s purposeful recognition of Britain’s absence within the Schengen Zone treaty. Bulgaria is known for their severe mistreatment of refugees, ranging from extortion to physical abuse, robbery, and police brutality, according to a report from the Belgrade Center for Human Rights. What is especially unique about this article is Britain’s attempt to discriminate against East-European minority vis-à-vis their membership negotiations with the EU, only one and a half months after Cameron was quite chummy with the Bulgarian PM Boyko Borissov.<br />
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This <a href="http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/feb/03/eastern-european-officials-warn-eu-deal-may-not-be-acceptable" target="_blank">third article</a> (3 February, 2016) offers a view on a large issue affecting Eastern Europe’s relationship with Western European countries. Britain is currently in negotiations with EU-level bodies to bridge the gap between some of their most contested issues (member state sovereignty, immigration, and the market economy, to name a few), in order to prevent the UK from bowing out of the European Union. One of their newest negotiation treaties contained a clause which decreases welfare, to the detriment of minority groups in the UK; of which Eastern Europeans make up a significant percentage. Eastern European countries are now grappling with the choice of either rejecting the UK’s proposal, risking a “Brexit” and thereby losing protection against Russia; or, allowing their ethnic minority groups to be discriminated against. I believe this article is the most important for three reasons: first, it reiterates the fact that Bulgaria receives very little news coverage (which I discovered while doing this exercise); and, when it does, it tends to be lumped with Eastern European countries and EU-wide issues; second, it discusses the very prevalent issue of ethnic discrimination within the UK and talk of a “Brexit”, both of which are being teased out through their membership alteration negotiations; and third, it highlights the prevailing issue of ‘old’ versus ‘new’ EU member states. Collectively, these three ongoing problems could be enough to advance the already troubled atmosphere within the EU to one of noncompliance, resulting in a ripple effect across all areas of EU competence and member state cooperation.<br />
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<b>Week Two: Prompt - Please write about your country's citizenship, naturalization, and immigrant integration policies.</b><br />
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<b>Citizenship, Naturalization, and Integration in Bulgaria: Will the EU’s Gatekeeper Ever Be (Ready for) More?</b><br />
There has been much focus on Greece, Germany, and the Balkans <i>as a whole</i>, throughout this immigration crisis in the EU, and rightfully so. But, what about the individual Balkan countries? Specifically, what about Bulgaria? My initial research into Bulgaria revealed that they aren’t covered in international news on a frequent basis; and, when they have been (in the past few months), it was in the form of bad publicity for their treatment of and measures taken against refugees. Most specifically, news of barbed wire fence along their borders, and multiple reports of violent acts of racism and xenophobia. As one of the ‘gatekeepers’ to the EU, Bulgaria is prime real estate for human trafficking. They set an important precedence for all manner of immigration into the EU; for instance, how refugees will be treated and cared for on their trek through Balkans, how other land immigrants can be naturalized and become part of the EU community, etc.<br />
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After wading through pages of Bulgarian citizenship law documents and EU factsheets on Bulgaria, it appears that Bulgarian citizenship, naturalization, and immigrant integration laws are predisposed toward those who are highly educated, are already of Bulgarian descent, or those willing to devote their time to obtaining an all-encompassing knowledge of the Bulgarian language, customs, and obtain the usual residency and job status. While they have produced a very extensive, comprehensive document outlining plans for attracting third country nationals (TCN) to boost economic production, their actions in recent years do not mimic their words – specifically as it relates to TCN of a different religion or socioeconomic status.<br />
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According to Chapter 2, Section I of “Law for the Bulgarian Citizenship”, one can acquire citizenship by origin, place of birth, or by naturalization. Under citizenship by origin, you are a Bulgarian citizen if at least one of your parents is a Bulgarian citizen; or, if you are fathered by a Bulgarian citizen; or, if your origin from a Bulgarian citizen is established by a court. Under the origin clause, citizenship by parent appears to extend to adoptive and biological parents, alike, so long as they are a Bulgarian citizen. To acquire citizenship by birth, you must be born on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria or if you are found on this territory and your parents are unknown. This may potentially extend to embassies on foreign soil.<br />
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However, if a person is does not qualify for or is unable to obtain the stipulations stated above, you must file for naturalization – a process which seems complicated and difficult for those who are fleeing to Bulgaria. The most basic route to naturalization is to: ‘become of age’ (not clarified; presumably 18), file for a permit for permanent stay in the Republic of Bulgaria, not be a criminal, have an occupation and a place of residence in the country, do not have (or will be released soon from) any other citizenship, and, most interestingly, have control of the Bulgarian language “which shall be ascertained according to an Ordinance by the Minister of Education, Youth and Science”. The requirement of ‘control of the language’ is also listed under Article 13a, which addresses those obtaining a refugee or protection status.<br />
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Overall, most documents discussing citizenship, naturalization, and integration all agree that, for the sake of Bulgaria’s economy, TCN must be attracted to the country and be successfully socially integrated. While this appears to be at the expense of any individual of a lower socioeconomic status, Bulgaria’s goals indicate a desire to be a proactive ‘gatekeeper’ and sustainable member of the EU by combating trafficking, increasing economic output, and increase implementation of European legal norms by increasing their operational capacities.<br />
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<u>Sources</u>:<br />
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EU Commission. 2009. “<a href="http://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-17202996" target="_blank">The Organisation of Asylum and Migration Polices. Factsheet: Bulgaria.</a>” Updated September, 2012.<br />
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Krasteva, Anna et. al., eds. 2010. “<a href="http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/networks/european_migration_network/reports/docs/emn-studies/asylum-migration/03.bulgaria_factsheet_institutional_chart_october2012_en.pdf" target="_blank">Trends in Cross-border Workforce Migration and the Free Movement of People – Effects for Bulgaria</a>.” <i>Open Society Institute – Sofia</i>: 7-176.<br />
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<i>Law for the Bulgarian Citizenship</i>. 1998. Amended SG. 33/30, April 2010: 1-11.<br />
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<i>National Strategy on Migration, Asylum, and Integration</i> (2011-2020). 2011.
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-56566161093726820632016-02-08T09:30:00.000-06:002016-02-10T11:47:09.920-06:00Experiencing the Work of the EU in Brussels: Report from the Illinois EU Center Delegation<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<!--StartFragment--><i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;">By
Lucinda Morgan, Michele Spalding, and Matthew Krause</span></i><!--EndFragment-->
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<i><span style="font-family: "times new roman"; font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></i>
As a member of a four-person delegation sponsored by the EU Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, we greatly appreciated the opportunity to first-hand learn about the history, operations, and programming of the European Union in Brussels. We were a part of a group of approximately forty educators and university students, organized by the EU Center of Excellence at the University of North Carolina. From June 21-26, 2015, we visited EU offices and attended lectures given by various EU representatives. In addition to the intended purpose of the study tour, we were in Brussels during a very interesting time, as the EU was deciding the future of Greece’s membership due to its economic situation, so we experienced an increased amount of security and media coverage during our visits to various divisions around Brussels.<br />
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Our first official visit was to the EU Commission, where we learned about its role and functions. We learned about the origins of the EU with Robert Schuman’s 1950 speech, in which he expressed the goal of making “war but physically impossible” in the aftermath of World War II. His words quickly came to fruition, as within a year, the six founding members of the EU signed their founding ECSC Treaty, thus establishing the Commission, Parliament, Council of Ministers, and the Court of Justice. Emphasizing the importance of the EU in the world today, we learned that though the EU is only 7% of the world’s population, it represents 25% of the world’s GDP, and provides 50% of the social welfare to developing nations. In terms of voter participation, it was interesting to learn that over 90% of people vote in Belgium (they are actually fined if they do not vote), and less than 20% vote in Croatia, the Czech Republic, and Slovakia. We also discussed how since 2008, Greece’s economy had contracted by 25% since 2008, and that the only other time that such a drastic decrease has occurred was with the post-Soviet countries.<br />
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Throughout the duration of the week, we also visited a school for the children of EU diplomats and staff, and also the Education, Audiovisual, and Cultural Executive Agency, which funds more than 4,000 educational projects a years. It was interesting to learn that though Finland is often in the global spotlight for its educational achievements, Estonia also has scores at a very high level on international assessments. Though the EU creates policies regarding the environment, agriculture, and economics, it was interesting to learn that the EU Commission does not have an overall general education policy, and that some countries have more than one national education system, such as Belgium, which has three distinctively different systems.<br />
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We also had the opportunity to visit the European External Action Service (EEAS), which is the foreign and security policy service, and performs many of the same duties as the State Department in the USA. Founded by the Lisbon Treaty in 2011, the EEAS works in close cooperation with diplomatic services of member states in order to enhance the EU’s “common message” regarding defense and security, both bilaterally and globally. The EEAS has 139 Delegation Offices around the world, and coordinates trade, developmental aid, humanitarian assistance, and enlargement on behalf of the EU. We also met with the EEAS International Relations Officer for the US and Canada, and learned more about the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership (TTIP) and also the EU-US Science and Technology Cooperation Agreement that was established in 1998.<br />
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Beyond our visits to EU offices and agencies, we also experienced local culture and historic sites, such as visits to the Atomium (a unit cell of an iron cell 165 billion times that was the iconic building of the 1958 World’s Fair in Brussels—it looks like a structure from The Jetson’s cartoon) and Matonge Quarter (the Congolese neighborhood in Brussels, as The Democratic Republic of the Congo gained its independence from Belgium in 1960; there are over 100,000 Africans living in Brussels which is about 10% of the city’s population). We also very much enjoyed the outdoor cafes located near the Grand Place-Grote Market, where we devoured pots of fresh mussels and many varieties of cheese and Belgium chocolate. We are very grateful to the EU Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign for sponsoring my participation in the study tour, as well as the EU Center at the University of North Carolina for coordinating and organizing this amazing experience. It was also enriching to interact with the other participants from the other EU Centers of Excellence in the USA, as we continue to stay connected to them beyond our time in Brussels through various social media platforms.<br />
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<i>Lucinda Morgan is a PhD student in the Educational Organization, Leadership, and Policy Department at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. For the past six years, she has been the Coordinator for the Transatlantic Educators Dialogue (TED) for the EU Center at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. TED connects educators in Europe and the United States online so that they can share about their experiences teaching in the classroom and how various social issues impact their teaching and their students. For more information about TED, please see: <a href="http://europe.illinois.edu/ted/">http://europe.illinois.edu/ted/</a></i><br />
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Michele Spalding is the Assistant Dean of Student Affairs for Health Professions at Parkland College in Champaign, Illinois.</i><br />
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<i>Matthew Krause is a student at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.
