Teacher exchange promotes cultural awareness

By Eric Peterson, 17, with contributions from Dennis Bao, 10; Maggie Guter, 9; Ben Harris, 11, and Eric Wagner, 12

A freshman English class at Marquette Senior High School spent nearly four months learning cultural awareness in addition to reading and writing thanks to a teacher exchange program.

Rashmi Chopra, of New Delhi, India participated in the Fulbright Teacher Exchange Program in which teachers from different countries swap places to teach in the other's school. MSHS teacher Mike Cook spent the semester teaching at Chopra's school in India. Out of 800 people from all over India who applied, Chopra was one of the seven chosen to be a part of this hands-on program.

"The whole idea of the exchange is to bring about a cultural awareness and also to be aware of how the teaching process is in both countries," Chopra said in an interview before heading back to India in December. "The world is a beautiful place, and the more diversity that you get to see, the more enriched you are."

Chopra tried to introduce some of her culture in everything she did while teaching the American youths.

"When we read a story I tell them about how my students (in India) would interpret it," she said. "I bring in experiences from my classroom from my home, and I have some pictures which show a few of the situations, like what India really looks like."

She brought the students Indian candy and passed out bindis, ornamental dots that are worn on the forehead.

"All my students just love wearing them," she said. "They keep saying, ‘Hey, we want those.'"

Chopra also addressed other groups of students throughout the district. She spoke with MSHS seniors and first graders at Cherry Creek Elementary School. She was surprised at the lack of knowledge American students have about other countries.

"Since you are a huge country perhaps you feel that knowledge about America itself is enough," she said. "I feel we have more awareness (in India) of what is happening in other places of the world."

Chopra's students enjoyed the cultural lessons.

"It's very interesting because it's not just a regular English class," said Blade Beckworth, fourteen. "We learn stuff about India and her culture. It's pretty amazing."

Sarah Anthony, fourteen, explained the biggest benefit she found from having an exchange teacher.

"Just the experience of learning what it's like in a different country, or learning not only what's in your textbook but about different cultures and how they live and what they do similar to us in America," she said.

Chopra feels that children everywhere are basically the same.

"I think students everywhere respect you if you know your subject matter and if you know how to deal with students," she said.

But she did notice some differences in etiquette. She explained that in India students stay in the same room, and teachers change classes each period. When the teacher arrives, the students stand up to greet them. And when the bell rings, they stand up again to say thank you.

"But here when the bell rings, they all just rush out because they have to go to the next class," she said.

Chopra says she has noticed a trait among American students that she especially enjoys.

"I just have admiration for their spirit when I see them play," she said. "They take up any sport and they go into it with such a lot of zeal, it's amazing."

She attended a junior hockey game that especially impressed her.

"These little boys running around, it seemed as if their skates were an extension of their bodies," she said.

Chopra feels that her American students now have a much better understanding of her country than when she arrived.

"There's a very big difference from what they understood it to be and what reality is," she said. "They thought that India was just a place where cows roamed about the streets and you had monkeys in the homes. Now I think they know that it's not true.

"A little awareness has been built. To tell everyone in the world we are all the same. We belong together. That, I think, is a wonderful thing brought about by the exchange."