133 days. August 27, 2014. On that day in August I will start a great adventure! I am very blessed to have the opportunity to study abroad in Grantham, England. For the entire fall semester I will be attending school at Harlaxton College.
I was first introduced to the
prospect of studying abroad at the Honors Academic Transitions Program during
my senior year of high school. At the Academic Transitions Program I attended a
luncheon with my father. During the luncheon they showed a video highlighting
study abroad, especially study abroad in Harlaxton. I was immediately hooked on
the idea of studying there, and fulfilling the “international reach” that
Western Kentucky University (WKU) is known for. I have chosen to study abroad
for the fall 2014 semester in Grantham, England at Harlaxton Manor. The most
exciting part of my choice to study in England is the opportunity to visit
countries such as Scotland, Ireland, Switzerland, Germany, Poland, Italy,
France, Spain, and Belgium. While studying at Harlaxton I will be a simple
train ride or flight away from experiencing the vast variety of cultures in
these countries.
While studying abroad in England,
many of my academic goals will be met. For instance, I will be taking three
general education classes, one class for my elementary education major and one
class that counts for both my majors. One of the general education classes will
also be an honors class, which will help keep me on track to graduate from the
Honors College here at WKU. Both education classes will allow me to go into a
minimum of three local schools as
part of my instruction in the course. I will have the incredible opportunity to observe at
least four schools in England and later compare them to the schools here in the
United States. After observing schools in England for 30 hours over the semester I will be
able to use the diverse examples of schools I have observed to shape my
personal beliefs about the purpose of education, how children learn, and
effective teaching strategies. Most students take this introductory course at
WKU and observe schools in Bowling Green. Because I am from Bowling Green I
have already had experience observing many of the schools there. Observing
schools at a location that is unfamiliar to me will help me appreciate that
classrooms, teachers, and schools are all unique settings. This course will also help me become more aware of the role
of the teacher in the classroom, in the school, and in the community in
settings. When I am more aware of what is expected of me as a teacher I will be
more able to fulfill those expectations.
Traveling to an area of such historical
and cultural value will also provide inspiration for my art that I can then use
in my career as an art teacher. As an art teacher, I will be better able to
relay the magnificence of a piece of art to my students if I have seen it in
person. Traveling to Europe will give me the opportunity to visit numerous art
museums. I will have the opportunity to visit The Louvre in Paris, which houses
famous works such as the Mona Lisa, Museo Nacional Del Pracio in Madrid, which
houses renowned Spanish masterpieces, and the Renaissance Art’s Hall of Fame in
Florence which houses masterpieces by Leonardo, Michelangelo, Raphael, Botticell, and
many more great artists. Viewing artwork in an out of school setting offers a
great opportunity to learn through experienceas an alternative to
lectures or power points. Only by seeing a piece of art in person can one truly
appreciate the craftsmanship; pictures can distort the artwork’s texture,
lighting, and materials but seeing the real version allows the viewer to grasp
the small details. Visiting places of artistic and historic value offers
the opportunity to buy re-creations of famous works of art.
An art
teacher’s most important job is to inspire students. I can use my stories of
experiences abroad and artistic souvenirs to inspire my students to create their own works of art.
Studying abroad will allow me to
see new places and explore new things that I have not been able to experience up to this point in my life. It has always been a personal goal of mine to
travel overseas. Studying abroad does not simply mean going to another country
and taking classes there. Not for me at least. In my opinion, studying abroad means engaging
myself in a new culture. It means being absorbed into the foreign culture(s)
and learning as much as I can about it. For me, studying abroad is an
opportunity to see the world while still working on my undergraduate degree. I cannot fully understand the
impact my study abroad will have on my life until I experience it first hand, but I believe it will be an unforgettable
