Education

Come join us for an exciting travel opportunity to combine service, learning, and adventure among the beautiful rain forest mountains and beaches of Belize.  Experience the beauty and excitement of the Caribbean Island culture and the tranquility and peace of the Mayan Mountain environment.

Education teams are currently offered to Belize only.

WHEN:  Sixteen day programs are scheduled throughout the year to fit any academic schedule.  If a team representative is able to put together a group of six or more, they have the option of choosing a trip schedule that would work best for their team.  Team members can be from different schools, and even non-education students can help fill a team with our approval.

See team schedules for cost and details.

WHERE:  This field experience combines classroom time and academic seminars in the country of Belize.  Work with our “Mayan Mountains” program or with the “Caribbean Island” program–your choice.

WHAT: Academically, this program provides an opportunity to compare and contrast educational methodology in the host country with that of the United States.  Students will also have opportunities to experience lectures and presentations by faculty and staff, do classroom observations, tutoring and classroom teaching.  Presentations may address issues such as, “Language and Learning in a Multicultural Context”, “Curriculum and Instruction” in the home country system, “Politics of Education in a Church-State School System”, “History of Education” in the host country, and other topics as requested by participating students.

ISL has designed this program as an educational “lab” with the flexibility to customize lectures and experiences to reflect the education-related issues and interests of each team.

How to obtain academic credit:

• Contact your academic advisor to see how our program might fulfill an already established curriculum requirement (some universities require a certain number of practicum, or cross cultural course work).  We will be glad to work with your academic advisor.
• Most schools provide independent study opportunities, if sponsored by a faculty person.  That person is welcome to contact ISL, as needed, to help plan your independent study project.

WHY:  The ISL Education Program is a win, win, win situation!

You win. The international service learning environment is safely and professionally administered.  The opportunities and experiences you will have will not only change you and your outlook, but will develop your abilities as a teacher.

The students and their families win. The educational resources that you bring to the host country will have a positive effect on the lives of the children there, ultimately resulting in an improved community.

The schools and the educators you work with win.  The professional partnerships that are achieved are extremely beneficial to host country teachers both personally and fiscally. We have a goal to create partnerships between host country schools and student universities–and to maintain this relationship for continued support.

GET INVOLVED IN THE ISL “ADOPT A STUDENT OR A SCHOOL” PROGRAM: ISL team members participating in the Mayan Mountains program will have an opportunity to adopt a school, while the Caribbean Island program will be adopting or sponsoring individual students at a small school.

RECREATIONAL POSSIBILITIES: Visit the world-renowned Mayan ruins; enjoy cave & river canoeing; go hiking, beaching, snorkeling, or swimming; take wildlife trips; enjoy the local music, art and cultural activities; go shopping; and delight in a general exploration of the host country!

WHO: This project is a partnership program with International Service Learning (ISL), and local governmental education agencies.