Russian/American Educators' Exchange 2015 Now Accepting Applications
Monday, January 5, 2015
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Posted by: Lorraine Cashman
American Friends of Russian
Folklore invites middle- and high-school teachers to apply for the 2015 season
of the Russian/American Educators' Exchange.
The program grant covers all
expedition travel, food and lodging, including an orientation meeting before
departure and flights between New York and Moscow. Participants are responsible
for obtaining their visas (around $300) and for travel between their homes and
JFK.
Participants travel to rural
Russia to collect Russian folklore by filming holiday celebrations, recording
local singers, interviewing villagers about traditional lore, and photographing
local handicrafts. They experience Russian village life first-hand, living in a
village house and eating the local food.
They also visit Russian rural
schools, where they will make presentations about American folklore and meet
with Russian teachers to discuss matters of mutual professional interest. Upon
return, the American teachers will create and share curriculum materials
incorporating some element of the Russian folklore they collected.
The three folklore expeditions
are timed to coincide with important holidays of the Russian traditional
calendar:
- Expedition 1: Easter in
Volgograd province, Danilov district. April 8- April 21, 2015
- Expedition 2:
Pentecost/Trinity Week in Smolensk province, Sevsk district. May 21 - June 3,
2015
- Expedition 3: Dormition Day
traditions and first day of school traditions in Bryansk province. August 22 -
September 4, 2015
Knowledge of Russian is
useful, but not required. Translators will be provided.
To qualify, you must:
- hold a valid US passport
- be employed as a teacher or
curriculum specialist at a public or private school
- teach or work with curriculum
at the middle- or high-school level (grades 6-12)
- prepare an American folklore
presentation to share in Russia
- commit to creating, using and
disseminating curriculum materials that incorporate Russian folklore. The curriculum
materials can be in any subject.
- provide a letter of support
from your principal
All educators who work with
middle- or high-school students or curriculum are encouraged to apply.
Preference will be given to those whose schools are in rural areas --- Census
Bureau Locale Codes 41, 42, or 43.
Registration for each trip
will close 60 days before the trip start date.
For details and application
instructions, visit russianfolklorefriends.org or email us at info@russianfolklorefriends.org
This opportunity is presented
by American Friends of Russian Folklore, a 501©3public benefit corporation.
Funding comes from the US - Russia Peer-to-Peer Dialog Program, with
additional support from the Russian and East European Institute of Indiana
University.
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