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Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-33878778921351471122015-09-04T09:21:00.001-05:002015-09-06T14:44:20.908-05:00Successful Transatlantic Educators Dialogue in 2015<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>This post originally was written by Dr. Zuzana Mészárosová and published on Učiteľské Noviny" (or translated, Whiteboard Newspapers") on August 28, 2015. This post is the translated version of the original Slovakian post. The tool used was Google Translate. For the original piece, please follow <a href="http://www.ucn.sk/ucitelia/uspesny-transatlanticky-dialog-pedagogov-2015" target="_blank">this link</a>. This article has been re-presented with the blessing of the author.</i><br />
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<i>TED (Transatlantic Educators Dialogue) is a program generously sponsored by the European Union Center and the College of Education at the University of Illinois in Urbana Champaign. Testimonials such as these prove the value of the program, and demonstrate the benefits of being involved in the program. If you are interested in the program and would like more information, please visit the <a href="http://euc.illinois.edu/TED/index.html" target="_blank">webpage for TED</a>.</i><br />
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TED (Transatlantic Educators Dialogue) is a program of the American University of Illinois, which brings together experts in education in the US and Europe online and experts exchange practical experiences and discuss various educational topics to detect each other. The discussions American and European educators conducted nearly half a year online and on the final day the graduates received certificates.<br />
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BRATISLAVA - The types of educational diplomacy with education experts ensures that they take into account different aspects in the debate, discussion on education systems in the countries participants in the debates, as well as overcome many cultural barriers, misunderstandings and misconceptions.<br />
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TED 2015 is the fourth annual overseas debates about education. Online collaboration is carried out once a week. The coordinator was Lucinda Morgan, from the University of Illinois. Interaction with the Blackboard platform was used, and technical support was available from the American University. Moodle was used to exchange experiences between the parties, including discussions, debates and dialogues. All equipment and works that were created in the course of cooperation continue to be available to participants.<br />
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All participants worked in groups of eight. Each group worked independently and prepared a joint presentation and supporting materials. Americans working in the group worked on the topic of "Technology in the classroom," and we presented a vital project of European Schoolnet - eTwinning.<br />
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During the next presentations and debates, teachers learned a lot of new information on education systems in different countries of the participants of TED, various approaches, methods and forms of teaching, assessment and debate about the impact of immigration and migration, education and diversity, education in rural and urban areas, the international cooperation, and the future of education.<br />
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One of the results of TED cooperation was meeting some participants from TED 2015 on 27 June 2015 in Brussels, where they shared further exchanges and shared experiences. Transatlantic Dialogue Educators was an invaluable experience and provided benefits of online collaboration for every attendee. It was a great place for open debate and mutual comparability of education in Europe and overseas, as well as the professional development of teachers participating.<br />
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<i>Author: Dr. Zuzana Mészárosová </i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-86410883854059810812015-07-01T13:02:00.000-05:002015-07-01T13:02:39.722-05:00TED Transatlantic Educators Dialogue 2015<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">This blog was originally posted on Nataša Ljubić Klemše's <a href="https://pogledkrozprozor.wordpress.com/2015/06/29/ted-transatlantic-educators-dialogue-2015/" target="_blank">blog</a>, and has been reposted and translated with her permission.</span></i></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">by </span></i></span><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><i><span lang="EN" style="font-family: "Times New Roman",serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 107%; mso-ansi-language: EN;">Nataša Ljubić Klemše</span></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><a href="http://euc.illinois.edu/TED/index.html" target="_blank">T.E.D.</a> is a program at the University of Illinois that brings together educational experts of the United States and Europe to virtually exchange practical experiences and discuss various educational topics in order to reveal the two groups' similarities and differences.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">This kind of educational diplomacy with educational experts ensures that multiple perspectives are considered in the debate and discussion of educational systems of participants' countries, as well as overcoming many cultural barriers, misunderstandings, and misconceptions.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T.E.D. 2015 represents the fourth generation of the overseas educational talks. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">As the only participant from Croatia, I had the honor to present the state of
education in Croatia to educational experts from around the world, to introduce
them to certain components, and also to learn about the educational systems of
other countries in the world.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">Online collaboration was carried once a week for 90 minutes per session from
February to May 2015. The coordinator was Lucinda Morgan, a PhD student at the
University of Illinois. For communication, we used the Blackboard platform, and
technical support was available from the University of Illinois. Moodle was
used to exchange experiences amongst the participants, including discussions,
debates and dialogues. All facilities and works that were created during the
collaboration remain available to participants after each session.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">For the first three weeks, we got to know each other, and we went over the
logistics of TED. Then we got started with the work.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">All the participants were, according to personal interests, divided into eight
groups. Each group worked individually and prepared a joint presentation and
supporting materials. Participating in the working group "Technology in the
Classroom," I had the privilege to work with many experts from the US and
Europe. In preparation of our joint presentation, we used a number of
communication tools and worked day and night, due to the different time zones.
We prepared a presentation of "Technology in the Classroom; Yesterday,
Today and Tomorrow "in which I personally focused on the field of
education in the future. I made part of my presentation on Education 3.0, which
among other things includes eTwinning. I presented the core components of Education
3.0 and eTwinning to the class.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">During other presentations, I learned how to impress participants in the
educational system, the different approaches to teaching, the evaluation and
estimates on the impact of religion in education, homeschool education, the
impact of immigration and migration on education and diversity education in
rural and urban areas, the possibilities of international cooperation, and the
future of education.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the outcomes of cooperation on T.E.D. was the gathering of participants
from T.E.D. 2015 on June 27, 2015 in Brussels, where additional exchanges and
experiences were shared.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">At the workshop on training for eTwinning ambassadors in Latvia from June
17-20, 2015, I had the opportunity to meet with Vaiva Ozoliņa, another TED 2015
participant with whom I worked in the group "technology in the
classroom." The priceless experience of online collaboration turned into a
direct experience of meeting each other in the Baltic states, which represents
the point of working together.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial,Helvetica,sans-serif;">T.E.D. as a new form of transatlantic cooperation represents to me a totally
new experience that has significantly enriched my professional CV. I am proud
of all the new knowledge, new friends and acquaintances, and the opportunity to
worthily present Croatia and how happy I am to be part of a great world
educational system.</span>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-5562798864064034742015-04-21T11:13:00.001-05:002015-04-21T11:13:15.008-05:00High School Festival Celebrates Diversity<i>This blog post was originally published on the <a href="http://www.commercial-news.com/news/local_news/high-school-festival-celebrates-diversity/article_43e5f4a7-e3d2-5774-aaba-44c0440b4be6.html">Danville Commercial-News website</a> on April 18, 2015.<br />This event was co-sponsored by the European Union Center.</i><br />
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<i>by <a href="mailto:croehm@dancomnews.com">Carol Roehm</a></i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">High School juniors Tatum Bray, from left, and Rachel Parker learn about the formal Indian dress worn by junior Shreja Patel during Friday's International Festival at the high school. </td></tr>
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DANVILLE — Colorful costumes, henna tattoos and incense excited Danville High School students as they entered the gymnasium Friday afternoon for an international festival.<br />
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DHS’ GLOBAL House and the Humanities Division and the Center for Global Studies at the University of Illinois cosponsored the event titled International Festival: “A Celebration of Culture.”<br />
The intent of the festival was to celebrate the vast cultural and ethnic diversity richly represented within the Danville community. The festival was nearly a year in the making.<br />
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DHS junior Samantha Buchanan, a GLOBAL House student, wore a German dirndl and her blonde hair in braids. She participated in the festival’s fashion show, as did junior Shreja Patel who wore a formal Indian dress.<br />
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“I think it’s cool,” Samantha said of festival. “We put a lot of work into it.”<br />
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DHS students visited booths and viewed stage activities in the afternoon before the doors opened to the general public later in the afternoon with more booths, a mini taste of cultural foods, immersion rooms, activities, parade of fashion and entertainment.<br />
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An evening performance included entertainment from many cultures as well as featured West African dancer Djibril Camara, formerly of the Ballet du Afrique Noir of Senegal. Camara also performed earlier in the day at East Park Elementary School.<br />
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Outside of the DHS gym, three classrooms were set up as immersion rooms where topics were explored in more detail. The topics, which included discussions on kimonos, Afghanistan and women’s rights and on the Arabic language, were presented in 30-minute blocks.<br />
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One of the immersion rooms was going to be about the Hindu language led by Mithi Mishra and Chaitra Prasad from the Department of Linguistics at the University of Illinois.<br />
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“India is fascinating when it comes to language,” Mishra said, adding that there are 22 different languages spoken in the country, and that English is taught only in expensive, special English-speaking schools. <br />
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There were at least 40 booths, many of them student- or classroom-created, at the event which was free to the public and took place in the gym, classrooms and the Dick Van Dyke Auditorium.<br />
Dawn Nasser, coordinator of student recruitment at Danville Area Community College, displayed a table full of artifacts from Chile, Slovakia and Syria.<br />
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“I’ve been to nine different countries, so I brought different things with me today,” Nasser said.<br />
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Some of the items included a mask made from cactus, earrings and a change purse made from a coconut shell, a sword made from a swordfish’s beak and a figurine made from seaweed.<br />
DHS sophomores Leondre Cobb and Isaac Vogt looked at each item on Nasser’s table.<br />
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“I like learning about all the different cultures that are here,” Isaac said. “I spent a lot of time with the international instruments because I’m a musician.”<br />
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Leondre said Nasser’s booth and the India booth were his favorites.<br />
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At another booth, Mira Bhavsat of Danville used henna to draw elaborate Indian designs on the back of students’ hands. Judging by the line of teenage girls, it was one of the most popular booths at the festival.<br />
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“I like it,” senior Samanta Calvillo said as she admired the back of her hand. “I thought (henna designs) was something they do all the time, but it’s for weddings and celebrations.”<br />
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Nearby, brothers Benjamin Xiong, a DHS senior, and David Xiong, a DHS junior, and their cousin, senior Andrew Xiong talked about their Hmong heritage and the traditional money vest displayed on their table.<br />
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Andrew explained that the colorful money vest decorated with dangling coins is worn by men “to show what you have” wealth wise.<br />
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Andrew said he thought the festival was “pretty good” because it gave him and his cousins, all first-generation Americans, an opportunity to share their culture with others.<br />
