- Rotary InterDistrict
Teacher Exchange - Rotary InterDistrict
Teacher Exchange
JACKSON COUNTY ADVOCATE September 1997 PAGE 5
Sherri Clayton,
foreign language department chairman and Spanish teacher atGrandview high
school, was selected for this summer's Rotary InterdistrictTeacher Exchange
(R.I.T.E.) promoted by Kansas city Club 13, Raytown, andKansas City South
Rotary Clubs to spend the summer teaching and learningin Buenos Aires,
Argentina.
She was one of three teachers, one from Texas and one from New Zealand,chosen for this program. Jim Jenkins, assistant superintendent of Grandview schools and a member of the Kansas City, South Rotary club, wasinstrumental in the recommendation for Clayton's participation.
Ms. Clayton said: "The exchange meant a greater understanding of language andculture for all of us. There is a great interest in the learning of English inArgentina and other South American countries due to ever-increasing economic tieswith the United States. This experience was a highlight of my teachingcareer."
Her activities included guest lecturing at the Department de Idomas,University of Buenos Aires, as well as aiding in classroom curriculum development and instruction in district primary and secondary schools in Buenos Aires. She also held an instructional position for bi-weeklynight classes for non-native English language teachers fulfilling partialproficiency test requirements within the Buenos Aires system.
Clayton said conditions in Argentina were surprisingly different from the U.S. June and July are winter months in South America, and there werefew heated classrooms. Classroom materials were hard to get, and books forthe students are not paid for by the taxpayers. She resided with a family that included her in all family activites, experienced life in the city of Buenos Aires (the fifth largest city in the world), and wasinvolved in a day-to-day discussion of differences in culture, politics,and economic problems with the people with whom she came in contact.
Permission to reprint this article was given by Jim Turnbaugh of the Jackson County Advocate.
WWW version added on 09-26-97
Last updated on 02-01-99