International Student Teaching

Overview

The International Student Teaching program provides students an opportunity to experience, participate, and learn about the education system of another country.

  • Education majors eligible to participate include Unified Early Childhood Education, Integrated Elementary Education, and Secondary Education.
  • Process:
    • First, interested students should apply for student teaching.
    • Next, faculty reviews and approves applications for international student teaching.
    • Finally, the Field Experience Office and IST Coordinator places students in their domestic and international student teaching placements.
  • Education teacher candidates who have been accepted to student teach internationally have two placements: one abroad and one in Minnesota or Wisconsin. In the international placement, a professor from a local college or school will supervise teacher candidates.
  • International Student Teaching Handbook

International Student Teaching Locations

For more information, please contact the International Student Teaching Coordinator or visit the Study Abroad Office.

International Student Teaching Coordinator

Erin Pepelnjak
[email protected]
218-726-8752


 Student Experiences

 
Emily
 

Emily Dockendorf 

Integrated Elementary and Special Education Major

International Student Teacher - Ljubljana, Slovenia

It (Slovenia) is absolutely amazing! We have been traveling every weekend so far, but are staying in Ljubljana this weekend to help with a world cup competition that DKIS is hosting. It will be an amazing experience! The education system here is so different, it is taking a little of adjustment and trial/error to figure out how to fulfill the inquiry-cycle with such a diverse group of learners. The school is amazing, and I can't believe I get to participate and learn in this environment everyday. 

 

 
Malorie
 

Malorie Davidson

Integrated Elementary and Special Education 

International Student Teacher - Ljubljana, Slovenia

The teachers at Danila Kumar International School were very helpful and taught me many new techniques I plan to use in the future. I was placed in a 4th and 5th-grade classroom. I really benefited from this placement because I was able to see how two different classrooms are run. I received double the exposure to different students as well which strengthened my educating skills. Each class had a different English proficiency so my communication within the class changed depending on the students I was talking to. I gained so much knowledge through communicating and explaining concepts to students.  When I wasn't at school I took advantage of the weekends and traveled a lot. While abroad I went to the Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Hungary, and spent some time in different areas of Slovenia. I learned so much from traveling to different cultures and fully immersed myself in the experience. This experience has had such a positive impact on my life and myself as an educator. I look forward to applying my new knowledge to my upcoming student teaching placement.

 

Be a Global Student and Educator       

Croatia

 

Picture of Croatia
Laura Brown
Zagreb
Picture of UMD Students at International School in Croatia
Croatian Church

 
Ireland
photo courtesy of Morgan Cunningham
Page photo credits: Morgan Cunningham, Laura Brown, Courtney Krefting, Emily Dockendorf, Malorie Davidson, Megan Blaszkowski, Cassidy Welhouse, and Alexia Bjerke