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“Before the festival people would ask me my race, and now I can share where my family is from,” he said. Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-87914355055991583572015-04-01T09:46:00.000-05:002015-04-08T10:35:59.763-05:00Euro Challenge 2015! How to Sustain the Social Systems in the Eurozone: A Look To France for Answers<i>by Letitia Zwickert</i><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KitJFuxYq4cLrj7keaJub5lnCQujDk-GIMGmafKV8Ht72GT9P11gz9lfYKHlF2hFqnGonX4OlOUvjU_twFGU5l-0hHnHoPxcRHROR5u1uywdJzcXETPDS6mAC9v6-Kr67PJ8zc31TVY/s1600/Euro+Challenge+NCHS.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7KitJFuxYq4cLrj7keaJub5lnCQujDk-GIMGmafKV8Ht72GT9P11gz9lfYKHlF2hFqnGonX4OlOUvjU_twFGU5l-0hHnHoPxcRHROR5u1uywdJzcXETPDS6mAC9v6-Kr67PJ8zc31TVY/s1600/Euro+Challenge+NCHS.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a>It is with great pride that I can say our Naperville Central High School team just won the Midwest Regional Euro Challenge Competition. I am extremely proud of my all-female team of Sasha Fenton, Meghan Howard, Hanna Meyer, Naina Prasad, and Nicole Simos; all students from my International Relations class, an honors course at NCHS. They met after school, and on weekends, since January to first learn more about the Eurozone, and then about the euro itself. Their task was to research a significant challenge facing the Euro area and find a member state to serve as the perfect example—they found a winning one! The challenge they chose is the social systems of the Eurozone, and their case is France. The social systems in the Eurozone, as currently structured, are very difficult to sustain given the economic environment and desire for future growth. As sophomores in high school, never haven taken an Economics course, my team needed to explain this challenge in the context of the current economic worries of slow growth, high unemployment and deflationary concerns. Intertwined with these issues, they highlighted the political and social realities that exist in the Eurozone and in France. Additionally, their choice of focusing on the welfare system in France was a large undertaking, as France not only has the largest social welfare system in the Eurozone and the EU, but also in the world. They had a lot to learn, and then, in turn, transform into a unique presentation! There was incredible team effort, individual growth, and professionalism throughout their weeks of work. Our team also had a notable advantage, with two very devoted upperclassmen, Kevin Angel and Megan Angel, who shared their economic knowledge, work ethic, and moral support during the preparatory process—two excellent upperclassmen mentors. <br />
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But this experience was only made possible by the generous outreach of the EU Center at the University of Illinois. Because of their work with high school teachers and students, and the sharing of outstanding opportunities, such as this one, my students gained knowledge about the EU that far outweighs that of typical high school content. The invaluable experience through the team work required to prepare for the Euro Challenge and the competition itself, judged by EU specialists, will serve them a lifetime. All of this gives them an enormous advantage as they look towards college and career choices. And, yet another incredible adventure awaits us, as we are now headed to the Euro Challenge Finals in New York City! Thank you so much EU Center!<br />
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<i>Letitia Zwickert is the International Relations, World Cultures, and Minorities teacher at Naperville Central High School</i>.<br />
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<i>For more information about Euro Challenge, please visit the <a href="http://euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/index.html">European Union Center's website</a>.</i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-60832081974789355592014-05-14T10:14:00.001-05:002014-05-14T15:08:50.775-05:00Eleven High Schools in the Midwest Participated in Euro Challenge 2014<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkzutI1R7kNFSD53NsQg_6JlHDRDCELaPPUpTj2LyOTZmbaG2BTmK7ttSAeGBNkjvfP15KVCPdsCkHUkvCeKED4SIxN7GM6F5oGvCQPlylAUeH9I8-e1ooFKjQIVxNG4vZcg2EEBSYO0/s1600/EuroChallenge.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLkzutI1R7kNFSD53NsQg_6JlHDRDCELaPPUpTj2LyOTZmbaG2BTmK7ttSAeGBNkjvfP15KVCPdsCkHUkvCeKED4SIxN7GM6F5oGvCQPlylAUeH9I8-e1ooFKjQIVxNG4vZcg2EEBSYO0/s1600/EuroChallenge.jpg" height="140" width="320" /></a>Eleven high schools from Illinois, Indiana, and Wisconsin participated in the 2014 Euro Challenge. Euro Challenge is an exciting educational opportunity for high schools students (grades 9 & 10) to learn about the European Union (EU) – the largest trading partner of the US – and its single currency, the euro. The program offers students of global studies, economics, world history/geography or European studies a unique experience that moves them out of the classroom into the real world.<br />
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The participating schools in the Midwest were:<br />
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Downers Grove South High School, IL<br />
Elgin High School, IL<br />
Glenbrook South High School, IL<br />
Mundelein High School, IL<br />
Normal Community High School, IL<br />
South Shore International High School, IL<br />
Penn High School, IN<br />
St. Joseph High School, IN<br />
Brookfield Academy High School, WI<br />
Madison East High School, WI<br />
Marshfield High School, WI<br />
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For the competition, held on April 3 at the Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago, students researched problems and solutions to Europe's economic challenges. A team of three to five students presented its findings in a competition format. </div>
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Normal Community HS (IL), St. Joseph’s High School (IN) and Brookfield Academy (WI) advanced to New York for the semifinal and final rounds of the competition held on April 30 at the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. </div>
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The results of the final round were:</div>
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1st place – Princeton High School, NJ</div>
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2nd place – Montclair High School, NJ</div>
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3rd place – Hunter College High School, NY</div>
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4th place – Trinity Preparatory School, FL</div>
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5th place – Nova High School, FL</div>
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The Delegation of the European Union to the United States published a <a href="http://www.euintheus.org/press-media/students-from-princeton-high-school-rise-to-the-euro-challenge/">press release</a> about the 2014 competition. Additional details can be found on the European Union Center’s Euro Challenge <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/index.html">web page</a>.</div>
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-77650020024112640252014-03-20T12:27:00.002-05:002014-03-20T12:31:10.588-05:00GlobalFest 2014<i>This blog was originally posted on the <a href="http://reeecillinois.wordpress.com/2014/03/12/globalfest-2014/">REEEC blog</a> on March 12, 2014.</i><br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Sign at GlobalFest 2014</td></tr>
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On March 1, several graduate students affiliated with the Russian, East European, Eurasian Center, including myself, participated in GlobalFest 2014 in Normal, Illinois. This is an annual event that celebrates world languages and cultures, and encourages middle and high school students to make connections with the global society. It was amazing to see such a large group of young people take an interest in the world beyond their classroom walls. Several languages and cultures were represented, and of course, we did our part to teach kids about Russia and Eastern Europe.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zsuzsanna Magdo and Urszula Biegaj Lechtenberg <br />help students play Kolejka</td></tr>
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Natalya Khokholova and Devon Lechtenberg taught Russian and Polish language classes, respectively. Each of them taught four sessions of about 20 minutes each, covering basics like the alphabet, some pronunciation, and greetings. They were also able to talk about the countries and their cultures. For example, Natalya discussed the Sochi Olympics with her groups of students.<br />
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Undoubtedly, the most popular event REEEC offers at GlobalFest is Russian Horror Stories. Stephanie Chung, with the help of Zsuzsanna Magdo, introduced Russian Horror Stories to 70 students; it was standing room only in the small classroom! Stephanie read “Baba Yaga and the Runt” from Sibelan Forrester’s translation of <i>Baba Yaga: the Wild Witch of the East in Russian Fairy Tales</i>, available in REEEC’s Multimedia library. Students discussed their favorite horror stories and films, and then compared the main elements from them with common themes found in Slavic horror stories. Stephanie introduced several common characters in Slavic folk literature, including the most famous of all, Baba Yaga.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Kolejka (Queue) game from Poland</td></tr>
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A new addition to GlobalFest this year was the board game <i>Kolejka</i> or Queue. Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance developed the game to teach players what life was like under a centrally planned economy during socialism. Zsuzsanna introduced the game by comparing it to the origins of the game Monopoly, which was not originally intended to give capitalism a glamorous name. We had three games set up for a total of 15 players. The students were very patient, as the game is quite complicated.<br />
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In <i>Kolejka</i>, each player has a shopping list they must complete in order to win the game. It is not possible, however, to just go to the store and buy everything at once. Each player’s five pawns stands in different lines, not knowing whether there will even be a delivery that day. Shortages were quite common in 1980s Eastern Europe, including Poland. Hence, it was possible to stand in line for hours and not be able to buy anything, the store having run out of items several people before you in line. In the game, players can jump the lines and switch places according to a number of action cards. These range from snitching on a neighbor to the police and throwing them out of line, or borrowing someone’s baby to skip the line completely and be able to buy what is in the store first. Zsuzsanna and I stood close to answer any questions, and there were definitely many questions!<br />
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At first, the students did not like the idea of sabotaging their friends in order to get ahead in line, but they quickly learned that it was the only way to get all the items on their shopping lists. Another foreign idea that took some getting used to was dealing in the black market. In Poland, people might buy things they did not actually need at the time only to use them to trade in the black market for things that they did need. The game represents this practice very well, since the black market is always stocked, while the stores receive irregular shipments of goods that might not fit in your list. Overall, the students seemed to enjoy the game and their trip to 1980s Poland.<br />
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By participating in the sessions REEEC organized, along with the rest of GlobalFest, students were able to experience a host of different cultures and languages. They were open to new experiences and gave insight to our own perspectives on the world.<br />
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<i>Urszula (Ula) Biegaj Lechtenberg is a second-year Master’s student at the Graduate School of Library and Information Science. She graduated with a REEEC MA in 2012. Her interests include Slavic librarianship, academic libraries, and instruction. She works as a Graduate Assistant in the cataloging department at the Library, and holds an hourly position at the Slavic Reference Service.</i><br />
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Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-48499044583040996032013-09-03T13:55:00.000-05:002013-09-03T13:55:53.058-05:00U-46 Teacher Travels the Globe to Enhance Her Lessons<i>This article originally appeared in </i><a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/article/20130801/news/708019622/">The Daily Herald</a> <i>on August 5, 2013.</i><br />
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by <a href="http://www.dailyherald.com/newsroom/TaraGarc%C3%ADaMathewson/">Tara García Mathewson</a><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYse5rMz6aANiZO7qwysVbeQgaIx1TyJMSDjR4HxGV8xxHpKXbPkA30LKz0RBNVtN9NHKRlxWdSpgTuxxGG7J3GNXU-aeos5j32JmkyY4-9bxv8whnmPEQmCgQvSrSZ6n8Vr1uZjdGZY/s1600/ChrisLaRue.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigYse5rMz6aANiZO7qwysVbeQgaIx1TyJMSDjR4HxGV8xxHpKXbPkA30LKz0RBNVtN9NHKRlxWdSpgTuxxGG7J3GNXU-aeos5j32JmkyY4-9bxv8whnmPEQmCgQvSrSZ6n8Vr1uZjdGZY/s320/ChrisLaRue.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Chris LaRue at Hagia Sophia</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Chris LaRue has helped grade Advanced Placement exams for the College Board for more than a decade. During a marathon grading session years ago, she heard other teachers talk about cheap travel opportunities for teachers. At the time she didn't know such grants were out there but the tip opened up a world for her — literally.<br />
<br />
LaRue, a teacher in Elgin Area School District U-46's gifted academy, recently spent two weeks in Turkey. She has also visited China and Germany and she hopes to go to Japan next summer.<br />
<br />
This year's trip was paid for almost entirely by the Turkish Cultural Foundation though LaRue had to contribute $700 and promise to incorporate some of what she learned into her lesson plans. Neither requirement was a problem for her and LaRue already has multiple lessons in mind for her advanced placement world history, AP European history and AP art history classes.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9QaHUP953pHJeWiVlNvJgTtbrn-E4VhmqVdzy8w50wYMan9Hec3rnhzkH29RZMW9H-OtDiVJmpOUbla5jG-dWMiQFQW1qe5tjR49-bT3e-yVethyScipb58_SxUdNrb0aDGSd5VAhkw/s1600/Suliemann.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg9QaHUP953pHJeWiVlNvJgTtbrn-E4VhmqVdzy8w50wYMan9Hec3rnhzkH29RZMW9H-OtDiVJmpOUbla5jG-dWMiQFQW1qe5tjR49-bT3e-yVethyScipb58_SxUdNrb0aDGSd5VAhkw/s320/Suliemann.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Suliemann's Mosque</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
She has a fully formed lesson about sacred spaces ready to go — it was part of her application for the trip. Students will learn about how a people's beliefs and practices are reflected in the way they arrange their sacred spaces. Turkey's Suleymaniye Mosque, for example, faces Mecca, as all mosques do.<br />
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Her recent visit to the Basilica of St. John and the Hagia Sophia, which has gone from a church to a mosque to a museum, will inform her lesson plan and give students a chance to see pictures she took while she was there.<br />
<br />
Giving students examples of travel — and making sure they know about organizations that offer it at reasonable costs — is all part of her "meddling," as she calls it.<br />
<br />
"I always encourage students to have a global experience," LaRue said.<br />
