[etni] Fw:electronic cultural exchange

----- Original Message ----- 
From: Lisa Carswell - lcarswell@xxxxxxxx
Subject: electronic cultural exchange


I am an art teacher at a private school in St. Louis, Missouri, USA. This is 
my 17th year teaching in grades K-12th. My school's web site is: 
http://www.vdoh.org/ if you would like to check it out. I am writing to ask 
for your help in getting my request out to teachers in Israel.

I am trying to find a school in Israel with which my students may have an 
electronic cultural exchange. I started an international art exchange at my 
school two years ago. My primary motivation was to teach my students to 
understand people who are different from them in hopes of creating a more 
peaceful future. My fourth grade started the first year by exchanging art 
work and questions via video conferences and email with a school in Taiwan. 
Last summer, I took 5 students to visit that school and taught English in 
Taipei. This year, my fifth grade is exchanging with a school in France and 
fourth grade is continuing with Taiwan. The program went so well last year 
that we were joined by the other specialty teachers in the exchange this 
year. Fifth grade is studying French music, language, and culture with our 
music, French, and computer teachers. It has been my dream from the idea's 
conception to exchange with a school in the Middle East, preferably Israel. 
Any help you can give in finding a willing school would be most appreciated. 
The primary requirements would be: a moderate understanding of English, 
technologically savvy (so that we can communicate electronically), and have 
Israeli elementary students (I'm thinking 6th grade would be best because of 
my students' experiences the last two years with the other exchanges).

I want my students to discover from Israeli students what it is like to live 
in a place with such an important history, the birthplace of three of the 
world's major religions. I want them to be able to share what their daily 
life is like and to learn what it's like to live in a place that we perceive 
to be filled with so much conflict. My students may be able to help the 
Israeli students with their English skills (We are just finishing an ABC 
book with our Taiwanese friends.) and teach them about American fine/folk 
artists and traditions. We usually try to have two video conferences during 
the school year where we show our art work and teach each other a skill from 
our country.  The video conferencing is not difficult; schools really only 
need internet and some computers. The camera and microphone are very cheap. 
We could assist the school in setting it up if they were willing.

I enjoyed finding and reading articles on your website. I noticed the long 
list of elementary teachers but wasn't sure how often that site is viewed 
since the dates under the teachers' information were 2+ years old. I would 
appreciate any help or suggestions you can give me in finding a school in 
Israel.

Sincerely,

Lisa



Lisa H. Carswell, MFA, BFA, BS Ed.
Art Teacher
Villa Duchesne Oak Hill School
801 S. Spoede Rd.
St. Louis, MO 63131


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