Western Carolina University – Botswana
Botswana: Reciprocal Exchange of Cultural Perspectives, Knowledge, and Skills

Applicant Institution: Western Carolina University (WCU)
Project Director: Amy Rose, Ph.D., CCC-SLP
3971 Little Savannah Road, Room 160, 1 University Drive
Cullowhee, NC 28723
(828) 227-3289, ajrose@wcu.edu
GPA Project Type: Short-Term Seminar Project
Project Participants: 6 WCU graduate students (MA Ed or MS CSD); 6 K-12 teachers with the minimum of a Bachelor’s degree
Competitive Priorities: Absolute: Specific geographic region of the world: Africa
Competitive Preference Priority 1: New applicants
Competitive Preference Priority 4: Inclusion of K-12 Educators

Project Description: The College of Health and Human Sciences and the College of Education and Allied Professions at WCU, in collaboration with the Ministry of Education in Botswana, Africa propose a four-week Fulbright-Hays Group Project Abroad (GPA) in Botswana for graduate students and public school teachers from North Carolina. The proposed project builds upon an already existing relationship between WCU and Botswana. Objectives for the project include 1) enhancing participants’ knowledge of Botswana history, culture, and language; 2) developing participants’ intercultural competence and cross-cultural communication skills; 3) strengthening the collaboration between Botswana and US teacher educators and teacher candidates; and 4) developing accessible curricular activities to enrich the integration of African culture and language instruction in K-12 area studies.

Participants for the proposed GPA program will include 6 graduate students in MA Ed or MS CSD Programs and 6 NC K-12 teachers, including special educators and those with American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA) certification. Participants will be divided into four working groups with each group having graduate student and K-12 teacher representation. Including participants who are special educators and those with ASHA certification will enhance the overall impact of the project by ensuring the curriculum projects and activities can be accessed by all students, including those with special needs.

The project covers three phases. Phase I is the Pre-Departure Planning and Orientation Phase which will cover Botswana language, culture, history, traditions, and educational system; intercultural sensitivity and 21st Century Skills, Universal Design for Learning, and small group development of curriculum project ideas. Phase II is the Overseas Phase which includes an intensive four-week program in Botswana with Setswana language instruction, content seminars, visits to different regional schools, and cultural site visits. 12 peer teachers from Botswana will be paired with the 12 GPA program participants to enhance collaborative relationships, and to assist with development of projects and activities that will be incorporated into the NC K-12 public school curriculum. Phase III is the Post Seminar and Dissemination Phase. During this phase, participants will continue with development of their curricular activities, implement projects and activities in their schools, and share their projects through presentations at local, regional, national, and international conferences.