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And many take her up on the recommendation when they get to college and have the opportunity to study abroad.<br />
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That's where LaRue got her start in international travel. As a student at Marquette University, she studied in Rome. That experience also gave her an introduction to Turkey, which she said was a very different country back in 1970.<br />
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LaRue said Turkey has come a long way, especially given its existence only dates back to the 1920s. Turkey is trying to meet the requirements of full membership in the European Union and LaRue said one current social push is to better respect minorities in the country.<br />
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"Hey, aren't we doing that here?" LaRue pointed out. "It's a universal thing — respect the rights of all people in your country. Every country has their own culture and diversity problems."<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e7gDBJIjZ_IdeKGnY2pW9X86K_Z5fuC9XNHFOfSVX6G09_rV9rM5vTsoKtbgOCz-xX4XcWOd1tXL3t0ujGS-SGF5ZRtvmvkY1Uj1kUbI1J_fOPqWHjNOAIR2_hAtbITTAx2LYTJmz5s/s1600/spices.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9e7gDBJIjZ_IdeKGnY2pW9X86K_Z5fuC9XNHFOfSVX6G09_rV9rM5vTsoKtbgOCz-xX4XcWOd1tXL3t0ujGS-SGF5ZRtvmvkY1Uj1kUbI1J_fOPqWHjNOAIR2_hAtbITTAx2LYTJmz5s/s320/spices.jpg" width="320" /></a>The Turkish Cultural Foundation funds trips for teachers to spread understanding of the country within the United States. The tour included visits to sacred spaces, the site of the ancient city of Troy and Gallipoli, where one of the most famous battles of World War I was fought. LaRue and her fellow teachers got to meet other educators, students, artists, professionals and the U.S. Ambassador to Turkey.<br />
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LaRue plans to brief other U-46 teachers on her travels and share her lesson plans, especially within the World History Department.<br />
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"The district is very encouraging of teachers sharing," LaRue said. "In a way it's free professional development."<br />
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Planning for a 2014 Turkey trip is already under way. Interested teachers can learn more at <a href="http://turkishculturalfoundation.org/">turkishculturalfoundation.org</a>. Photos from LaRue's trip can be seen on her blog at <a href="http://larueturkey.tumblr.com/">larueturkey.tumblr.com</a>.<br />
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<i>Photo Credit: Chris LaRue's <a href="http://larueturkey.tumblr.com/">blog</a></i><br />
<i><br /></i>
<i>Chris LaRue is a European Union Center-affiliated teacher who has participated in the EUC's curriculum development workshops, the Euro Challenge competition, and the EUC's Study Tour to Europe in 2012. </i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-39635459180261200362013-08-26T13:00:00.000-05:002013-08-26T13:01:05.801-05:00EU Centers of Excellence Educational Trip: Getting Europe into the Rural Schoolby Katie McNamara<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5ezyRHrGH_h1gfHQUxBou32BmTdzFGc2aTncEHmaHiQPME-z-r1wp7TFsekefwOrs0P_rmf0mHDG9_POBz_1ZynDOtY7XU5ZQCdYXKT5KI5LBH6qXr1-ZNDI41K8iekFpF9vye7G_lo/s1600/EU+Parliament+Meeting.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjG5ezyRHrGH_h1gfHQUxBou32BmTdzFGc2aTncEHmaHiQPME-z-r1wp7TFsekefwOrs0P_rmf0mHDG9_POBz_1ZynDOtY7XU5ZQCdYXKT5KI5LBH6qXr1-ZNDI41K8iekFpF9vye7G_lo/s320/EU+Parliament+Meeting.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EU Parliament Meeting</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
This past summer, I had the tremendous opportunity of participating in the <a href="http://euce.org/">European Union Centers of Excellence</a> trip abroad to Brussels, Belgium. A student of mine participated in the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/">University of Illinois EU Center</a>’s <a href="http://eucenterillinois.blogspot.com/2013/02/illinois-high-school-students.html">high school essay competition</a> and came in second place, allowing me the chance to travel with the EUCE to Brussels. The educational trip allowed me to collaborate with teachers and university students across the nation, create contacts with those at the University of Illinois EU Center, and gave me a hands on experience on the interworking of the EU, NATO, and activist groups in Europe.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLJQs6QiL5zaCJtlm2-yu027JocrxmY5kZ6ZAnzomCYhfIrcJJgJgXKCbOBDib_FNsYDOR1Pd2JKM5eBILsSHA4hyphenhyphen3E0rmCKsqhkNqV1MnVwY5qtgFwibTEJeiqbnjMkbM0b3QkpxWg4/s1600/EU+Commission.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhtLJQs6QiL5zaCJtlm2-yu027JocrxmY5kZ6ZAnzomCYhfIrcJJgJgXKCbOBDib_FNsYDOR1Pd2JKM5eBILsSHA4hyphenhyphen3E0rmCKsqhkNqV1MnVwY5qtgFwibTEJeiqbnjMkbM0b3QkpxWg4/s320/EU+Commission.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">EU Commission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
As a teacher of a small, rural school in Central Illinois, I find it a challenge to relate the massive amounts of information and critical discussions of the EU to my students who are often isolated from the world. Very often, my students find it difficult to connect with events taking place in Europe. Many students have never traveled outside of the United States, and some have never traveled outside of Illinois. Often, they do not see how interconnected America and Europe are, and the importance of understanding the impact that European events can have on them. I soon realized that this opportunity would be such a great way to engage my students in the discovery of Europe and the ever-changing issues being faced both within Europe and globally in the 21st century.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-left: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrt2gYqywYraCAYyZW5Mc_tuLz0JH8tYyH1qEDWavFuprdBvdToIkp36kRkVHulsq_avxEh0HDLl-L9w3pJEWw7CSUGX41T9CHlFFyPb85_01UAhM-jis0I4DxfszoYWxwVaWP8iwTSI/s1600/Speak+Up%2521+Demonstration+in+Front+of+EU+Commission.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhYrt2gYqywYraCAYyZW5Mc_tuLz0JH8tYyH1qEDWavFuprdBvdToIkp36kRkVHulsq_avxEh0HDLl-L9w3pJEWw7CSUGX41T9CHlFFyPb85_01UAhM-jis0I4DxfszoYWxwVaWP8iwTSI/s320/Speak+Up%2521+Demonstration+in+Front+of+EU+Commission.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Speak Up! Demonstration in front of the EU Commission</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
One theme that seemed to run through all of the discussions at the <a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/en">European Parliament</a>, the <a href="http://useu.usmission.gov/">US Mission to the EU</a>, and the <a href="http://www.consilium.europa.eu/homepage">Council of the EU</a> was the future relations between the United States and Europe, particularly related to the present TTIP trade negotiations. A very intriguing moment occurred when Dennis O’Sullivan, lawyer linguist at the Council of the EU, discussed some difficulties faced with negotiating the size of rearview mirrors in tractors. Alas, farming and tractors: territory very familiar with many of my students! If the trade agreement between the EU and America does go through, imagine the possibilities and opportunity for American farmers with the new and extensive market of the EU. My students in French class, in collaboration with the Agriculture department in our school, are planning on creating a unit in which students study the <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/policy/in-focus/ttip/">TTIP agreement</a> and what it would mean for farmers in this area, as well as studying other areas that could be impacted, both positively and negatively. Through this unit, I hope that students will become more aware of current events in Europe, and with the omnipotent need to become connected to the world.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduLjejCktTJ6PVZ7mBgPGQBBXYAADaqcwNhExHvWS_TziF6hnVq_hkIqYxe8Y0cDUfD8Xm_eaBLqVFyNthIu28UWyf4W28LAbp3ienf3biGLnm2foxuSlWqB1ntLTn5YuWPyGkSnsDnc/s1600/View+from+ENAR.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgduLjejCktTJ6PVZ7mBgPGQBBXYAADaqcwNhExHvWS_TziF6hnVq_hkIqYxe8Y0cDUfD8Xm_eaBLqVFyNthIu28UWyf4W28LAbp3ienf3biGLnm2foxuSlWqB1ntLTn5YuWPyGkSnsDnc/s320/View+from+ENAR.jpg" width="240" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">View from ENAR</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Additionally, the discussion session at the <a href="http://www.enar-eu.org/">European Network Against Racism</a> (ENAR) was one that I had been looking forward to. Although we are becoming increasingly more tolerant in America, racism and discrimination are still so present, including in small rural communities. Listening to the ENAR director, Michaël Privot, speak on the work ENAR is doing to combat racism in Europe by being an umbrella organization for other anti-racism organizations was very compelling. Among many other roles, ENAR is canvassing throughout Europe to find and support individuals whom have reported being discriminated against so that in turn, ENAR may lobby the EU parliament and commission to increase support and funding for minority and immigrant groups. A unit comparing discrimination and racism in America and abroad can have so much influence on students in a small school, as it can allow them to see what racism looks like elsewhere, and hopefully help change their mindset and actions on racism in their community.<br />
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Photo credit: Katie McNamara<br />
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<i>Katie McNamara is a French teacher at Oakwood High School in Fithian, IL. This is her second year teaching. She received her B.A. and M.A. in teaching from Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. In her spare time, she is also senior class advisor and advisor for International Club. You may reach class page via this link: <a href="http://www.oakwood.k12.il.us/parents___students/staff__teacher_pages/oakwood_high_school/mc_namara__kathleen/">Ms. McNamara's Class Page</a>.</i><br />
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Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-28568345276688197692013-08-07T15:30:00.000-05:002013-08-12T12:45:07.544-05:00EU Centers of Excellence, Education Trip to Brussels, June 17-20, 2013<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">by Larry Pahl</span><br />
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: inherit;">I was privileged to attend the 2013 <a href="http://euce.org/">European Union Centers of Excellence</a> summer
educational trip to the European Union.
I got the right to participate in this intensive whirlwind of meetings
and site visits involving all the key components of the Union by being the
teacher of the student who won the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/">U of
I EU Center’s</a> <a href="http://eucenterillinois.blogspot.com/2013/02/illinois-high-school-students.html">high
school essay competition</a>. My student
Chris Lanza won a cash prize for his <a href="https://docs.google.com/viewer?a=v&pid=gmail&attid=0.0&thid=1401b575b31ce67c&mt=application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document&url=https://mail.google.com/mail/u/0/?ui%3D2%26ik%3D84a12ad5c1%26view%3Datt%26th%3D1401b575b31ce67c%26attid%3D0.0%26disp%3Dsafe%26zw&sig=AHIEtbQATfveSmXQ4sWtI1CyBJOAuQ8FSA">essay
on cooperation and conflict in the European Union</a>, and I won a spot on the
study tour!</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Chris recently sent a
group email to all his AP teachers, thanking them for their work in helping him
achieve successful scores on the many AP tests he took.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I wondered why I was on that list because he
was my student in a Civics class that was not an AP course.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>So when I congratulated him later saying I
could take no credit, he reminded me that he had attended review sessions I
gave my AP World students (he was not in that class) and he said those reviews
more than anything else helped him on all his AP tests.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I mention this, because that fact was a key
to my getting a special personal audience with John C. Sullivan, the Public
Affairs Office of the U.S. Mission to the European Union.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi1nPK4ouBNXdzMnUcmVilUhF3MkQj39fvjrVn1Heo2AfNaAF5pgfOZfkc-b7QwCboHSc699mw_2MP0W9US7E3jn7vitsHzVJ4Rm5S77W0hHIUBCON9ghY1p4CBQwe8ZwggeoAJFXEV3sU/s1600/Screen+Shot+2013-08-07+at+2.49.26+PM.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"></span></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhVc_3eUplQnh-10Pc2chg7Wd3B_eqZM5ZKOM5C5vgBH0KT677YR-8fP9qK77CTeRYIenmF2H-2ofIUEMRO4DiNRDMRbsL1p6h9GDLT-sBYe-HhTscMxSLotDB96avwQHSpPaQvQ9cLI/s1600/EUCE+Delegation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="228" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhVc_3eUplQnh-10Pc2chg7Wd3B_eqZM5ZKOM5C5vgBH0KT677YR-8fP9qK77CTeRYIenmF2H-2ofIUEMRO4DiNRDMRbsL1p6h9GDLT-sBYe-HhTscMxSLotDB96avwQHSpPaQvQ9cLI/s320/EUCE+Delegation.png" width="320" /></a><span style="font-family: inherit;">Mr. Sullivan was one
of the most entertaining speakers we enjoyed on the tour.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He combined his erudition with regular doses
of puns and humor.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>As he was describing
to our group a set of tips he had for being successful on the foreign service
exam for the US State Department, I asked him who it is that grades those
exams.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>I told him that I had helped my
students be successful on the AP World exam because I had heavily picked the
brains of readers of the AP World test, and so I thought knowing who grades the
State Department test would be an added tip for those taking it.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He responded by saying that he wanted to walk
out with me after the meeting, because his daughter was going to be taking AP
tests soon!<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">So indeed, I got to walk out with the ambassador (officially
called a Public Affairs Officer because the European Union is not a sovereign
nation) and gab about the AP test and other things. I am still in touch with
him because of that conversation!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Our study group, made up of teams from 7 of the 10 European
Union Centers of Excellence, was a fun and interesting mixture of teachers and
students, mostly new college graduates.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;">
</span>A spirit of professional collegiality quickly formed which manifested in
discussions, in Q and A with the various speakers we heard, and even in
informal social gatherings.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The
picturesque and stunning Grand Place, the landmark of the city of Brussels,
(along with the Manneken Pis, the famous statue of the little boy urinating)
became the nightly dining and socializing grounds for many members of our
group, young and old.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>It seemed to have
endless streets and nooks and shops and districts. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Besides the talk by John Sullivan at the US Mission, another
highlight for me was listening to LtCol. Benoit Aumonnier,<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>a French officer working as a policy advisor
to NATO.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He spoke English with
difficulty but was very candid in saying that NATO needed to head in a new
direction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>He said that the
“institutionalized division of labor for crisis management” (requiring each
member country to ante up so many soldiers) was “the past.”<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>For the future, he said, a “pragmatic
approach” was needed, one which he felt the US would be a leader because there
is no clear leader in Europe.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Below is a brief outline-chart of the various institutions
we visited with links to their websites and some associated pictures.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<table border="1" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="MsoTableGrid" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-padding-alt: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; mso-yfti-tbllook: 1184;">
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<span style="font-family: inherit;">Date, Location<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</td>
<td style="border-left: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 342.9pt;" valign="top" width="343"><div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Photos<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.9pt;" valign="top" width="208"><div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Sunday June 16<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: inherit;">Arrive Euroflat Hotel, Brussels<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 8pt;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Screensaver I made to have a
one-page itinerary for trip<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--StartFragment--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">View from the Euroflat Hotel</span><!--EndFragment-->
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhVc_3eUplQnh-10Pc2chg7Wd3B_eqZM5ZKOM5C5vgBH0KT677YR-8fP9qK77CTeRYIenmF2H-2ofIUEMRO4DiNRDMRbsL1p6h9GDLT-sBYe-HhTscMxSLotDB96avwQHSpPaQvQ9cLI/s1600/EUCE+Delegation.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjPhVc_3eUplQnh-10Pc2chg7Wd3B_eqZM5ZKOM5C5vgBH0KT677YR-8fP9qK77CTeRYIenmF2H-2ofIUEMRO4DiNRDMRbsL1p6h9GDLT-sBYe-HhTscMxSLotDB96avwQHSpPaQvQ9cLI/s200/EUCE+Delegation.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Our U of I EUCE Delegation</span></span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Monday June 17<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://ec.europa.eu/index_en.htm" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">European
Commission</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;"> Headquarters</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://www.europarl.europa.eu/portal/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">European
Parliament</a></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 342.9pt;" valign="top" width="343"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII330FDex712hZcZGHsgSsG_50GUpRKtxs99taS5YRHmQcpOHo4lbVvr52zldhT-m8o5e4phD-L4HOhvh-4Qv0D5cPAHHlSYp4KDCKHGZ4_AfBLSFuDjzVNTMAccGtakS1NY67mkwJ68/s1600/Commission+briefing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgII330FDex712hZcZGHsgSsG_50GUpRKtxs99taS5YRHmQcpOHo4lbVvr52zldhT-m8o5e4phD-L4HOhvh-4Qv0D5cPAHHlSYp4KDCKHGZ4_AfBLSFuDjzVNTMAccGtakS1NY67mkwJ68/s1600/Commission+briefing.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Commission briefing</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJBQZiYoWpt4j7YqvI6vbC7S_yuTnXemcaEJqDwHw2IdPzS1Cv3jL8sckTfeFVtFjgRutL7KgCA7mHIrIkwVMoAueUTEKnD88eoEq-PmztAalyJBv8wsRIlK2t3P3dd3NpmsiTA-vc10/s1600/Commission+speaker.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjBJBQZiYoWpt4j7YqvI6vbC7S_yuTnXemcaEJqDwHw2IdPzS1Cv3jL8sckTfeFVtFjgRutL7KgCA7mHIrIkwVMoAueUTEKnD88eoEq-PmztAalyJBv8wsRIlK2t3P3dd3NpmsiTA-vc10/s1600/Commission+speaker.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Commission speaker</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE5yud79mdghvFZh4vnurBgLqjqCY9qqCLOIzCEvV83zO0jC1Mubdf32uz_TC9taMNm9MgKGOIHbDg1zr1PZm87b1cI22utc-cdEc-Dqkzgil6wbWaVlsgHt2fmUTHTAbj6O4Lf37nPU/s1600/Parliament+briefing.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyE5yud79mdghvFZh4vnurBgLqjqCY9qqCLOIzCEvV83zO0jC1Mubdf32uz_TC9taMNm9MgKGOIHbDg1zr1PZm87b1cI22utc-cdEc-Dqkzgil6wbWaVlsgHt2fmUTHTAbj6O4Lf37nPU/s200/Parliament+briefing.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Parliament briefing</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Tuesday June 18<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"> </span><a href="http://www.enar-eu.org/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">ENAR</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">,
European Network Against Racism</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://eeas.europa.eu/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">EEAS</a><span style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">,
European External Action Service</span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLJQV4QjYBcFm4qN-NWCu9jegOO7T93QG3SbdNJeliFOdiLicmlsv2_M_ylL1SOXAortLgFlffJtZ8D5IGFawG-2DH0jRrgjLTuXNKP0nL9_AWylCuLdNWw-SSwz6XmKRq5bXxUgYDts/s1600/ENAR.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="121" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzLJQV4QjYBcFm4qN-NWCu9jegOO7T93QG3SbdNJeliFOdiLicmlsv2_M_ylL1SOXAortLgFlffJtZ8D5IGFawG-2DH0jRrgjLTuXNKP0nL9_AWylCuLdNWw-SSwz6XmKRq5bXxUgYDts/s200/ENAR.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meeting at ENAR</span></td></tr>
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FTUC4t9pX8niFweRFF49RaK_GIQrL6LzUvBwRISl4z06zjKuGs_D92LNiTpMYkngG4BpUqMkvax1U2XTgT52ij2BjWKHjbMjUsfuhp-uBfJXNHxtvreWYG4IE3XL9go0ojaIWJ9nksI/s1600/Beer.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi7FTUC4t9pX8niFweRFF49RaK_GIQrL6LzUvBwRISl4z06zjKuGs_D92LNiTpMYkngG4BpUqMkvax1U2XTgT52ij2BjWKHjbMjUsfuhp-uBfJXNHxtvreWYG4IE3XL9go0ojaIWJ9nksI/s200/Beer.png" width="200" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="font-size: 8pt;">Enjoying famous Brussels beer at local pub after
EEAS meeting</span><!--EndFragment-->
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<td style="border-top: none; border: solid windowtext 1.0pt; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 207.9pt;" valign="top" width="208"><div class="MsoNormal">
<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Wednesday June 19<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"><span style="font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span><span style="font-size: 7pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></span></span><a href="http://useu.usmission.gov/" style="font-family: inherit; text-indent: -0.25in;">US
Mission to the EU</a></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><a href="http://www.bruegel.org/">Bruegel</a>,
think tank<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<td style="border-bottom: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-left: none; border-right: solid windowtext 1.0pt; border-top: none; mso-border-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-left-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; mso-border-top-alt: solid windowtext .5pt; padding: 0in 5.4pt 0in 5.4pt; width: 342.9pt;" valign="top" width="343"><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YJ1Sih3GGktK2lgw0cmUNc8p7tvJBC_J6REqPYtfEAaH7pQShmKJE2YXZdqhbGOsUrwJg4Jb6g8IaSfuant2FwcYZnkRML7EpIbjpXRE4k7m-xvSaFEawsnLfHKux8O2JXnNxsAZfPw/s1600/John+Sullivan.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj0YJ1Sih3GGktK2lgw0cmUNc8p7tvJBC_J6REqPYtfEAaH7pQShmKJE2YXZdqhbGOsUrwJg4Jb6g8IaSfuant2FwcYZnkRML7EpIbjpXRE4k7m-xvSaFEawsnLfHKux8O2JXnNxsAZfPw/s200/John+Sullivan.png" width="150" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-size: 11px; text-align: start;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Me with John Sullivan, Officer, US Mission to the EU</span></span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsiYbkbzj8DEaPfPBFygTjq8dE9AF43cL3AONtbEvwoVcHHNf1eJ5UMHGDQwn2apZpHErb38wCLiyQDr_yRN2yv4OPBPALkXzpOFblUkqDBMwBH7xn16WXQ_WfPuVrB4VKApD2NWTguA/s1600/Group+Lunch.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiIsiYbkbzj8DEaPfPBFygTjq8dE9AF43cL3AONtbEvwoVcHHNf1eJ5UMHGDQwn2apZpHErb38wCLiyQDr_yRN2yv4OPBPALkXzpOFblUkqDBMwBH7xn16WXQ_WfPuVrB4VKApD2NWTguA/s1600/Group+Lunch.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Group Lunch</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-7W3XA1sdlvxevrM_Uch_ybCa3vV3U_KLue_Ro4tUab85A5hL7_fi_umSfiBFT5TvfldWTglImXDT-ZMzh_JXWJQlZsCOPHNxTpoUR4SJYkTPAdyaCuWYJjWn_tXfoFuOhdF9Y2cH50/s1600/Think+Tank.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjO-7W3XA1sdlvxevrM_Uch_ybCa3vV3U_KLue_Ro4tUab85A5hL7_fi_umSfiBFT5TvfldWTglImXDT-ZMzh_JXWJQlZsCOPHNxTpoUR4SJYkTPAdyaCuWYJjWn_tXfoFuOhdF9Y2cH50/s1600/Think+Tank.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meeting at Bruegel think tank</span></td></tr>
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<u><span style="font-family: inherit;">Thursday June 20<o:p></o:p></span></u></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span><a href="http://www.european-council.europa.eu/home-page.aspx">Council of the EU</a><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: inherit;"><span style="mso-list: Ignore;"> </span><a href="http://www.nato.int/cps/en/natolive/index.htm">NATO</a> headquarters<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoilgRr-Rp-DbRgDflm-lhCjk9_2TyRQsTlmR1AGnFnAMQRCs_iClHSmO66SxPiwAeQVgtAaz_BTLTtf8SrbM-97O9WAHDjj5cbyl8BKRSCyh_bqmJcs4QCl0v3MStg5RonpDChyphenhyphenMZQw/s1600/EU+Council.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFoilgRr-Rp-DbRgDflm-lhCjk9_2TyRQsTlmR1AGnFnAMQRCs_iClHSmO66SxPiwAeQVgtAaz_BTLTtf8SrbM-97O9WAHDjj5cbyl8BKRSCyh_bqmJcs4QCl0v3MStg5RonpDChyphenhyphenMZQw/s1600/EU+Council.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Meeting at EU Council</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf-TsFM0NUXKk-6zZ4kPAyRvgvbI6Pvh4cr4brQMZP2KLSbGf6U6fZnnhQLZHo50rYxarFZLGX69oUu2fLXBtHuHYPIbqhLTyfFHW2OZxS-vKI5DMUPQY9raLjPvtR0fy7l4xWClyXeA/s1600/Floral+Shop.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaf-TsFM0NUXKk-6zZ4kPAyRvgvbI6Pvh4cr4brQMZP2KLSbGf6U6fZnnhQLZHo50rYxarFZLGX69oUu2fLXBtHuHYPIbqhLTyfFHW2OZxS-vKI5DMUPQY9raLjPvtR0fy7l4xWClyXeA/s1600/Floral+Shop.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Waiting near floral shop for bus to NATO</span></td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24UuqDi58LdFS85Sb0Q_OfKgLEwzMk2d03H4u-WZU7rfCjKMUbnSS2KvbVxATt9NIp7ytmmm2MUygmwVHrs7izQIIReSHmCgsz0BUihxbV0P0R-EBt3y8kI6JYFC3IZIEYh9Ac0vyuhU/s1600/NATO.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><span style="font-family: inherit;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi24UuqDi58LdFS85Sb0Q_OfKgLEwzMk2d03H4u-WZU7rfCjKMUbnSS2KvbVxATt9NIp7ytmmm2MUygmwVHrs7izQIIReSHmCgsz0BUihxbV0P0R-EBt3y8kI6JYFC3IZIEYh9Ac0vyuhU/s1600/NATO.png" /></span></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">NATO's low profile headquarters</span></td></tr>
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<o:p><span style="font-family: inherit;">Photo credit: Larry Pahl</span></o:p></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Larry Pahl has taught at the
junior high, high school and college level (West Virginia Northern, Carl
Sandburg College, and Rock Valley College). He has taught in the U.S. and
abroad (The International School in Jarabacoa, Dominican Republic). He
has taught in public, private, and quasi-public settings. He has taught
students at the AP, regular and special education levels. He is currently
a history teacher at Bartlett High School in Bartlett, IL, and also a World
History instructor with the Illinois Virtual School. </i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: inherit;"><i>Mr. Pahl is dedicated to the art and profession
of teaching. </i></span><o:p></o:p></div>
Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-66832661886272326632013-07-01T09:46:00.000-05:002015-10-27T09:47:46.208-05:002013 Summer Curriculum Development Workshop<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<h2>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong></strong><br />
<div style="display: inline !important; text-align: left;">
<div style="display: inline !important;">
<strong>The Timeless MEDITERRANEAN and the New European Union: Transnational Spaces and Integration</strong></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<strong><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Monday, June 10 - Wednesday, June 12, 2013</em></div>
</strong>
</h2>
<div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkQCnjhfTcL-TJcSwFLHhDpUMoVq-81sI9WSDlLDS__YpTP8__L1E7aP6nPhj1XRqMkpC2z9YZTiKc7kxpfkbEj0es8xANMOXzmGDEY0EVINCp_XeUehEAXHUNNR5US4cqDy7bIuMap4/s1600/Mediterranean.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHkQCnjhfTcL-TJcSwFLHhDpUMoVq-81sI9WSDlLDS__YpTP8__L1E7aP6nPhj1XRqMkpC2z9YZTiKc7kxpfkbEj0es8xANMOXzmGDEY0EVINCp_XeUehEAXHUNNR5US4cqDy7bIuMap4/s1600/Mediterranean.jpg" /></a></div>
<div id="register">
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/index.html#pertinent">Pertinent Info</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4877615300869643757#schedule">Schedule</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/blogger.g?blogID=4877615300869643757#dlmap">Downloadable Campus Maps</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/index.html#eats">Local Restaurants and Entertainment</a> </li>
</ul>
</div>
<div class="odd">
<div class="indent">
<div style="text-align: left;">
The University of Illinois and The European Union Center (EUC) invites K-12 and community college educators to take part in this workshop to develop a more effective curriculum on the Mediterranean and Europe. These materials may be incorporated into a variety of courses, such as foreign language, world geography, world cultures, world/US history, politics, economics, and business. While all K-16 teachers are welcome, the curriculum materials are geared mainly towards high school and community college education. The workshop will feature presentations from University of Illinois faculty and other specialists.</div>
</div>
</div>
<h3 class="oddorevenblockheading" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="pertinent">Pertinent Info</a></h3>
<div class="even">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Application Deadline: </strong>May 6,2013</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>On-line registration</strong></li>
<li><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Cost:</strong> $150</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Please make checks payable to "University of Illinois." Send your checks to:</div>
<div class="text">
<div style="text-align: left;">
European Union Center </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
328 International Studies Building, MC-429</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
910 S. Fifth Street</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Champaign, IL 61820 </div>
</div>
</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Travel Grants:</strong> Travel grants up to $150 are available. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Credit:</strong> CPDUs (for Illinois teachers), University of Illinois CEUs for non-Illinois teachers, and University of Illinois graduate credits are available, please contact Sebnem Ozkan at asozkan@illinois.edu, 217-244-0570 for further information.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Housing:</strong> Housing will be provided. We reserved your rooms for 2 nights from <strong>June 10</strong> (check-in) to <strong>June 12</strong> (check-out).</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><strong>Meals:</strong>Breakfast is available at the hotel and the EU Center will provide most meals. </li>
<li style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Parking:</strong> available</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"> <strong>Contact:</strong> For more information contact Sebnem Ozkan <a href="mailto:asozkan@illinois.edu">asozkan@illinois.edu</a>, 217-244-0570.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span id="title"><em>Funded in part by the U.S. Department of Education Title VI grant.</em></span></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" id="schedule" name="schedule">Schedule </a><br />
</h3>
<table border="0" style="height: 142px; text-align: left; width: 600px;">
<tbody>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle" width="145"><h4 style="text-align: center;">
Monday, June 10</h4>
</td>
<td valign="middle" width="713"><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Workshop location:</strong><br />
Illini Union Room 211<br />
1401 W. Green St., Urbana, IL 61801</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: center;">
6:00 - 7:30 pm</div>
</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong>Registration & Keynote <br />
</strong></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
Keynote Address: <em>The Politics of Time and Space: The European Union and the Mediterranean</em> (<a href="https://www.blogger.com/documents/2013/MathyPresentation.pptx">presentation</a>)<br />
<a href="http://www.slcl.illinois.edu/people/jmathy"><strong>Jean-Philippe Mathy</strong></a> (Professor of French, Comparative Literature, and Criticism & Interpretive Theory, U. of Illinois)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFZGx1ZVB2ZzZ5SVE/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Background reading</a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><strong>Tuesday, June 11</strong></td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><em> The “Idea” of Mediterranean: History, Culture, Language, Music, Networks </em></strong></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">9:15 am</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Coffee/tea</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">9:30 - 10:45 am</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>The “Idea” of Mediterranean</em> – via Skype </div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://www.sip.illinois.edu/people/rota/"><strong>Manuel Rota</strong></a>, Assist. Professor of Italian and History, U. of Illinois</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFN19qdzJUYnV1Wk0/view?usp=sharing">Background reading</a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">10:45 - 11:00 am</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Break <em>(coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided)</em></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">11:00 am - 12:30 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Mediterranean Networks of Civil Society Organizations</em> (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFZVRzMFZYS25TZWs/view?usp=sharing">presentation </a>(.pdf))<br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.law.illinois.edu/faculty/profile/kostaskourtikakis"><strong>Kostas Kourtikakis</strong></a>, Lecturer of Political Science, U. of Illinois<br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFRlVhbHYwMUxQR3c/view?usp=sharing">Background reading</a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">12:30 - 2:00 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Lunch break</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">2:00 - 3:30 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Tourism in the Mediterranean </em>(<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFcUs5UTY0TkFtNlk/view?usp=sharing">presentation</a>(.pptx))<br />
<br />
<strong><a href="http://rst.illinois.edu/faculty/Bios/Santos.aspx">Carla Santos</a></strong>, Associate Professor of Recreation, Sport and Tourism, U. of Illinois <br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFd1JHTVF4ZU1kMGs/view?usp=sharing">Background reading 1</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFRFBKNmc2RDQ5ZkE/view?usp=sharing">Background reading 2</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFaGVBODhTcG5oWjA/view?usp=sharing">Background reading 3</a> </div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: center;">
3:30 - 3:45 pm</div>
</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Break – <em>coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided</em></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">3:45 - 6:00 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Languages of the Mediterranean </em><br />
(<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFa1p5cTRSUHRPbWs/view?usp=sharing">Eda Derhemi's presentation</a>(.pptx) & <a href="https://www.blogger.com/documents/2013/DerhemiText.docx">text</a>(.docx)) (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFTEdxVmpZMi1rMGM/view?usp=sharing">Zsuzsana Faygal's presentation</a>(.pdf) & <a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFcU1fN2RhUWViVGc/view?usp=sharing">handout</a>(.pdf))
(<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFdHlFSDI3T3ZUWDg/view?usp=sharing">Marina Terkourafi's presentation</a>(.pptx))</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="http://media.illinois.edu/faculty/detail/eda_derhemi"><strong>Eda Derhemi</strong></a>, Adjunct Assist. Professor of Media and Cinema Studies, Lecturer in Italian Program, U. of Illinois; <a href="http://www.linguistics.illinois.edu/people/zsfagyal"><strong>Zsuzsana Fagyal</strong></a>, Assoc. Professor of French, Linguistics, U. of Illinois; <a href="http://www.linguistics.illinois.edu/people/mt217"><strong>Marina Terkourafi</strong></a>, Assoc. Professor of Linguistics, Second Language Acquisition and Teacher Education, U. of Illinois</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFa01FcGMtbzlpSjQ/view?usp=sharing">Background reading 1</a><br />
<a href="http://www.studiesonmehmetyashin.blogspot.com/">Background reading 2</a><br />
<a href="http://eng.babelmed.net/">Background reading 3</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFXzlXOWF1WXZzZG8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Background reading 4</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFT1pNUzJ6a19hYVU/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Background reading 5</a><br />
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFc2wxb2ZqcWZRUU0/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Background reading 6</a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><strong>Wednesday, June 12</strong></td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><em>Mediterranean Interactions: Tourism, social movements, and the “other” in the Mediterranean</em></strong></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">9:15 am</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Coffee/tea</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: center;">
9:30 - 10:45 am</div>
</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Blue Eyed Black Boy, Balkan Beat Box and the Sounds of the Arab Spring</em> (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFa2JrN0pqZGpRRTQ/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">presentation</a>(.pptx))</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><a href="http://www.csames.illinois.edu/people/">Angela Williams</a></strong>, Assoc. Director of the Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, U. of Illinois</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFN0NmS0ZGZ093Ym8/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">Background reading</a></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">10:45 - 11:00 am</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Break (coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided)</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: center;">
11:00 am - 12:30 pm</div>
</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>African immigrants in the EU</em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><a href="http://www.anthro.illinois.edu/people/ajgottli">Alma Gottlieb</a></strong>, Professor of Anthropology, African Studies, Global Studies, and Gender and Women's Studies, U. of Illinois</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">12:30 - 1:30 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Lunch break</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="left">1:30 - 2:45 pm</td>
<td valign="left"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>Contemporary Islamic Movements in the Mediterranean </em></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><a href="http://www.csames.illinois.edu/people/">Valerie Hoffman</a></strong>, Professor of Religion, Director of the Center for South Asian & Middle Eastern Studies, U. of Illinois</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">2:45 - 3:00 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Break <em>(coffee, tea, and light refreshments provided)</em></div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">3:00 - 4:15 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
<em>The European Debt Crisis: Lessons from the Greek Experience</em> (<a href="https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B0jlcUrxBQPFRWZHSTA2aVFyU3c/view?usp=sharing" target="_blank">presentation</a>(.pptx))</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<strong><a href="http://business.illinois.edu/facultyprofile/faculty_profile.aspx?ID=230">Elisabeth Oltheten</a></strong>, Assistant Professor Finance, U. of Illinois</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: center;">
4:15 - 4:30 pm</div>
</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Break </div>
</td>
</tr>
<tr valign="top">
<td valign="middle">4:30 - 5:30 pm</td>
<td valign="middle"><div style="text-align: left;">
Wrap-up</div>
</td>
</tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<em>The workshop is approved for 15 CPDUs and 1.5 CEUs.</em></div>
<div id="directions">
</div>
<h3 class="oddorevenblockheading" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="dlmap">Downloadable Campus Maps</a></h3>
<div class="even">
<div class="indent">
<div style="text-align: left;">
Detailed campus maps for download</div>
</div>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://illinois.edu/ricker/CampusMap">Campus Map</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://illinois.edu/ricker/maps/map.pdf">Printable Campus Map (.pdf)</a></li>
</ul>
</div>
<h3 class="oddorevenblockheading" style="text-align: left;">
<a href="https://www.blogger.com/null" name="eats">Local Entertainment and Restaurants</a></h3>
<div class="odd">
<ul>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="https://www.blogger.com/_includes/docs/CampusRestaurants4-10.doc">List of Nearby Restaurants (.doc)</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://the217.com/buzz">The 217 Arts & Entertainment page</a></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><a href="http://illinois.edu/calendar/Calendar?calId=7">UI Campus Calendar</a></li>
</ul>
<div>
<div>
<strong>Previous Summer Curriculum Development Workshops:</strong></div>
<div>
2012 Workshop: "Food & Energy Security and Sustainability"</div>
<div>
2011 Workshop: "Immigration and European Integration"</div>
<div>
2010 Workshop: "Islam in Europe"</div>
<div>
2009 Workshop: "How Does the European Union Work?"</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
<h2>
<div>
</div>
</h2>
</div>
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Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-2229181476836334032012-11-05T13:34:00.001-06:002012-11-05T14:45:31.829-06:00A Day to Inspire; A Lifetime to Learn: Chicago Foundation for Education (CFE) Teacher Workshop at Whitney Young High Schoolby Dinah Armstead
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-A3RvaIPyLY2dEqhvinO17IdTaQbYZNtqvVCdi-SAflJOvD1DJQppev2_giCakR1ihHiFF4t08_FSpfZnPF2OAXjLLZa_00ailNqu1vK2Sj6d5mTk6wlX2lPKSC39a0AGUkAwmTJAVY/s1600/passport.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="186" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiq-A3RvaIPyLY2dEqhvinO17IdTaQbYZNtqvVCdi-SAflJOvD1DJQppev2_giCakR1ihHiFF4t08_FSpfZnPF2OAXjLLZa_00ailNqu1vK2Sj6d5mTk6wlX2lPKSC39a0AGUkAwmTJAVY/s200/passport.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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.<br />
<br />
Part of what I did was to help out by sitting at the University of
Illinois European Union Center booth to talk to teachers as they came
by. Please find below opportunities whose deadlines are fast
approaching: <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Opportunities for high school teachers and students through the EU Center at the University of Illinois</span><br />
<ul>
<li>
<b>Euro Challenge:</b> The Euro Challenge is an exciting educational opportunity for high school
students to learn about the European Union and the euro. Come learn
about how to prepare for the Euro Challenge competition at an
expense-paid teacher orientation/info workshop in Chicago on November 5,
2012. Travel grants and substitute teacher fee are also available. The
deadline to apply for the workshop is October 22, 2012. For more
information about the competition, workshop, and how to register, see
the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/">competition website</a>.</li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>High School Essay Contest:</b><b> </b>This year’s essay is all about “Competition & Cooperation,” and what
it means for European countries to compete and cooperate within the
European Union, across the Atlantic, and beyond. The top three student
winners will receive cash prizes, and the winning student’s teacher will
win a place on the summer study tour to Europe in June, 2013. Entries
must be received by December 17, 2012. For further information and
submission form, please see the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/essaycontest2012.html">contest website</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Illinois High School Translation Competition:</b><b> </b>The Center for Translation Studies and the European Union Center at the
University of Illinois will hold a translation competition from EU
languages into English for Illinois High-School students in the spring
of 2013. The winners will be brought to the Champaign-Urbana campus for
the one-day program, “Translation Day at Illinois”, on Thursday May 2,
2013. Teachers must register their schools by March 1, 2013. For more
details and contact information see the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/translationcompetition">competition website</a>. </li>
</ul>
<ul>
<li><b>Summer Curriculum Development Workshop</b>: <i>“The Timeless Mediterranean and the New European Union: Transnational Spaces and Integration,” June 10-12, 2013</i>. Housing is provided, travel grants and CPDUs/CEUs are available. The
deadline to apply is May 6, 2013. Seats are limited, so register early!
For more information and on-line registration visit the <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/teacherworkshop">workshop website</a>.</li>
</ul>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<span style="font-size: large;">Opportunities for High School Students to Study Abroad</span><br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
Every year the U.S. Dept. of State sponsors several prestigious
scholarships, such as the Fulbright awards. I am an “alumna” of the
“Critical Language Scholarship Program”, which allowed me to travel to
Morocco for a summer to study Arabic. But, one doesn’t have to wait
until college to take advantage of some of these government programs.
I’ve listed information below that was sent to me for dissemination
among high school students and those who work with them.<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
The Department of State is currently recruiting for several study abroad
scholarship programs for U.S. citizen high school students: <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.nsliforyouth.org/">The National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y)</a> offers
merit-based scholarships to U. S. high-school aged students for overseas
study of seven critical foreign languages: Arabic, Chinese (Mandarin),
Hindi, Korean, Persian (Tajik), Russian and Turkish. The NSLI-Y
program is designed to immerse participants in the cultural life of the
host country, giving them invaluable formal and informal language
practice and sparking a lifetime interest in foreign languages and
cultures. Applications for summer 2013 and academic year 2013-2014
programs are due November 1, 2012. <br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2FFTo7tBC8m6PaT0ClcYyQBh4H0NknnIlB-iHdRHBOd7EZDD7-jo-Wwr5qcdwV7lSxqwuBnjaF0ehPipwUoVz6b7yrguUCvxOYWIv_akVG0Bs4PDio9EGIQPppX6t1qr-dIwf9WvqI/s1600/globe4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="191" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiLu2FFTo7tBC8m6PaT0ClcYyQBh4H0NknnIlB-iHdRHBOd7EZDD7-jo-Wwr5qcdwV7lSxqwuBnjaF0ehPipwUoVz6b7yrguUCvxOYWIv_akVG0Bs4PDio9EGIQPppX6t1qr-dIwf9WvqI/s200/globe4.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="http://yesprograms.org/">The Kennedy-Lugar Youth Exchange and Study (YES) Abroad Program</a> offers
scholarships to American high school students to spend the 2013-14
academic year in countries that may include Bosnia & Herzegovina,
Egypt, Ghana, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Mali (semester), Morocco,
Oman, South Africa, Thailand, Tunisia, and Turkey. This post-9/11
program focuses on increasing understanding between people in the U.S.
and countries with significant Muslim populations. The application
deadline is January 10, 2013. <br />
<br />
<a href="http://www.usagermanyscholarship.org/">Congress-Bundestag Youth Exchange Program (CBYX)</a> was established in 1983
to celebrate German-American friendship based on common values of
democracy. Secondary school students live with host families, attend
local schools, and participate in community life in Germany. Young
professionals (undergraduates) and high school graduates of vocational
studies aged 18-24 study and participate in practical training.
Scholarships are now available for academic year 2013-14; application
deadlines vary by U.S. region and range from September 2012 to January
2013. For more information and application deadlines, visit the
organization in charge of recruitment for your state.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://exchanges.state.gov/youth/programs/ylp/current-youth-leaderships-programs.html">The American Youth Leadership Program</a> offers opportunities for American
high school students and educators to travel abroad on a three to
four week-long exchange program to gain first-hand knowledge of foreign
cultures and to collaborate on solving global issues. Several
different organizations implement this program, and each has organized
an academic and experiential educational exchange focused on dialogue
and debate, leadership development, and community service. Recruitment
areas and application deadlines vary, so please check the American Youth
Leadership Program website for more information. <br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-size: large;">Other Sessions/Highlights: "Immigrants, Refugees and Children: Acceptance and Understanding" </span><br />
<br />
This session was conducted by a Chicago public school teacher who had
won a small grant for “Teaching Social Justice through Literature”.
She used the grant to purchase a small library of children’s books on
the topics of refugees and culture differences. A couple of the titles
in her library (which she brought her for our viewing) were, “Four
feet, two sandals” and “Mohammed’s Journey: A Refugee Diary”. Students
read and analyzed these books throughout her unit. She began her
presentation by leading us in an activity which she often used with
her students to jumpstart this unit. We had only two minutes to think
of and write down three things that we would grab in our homes if we were
suddenly told that we had two minutes to grab anything
before we left our house for good, never to see it again. We then
discussed what we took and why, and the stress we would feel by being
put into such a situation. The children would then be led in the
activity to consider that sometimes this is the case for someone who is a
refugee. They were encouraged to be empathetic, and consider how upset they
would be, and understand how upsetting it must be in the life of a
refugee. The unit went on to use other engaging activities, including
having the students make passports, learn about Ellis Island, and learn
basic stats on refugees today. The teacher utilized a free lesson plan
online designed to guide students toward understanding how it might be
to be in someone else’s shoes. She found resources for teachers
including lesson plans and videos on a United Nations website:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.unrefugees.org/atf/cf/%7Bd2f991x5-a4fb-4767-921f-a945b12d12d742%7D/ELEMENTARY%20PLAN%20FINAL.PDF">The UN Refugee Agency</a> </li>
</ul>
She also shared some other resources for teachers to teach on this and related topics:<br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://teacher.scholastic.com/activities/immigration/index.htm">Immigration and Ellis Island</a></li>
<li><a href="http://www.wartgames.com/themes/american/statueofliberty.html">Statue of Liberty games and activities</a> </li>
<li><a href="http://americanhistory.mrdonn.org/powerpoints.html">Free Presentations in Powerpoint format</a></li>
<li><a href="http://learningtogive.org/lessons/unit189/lesson4.html#handouts">Refugees and children in our world, lesson plans</a></li>
</ul>
I really liked these lesson plans and the unit as a whole. I believe
they could be particularly helpful across many different student groups.
The unit could be adjusted to different ages by choosing books
appropriate to the target age. Also, the teacher explained that winning
the grant was something that she felt was especially useful because
after working with the classroom books she was able to purchase with the
grant money, and developing materials to go with the unit alongside the
books, she felt that her time was well invested because should she ever
change schools, she would be allowed to take the books and materials
with her. Finally, she also shared with us another website that had free
stuff for teachers teaching this topic: <br />
<ul>
<li><a href="http://www.teachingtolerance.com%20/">www.teachingtolerance.com </a></li>
</ul>
All in all, I learned a great deal. I was reminded of what great
resources exist in Chicago and what great people work in Chicago Public
Schools. Plus, it was special being back in the high school where I had
been a student oh, so many years ago. Even better is the fact I
learned in 2008, that before I was ever a student there, a certain other
Chicagoan had gone to school there as a teenager, First Lady, Michelle
Obama. <br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">"Story-in-a-can"</span><br />
<br />
In the main exhibition hall, there was one exhibit called,
“Story-in-a-Can” that demonstrated a lesson plan where the teacher
guided students in the construction of a physical medium- an empty paper
towel roll cylinder placed inside a large cylinder- shaped box (like an
empty oatmeal box). Several sheets of paper containing a story were
taped together in a long strip and then rolled onto the roll and placed
in the box. The box had a slit opening where one could pull the story
paper out, similar to how we would pull paper towels.<br />
<br />
They had a handout that explained how this medium could be used to teach
anything that required sequential events from personal narratives, to
how-to-books, to experiments to history, to math.<br />
<br />
But the best part was the student participation. There were four high
school students, three girls and one boy who were at the conference that
day, even though it was a conference for teachers. They proudly
demonstrated and explained their (history) stories-in-cans to anyone
who would listen. Listening to them was informative and an absolute
delight.<br />
<br />
<i>Dinah Armstead works in the Division of Instructional Development at the Center for Teaching Excellence at the University of Illinois. She is currently working on a Ph.D. in Global Studies in Education in Education Policy, Organization and Leadership at the University of Illinois. Her interests include Educational Rights for North African (and other) Immigrants, focusing on females in the European Union and Language Policy. </i><br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: </span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">"Globe" (c) 2009 Groume, used under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 2.0 Generic (CC BY-SA 2.0) license:</span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en </span><i><br /></i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-64524533910879358462012-10-01T17:05:00.004-05:002012-10-01T17:05:52.869-05:002012 High School Essay Contest: Open Now<div style="text-align: right;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8_tofxuwrdo70lqr2UiPD2kFdao9QehFCNqhNWooOF_uNRKKAH-v3f7kvBaMKStfdF4qhxjk54VYnXQkkE0L4jqBySI-KJxcs_yjjopvPcig9fp0uOs8n8V0KBoND8ak2gg1jVQk5e8/s1600/pencil.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiu8_tofxuwrdo70lqr2UiPD2kFdao9QehFCNqhNWooOF_uNRKKAH-v3f7kvBaMKStfdF4qhxjk54VYnXQkkE0L4jqBySI-KJxcs_yjjopvPcig9fp0uOs8n8V0KBoND8ak2gg1jVQk5e8/s1600/pencil.jpg" /></a></div>
The European Union Center at the University of Illinois announces its <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/essaycontest2012.html"><b>ninth annual high school essay contest</b></a>. <br />
<br />
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 <b>$200 cash prize</b>, and the <b>teacher of the winning student will win a place on a study tour to Europe in Summer 2013.</b> <br />
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<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
This year’s essay topic is “Competition & Cooperation.” The European Union is a major force on the world stage; its member states collaborate extensively both within and outside of its borders. These relationships are built not only through high-level politics and trade, but also in everyday society: sports, arts, culture, science, and research all play a role. Collaborative efforts are evolving amidst the current financial crisis and other global events, such as the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. Participants should discuss in an essay of 800-1200 words what it really means for European countries to compete and cooperate within the EU, across the Atlantic, and beyond!<br />
<br />
Visit our <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/essaycontest2012.html">Essay Contest page</a> for more information.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Photo credit: "Pencil," (c) 2011 Laddir, used under a used under a Creative Commons
Attribution-ShareAlike license
<a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/">http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/</a></span>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-17257750291083273212012-09-27T15:09:00.001-05:002012-09-27T15:09:50.300-05:00Coming Soon: Euro Challenge 2013<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTe0Sik9jBXM7mP5P7pGh1Cssxeu0WJEwIyhPk1XJt-TGuN0tmYl3DCEqrJWlxqbdOGJmxeVIFCrcOM3Y5LZpwFAWRYzq2bqfcci3ClCsMSgd-hCVNmfXbxMVI_7IQwlnxIQcYli997U/s1600/euro.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-left: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiqTe0Sik9jBXM7mP5P7pGh1Cssxeu0WJEwIyhPk1XJt-TGuN0tmYl3DCEqrJWlxqbdOGJmxeVIFCrcOM3Y5LZpwFAWRYzq2bqfcci3ClCsMSgd-hCVNmfXbxMVI_7IQwlnxIQcYli997U/s1600/euro.jpg" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 7pt; line-height: .4em; text-align: center;">Credit © European Union, 2012</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/index.html">Euro Challenge 2013</a> 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. <br />
<br />
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 <b>travel to NYC</b> to compete in the national finals at the <b>Federal Reserve Bank of New York</b>. Conditional on an annual grant, winning teams can win awards and a trip to Washington D.C., generously offered by the Moody's Foundation.<br />
<br />
The program offers students of <b>global studies</b>, <b>economics</b>, <b>world history/geography</b> or <b>European studies </b> a unique experience that moves them out of the classroom into the real world. The competition requires no previous knowledge of economics.<br />
<br />
<i>"There is no other program that enables students to learn, first
hand, about international issues like the Euro Challenge." </i>– Libby Nowak, teacher, New York, NY <br />
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<b>Register by </b><b>October 22</b> for an expense-paid teacher orientation workshop in Chicago on November 5, 2012. Visit <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/index.html">http://www.euc.illinois.edu/eurochallenge/</a> for more information.<br />
<br />Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-48751462226927997922012-09-10T18:00:00.000-05:002012-09-10T18:00:01.663-05:00Career Opportunities in the EUby Alicia Henry<br />
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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. For the largest bilateral trading relationship in the world, investment flows both ways. (Read more: <a href="http://ec.europa.eu/trade/creating-opportunities/bilateral-relations/countries/united-states/">European Commission web page on EU-US bilateral trade relations</a>.) <br />
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Representing U.S. business interests in the European Union is the American Chamber of Commerce to the EU (AmChamEU, <a href="http://www.amchameu.eu/">http://www.amchameu.eu/</a>), a Brussels-based lobbying organization. EU Center study trip participants learned about the role of AmChamEU in a session that described the close economic ties of the U.S. and the EU. Laws affecting business in the European Union originate in Brussels. It is the goal of the Transatlantic Economic Council to stimulate growth, create jobs and decrease barriers to trade. The EU does not have a tradition of PACs and lobbying is minimal. AmChamEU has over twenty international employees, with only two (one full-time and one part-time) U.S. citizens on staff. The organization requires that personnel be knowledgeable about European business customs in order to advance U.S. business. Language facility must also be a factor in the scarcity of U.S. employees in this office. <br />
<br />
At the same location we had the opportunity to hear from representatives of the <a href="http://www.illinoisbiz.biz/dceo/Bureaus/Trade/brussels.htm">State of Illinois West European Office of Trade and Investment</a>. The West European office, one of nine State of Illinois foreign offices worldwide, represents Illinois interests in thirteen countries. Of the eight U.S. states with business offices in Europe, Illinois is the fifth most successful. The Midwest is often overlooked when European companies are looking at U.S. expansion; instead they often opt for the East or West coasts. Although southern U.S. states are appealing because of lower prevailing wages, Illinois has a lot going for it as a potential site. Airport, highway and Mississippi River access provide excellent infrastructure. Contrary to widely held beliefs in the business community, there are no great concerns about taxes in Illinois. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQJut-QxPeOTNow5KlGjNAJ7o1W_H2Jf2ZA4b_iQ_hoCxm53jtqVTWp7mJLiLH2Wm81pa1LRarbFYc92Njs8DspJA6U0OMBtB2p7ZU4nOOytnP1kQCtQL3kjDIMBsOtRINmrT1dheDKc/s1600/tractor.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiHQJut-QxPeOTNow5KlGjNAJ7o1W_H2Jf2ZA4b_iQ_hoCxm53jtqVTWp7mJLiLH2Wm81pa1LRarbFYc92Njs8DspJA6U0OMBtB2p7ZU4nOOytnP1kQCtQL3kjDIMBsOtRINmrT1dheDKc/s320/tractor.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Photo credit: Todd Gleason</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The ultimate in successful Illinois companies, Caterpillar, has its second-largest facility in Gosselies, Belgium, where 4,300 are employed (read more: <a href="http://belgie.cat.com/cda/files/1125593/69/20100901_Fact+Sheet_Cat-Belgium_EN.pdf">Caterpillar Belgium Fact Sheet in PDF</a>). Another 10,000 are employed indirectly by suppliers to Caterpillar Belgium. The 98-hectare facility has existed since 1965, exporting 97% of the hydraulic excavators, wheel-loaders, axels, cylinders, gears, and hydraulic valves produced on site. Caterpillar prides itself on remaining profitable and maintaining its two billion dollar yearly investment in research and development, even as the recent worldwide financial crisis forced other firms to scale back. Investment in the Gosselies facility averages €50,000,000 per year. Local managers and a visiting U.S. employee spent time with our group and answered many questions about the facility and its presence in Europe. Follow the link if you are interested in a job with Caterpillar Belgium: <a href="http://belgie.cat.com/careers/caterpillar-belgium">http://belgie.cat.com/careers/caterpillar-belgium</a>. Keep in mind that concern about companies relocating to lower-wage regions is not only a fact of life in the U.S. Indeed, <a href="http://www.imfmetal.org/index.cfm?c=28937&l=2">workers of the Gosselies plant staged a 24-hour strike in February of 2012</a> to highlight their concerns about the possibility of a production line moving to Poland. <br />
<br />
The EUC study trip provided tremendous background, fascinating contacts and exciting experiences for the participants in our study of the European Union. I look forward to sharing the lessons with my students this year. Thank you to all who made it possible!<br />
<i><br />Alicia Henry teaches German I-AP at Normal Community West High School in Normal, IL.</i><br />
<br />
<i>This article is one in a series of blog entries authored by teachers who participated in the University of Illinois European Union Center’s <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/studytour.html">2012 Summer Study Tour: Seeking Sustainable and Secure Connections in Food, Energy, and Governance</a>. The tour to Belgium and Luxembourg was supported by a Getting to Know Europe grant from the European Commission. </i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4877615300869643757.post-49496601415016493152012-09-10T14:04:00.000-05:002012-09-10T14:04:24.032-05:00Teacher Development Outside the Conference Room, Outside the Box, indeed, Outside the Countryby Fanny Clonch<br />
<br />
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.<br />
<br />
How often does a Chicago Public School teacher get to stroll the street of Brussels and Luxembourg? Considering that the resources of the Chicago Public School system are limited, not to mention that my own resources are always quite strained, the opportunities to visit foreign lands are all too infrequent.<br />
<br />
So away from teachers’ union contract battles, extended-day negotiations, salary increase debates I flew, literally. For a whole week I was able to focus, reflect and plan for the upcoming school year with the invigorating surroundings of a new place, new people and new ideas. I also had a chance to collect tangible teaching aids such as maps, brochures and PowerPoint presentations.<br />
<br />
We talked a great deal about how Europe is more advanced in green energy and I noticed it as soon as I entered my hotel room at the Thon Hotel in Brussels, formerly Rainbow Hotel before Olav Thon bought the chain.<br />
<br />
The 4 star-hotel is reducing its ecological footprint by managing water usage with dual-flush toilets, by collecting rain water for non-potable use and by managing and reducing the energy that is generated, in part, by maintaining their own solar panels.<br />
<br />
It is impossible to turn on a light or to recharge your phone or laptop unless you leave your room key in the slot found near the door. As soon as you leave the room, taking your keycard with you, everything shuts off. Your room key is also very instrumental for using the elevator. Without your room key, you cannot use the elevator and you can only go to your floor or the lobby and other common areas. What a simple yet great tool for energy conservation, which also adds to safety and security.<br />
<br />
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89XAmt_O4P4m2Lh1xreSCTBFaRtOx_qxhOPWqf4PZGm0NNEI4XDJ8_RJsESIlYc7945xY7ATzaUYX6inNWQmmsxYYE3rlSHhxHMl8RRkN0BL2gBhc7j4llI0p9T5f3pSeOjy0SrsW5fY/s1600/Villo.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj89XAmt_O4P4m2Lh1xreSCTBFaRtOx_qxhOPWqf4PZGm0NNEI4XDJ8_RJsESIlYc7945xY7ATzaUYX6inNWQmmsxYYE3rlSHhxHMl8RRkN0BL2gBhc7j4llI0p9T5f3pSeOjy0SrsW5fY/s320/Villo.JPG" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Villo Bikes</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
The hotel educates and encourages their guests to reduce water usage even more by giving a five-euro voucher redeemable at the hotel bar or restaurant in exchange for forgoing room cleaning. You could also opt for a Villo pass in lieu of the five-euro voucher. The company is actually J. C. Decaux, the same company whose name you see affixed to bus shelters throughout the city of Chicago. The word “villo” is a contraction of the French word ville meaning city and velo meaning bike. The Villo card allows you to rent a bike at one of the 180 self-serving bike stations located throughout the city. I learned that the construction of these bike stations reduced parking spaces and made some people quite unhappy, while proponents are relishing the reduction of motorized vehicles. Bike sharing stations can be seen in many cities throughout Europe nowadays.<br />
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Our schedule was pretty tight and I unfortunately did not get to use the Villo. However, for much of the trip, my fellow travelers and I did make great use of another zero greenhouse gas emission mode of transportation—walking.<br />
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<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-right: 1em; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgl7NfOhW1h9Eilk9zwo5IDoXUk0IfukPoJNmZ5gmZhvOvVS5ywq2C6QU9X3cpn3rlDesynDWHq7w4p2tYV7Arbd-Y2UaFy9LvDmbUQ-xZpb91WVBl-j4tyn9t2JSA9d4iw4c3gQvlrE/s1600/ZenCar.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEitgl7NfOhW1h9Eilk9zwo5IDoXUk0IfukPoJNmZ5gmZhvOvVS5ywq2C6QU9X3cpn3rlDesynDWHq7w4p2tYV7Arbd-Y2UaFy9LvDmbUQ-xZpb91WVBl-j4tyn9t2JSA9d4iw4c3gQvlrE/s320/ZenCar.jpg" width="320" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Zen Car</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
Strolling in the direction of the Parc du Cinquantenaire, past the European Commission building, to get a closer look at the Arc Cinquentenaire, I came across another green mode of transportation—the electric car. I had heard about the Autolib electric car-sharing project in Paris, which was launched last year. Like Autolib in Paris, Zen Car in Brussels is a green transportation concept that is completely electric, not a hybrid. This green car is there when needed and it makes sense for many of the politicians who come to Brussels and who are commuters from other European countries. Like bicycle lending services found at most train stations throughout Europe, the electric car can be picked up at the airport and dropped off at one of the central locations in town. Since you have to drop the car at the electrical charging station, you do not need to worry about finding a place to park. If you think that gas prices in the United States have skyrocketed lately, Europeans have it worse. They pay an average of 2 Euros per liter and there are 3.7 liters in a gallon (at the time of writing this blog the exchange rate makes the price of gas in Europe over $9 per gallon). It seems to me that the electric car is a right step in reducing oil dependency and perhaps the most significant means of reducing CO2 emissions.<br />
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Now that I am back in Chicago waiting to hear my fate vis-à–vis the negotiations between the Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools, I am very grateful for having been part of the summer study tour to Europe. I wholeheartedly thank Bryan Endres, Matt Rosenstein, Sebnem Ozkan, Kim Rice and Renée Holley for the remarkable work they put into the planning and execution of such an amazing program, bravo! To all my fellow travelers I give many thanks for the camaraderie. <br />
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To learn more about Zen Car: <a href="http://www.zencar.eu/en/about_concept.cfm">http://www.zencar.eu/en/about_concept.cfm</a><br />
<a href="http://accesstrumpsownership.blogspot.com/2011/02/brussels-welcomes-zen-car-electric.html">http://accesstrumpsownership.blogspot.com/2011/02/brussels-welcomes-zen-car-electric.html</a><br />
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Info on Villo:<a href="http://en.villo.be/How-does-it-work"> http://en.villo.be/How-does-it-work</a><br />
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<i>Fanny Clonch teaches three different levels of French in the International Baccalaureate program at Curie Metropolitan High School in Chicago, Illinois.</i><br />
<i><br />This article is one in a series of blog entries authored by teachers who participated in the University of Illinois European Union Center’s <a href="http://www.euc.illinois.edu/studytour.html">2012 Summer Study Tour: Seeking Sustainable and Secure Connections in Food, Energy, and Governance</a>. The tour to Belgium and Luxembourg was supported by a Getting to Know Europe grant from the European Commission. </i>Illinois European Union Centerhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17840566263183439222noreply@blogger.com0