Wstępna informacja o programie wymiany z USA

Wstępna informacja o programie wymiany z USA
Nasze liceum oraz liceum SPLOT w Nowy Sączu zostały zaproszone do udziału w programie polskoamerykaoskiej wymiany szkolnej, US-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Leadership Program,
organizowanej przez American Councils for International Education, Kosciuszko Foundation, World
Link, American Civics Center i Fundację Edukacja dla Demokracji (http://www.edudemo.org.pl).
Projekt finansowany jest ze środków Departamentu Stanu USA.
O programie
Program ma na celu stworzenie grupie młodzieży polskiej ( w sumie 15 osobom z dwóch szkół
wyłonionych w drodze konkursu; 7-8 osób z jednej szkoły), możliwości bezpośredniego poznania
życia politycznego i społecznego, systemu prawnego, systemu edukacji, a także historii i kultury USA,
oraz, takiej samej grupie młodzieży amerykaoskiej przybliżenie realiów polskich. W lutym 2009
planowany jest miesięczny wyjazd grupy polskiej do USA, w czerwcu 2009, grupy amerykaoskiej do
Polski. Całośd ma byd zakooczona tygodniowym letnim obozem w Polsce.
“Many of today’s youth experience other cultures filtered and translated through the Internet instead
of through immersion in the culture and face-to-face encounters with individuals from other
countries. For U.S. and Polish students and teachers, the U.S.-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange
Leadership Program offers an opportunity to learn first–hand about each country’s history and
cultural values, as well as its educational system, political process, civic responsibilities, and rule of
law. Participants will develop lasting ties with the people they meet during the exchange, and be
encouraged to collaborate on joint follow-on projects after the completion of the exchange activities.
International educational and cultural exchanges have the power to educate and empower young
people to become self-aware and confident members of their own communities, educating others
about diverse cultures, and promoting respect among people of different countries. The multiplier
effect of the program is illustrated by participants becoming both transmitters and recipients of new
ways of solving societal issues, and making decisions that have a positive impact on others. The
secondary school exchange programs administered by American Councils for International Education:
ACTR/ACCELS (American Councils) exemplify a proven track record of results, producing alumni who
return home with the strong desire to initiate productive and innovative ideas in their home
communities.
At the completion of the U.S.-Poland Parliamentary Youth Exchange Leadership Program, U.S. and
Polish participants will have developed a stronger sense of civic responsibility and a deep
commitment to international understanding and cooperation among youth. An important outcome of
the program will be a better understanding on the part of participants of U.S.-Polish relations and
their political and cultural values. The youth leaders who emerge from this program will share their
knowledge and skills with their peers through presentations, community service projects, and creative
follow-on activities. An alumni grants program, underwritten by Kosciuszko Foundation, will support
ongoing projects after the exchange.”
Organizacja wymiany
Pierwszym etapem projektu jest miesięczny wyjazd polskiej młodzieży do Stanów Zjednoczonych (4
luty – 7 marca). Miejscem docelowym jest Sacramento oraz drugie miasto na środkowym zachodzie
(jeszcze nie dotarły do nas konkretne informacje na ten temat – byd może będzie to Chicago). Przez
pierwsze trzy tygodnie uczestnicy będą zakwaterowani u rodzin amerykaoskich. W tym czasie
zaplanowane są zajęcia w jednej z tamtejszych szkół średnich (dwa tygodnie) oraz tygodniowy staż w
instytucji publicznej lub w siedzibie władz lokalnych. Ostatni tydzieo pobytu uczestnicy spędzą w
Waszyngtonie biorąc udział w Civic Education Workshop.
“Each Polish student will be assigned a “program buddy” who is a peer in the host school district.
These program peers will serve as a local resource and provide an opportunity for in-depth discussions
and relationship-building. In addition to helping with in-school activities, the peers will also introduce
the Polish students to extra-curricular activities and other students in the host community.
Polish students will attend classes for three to four days a week during the first two weeks of the
exchange to experience the U.S. education system and participate in discussions on civics and U.S.
government. Students will be expected to give presentations about their country, and answer
questions from students and faculty about Polish life and culture.
A special community service day will be organized that will allow students to become involved with a
local Habitat for Humanity project. In most communities, Habitat building projects are ongoing, and
will therefore be available during the exchange period. An alternative community service activity will
be to serve as volunteers at a local Habitat Reuse Store, where used home appliances and materials
are donated and sold to raise funds for Habitat projects. Through its administration of other
secondary school exchange programs, American Councils has found that Habitat projects are a highly
valuable and tangible volunteer activity with a positive impact on visiting international students.
For the third week of the U.S.-based program, the Polish students will take part in a five-day
internship with a civic organization, or in the office of a government leader in the host community.
Students will “job shadow” for the week, and experience first-hand how local governments, nonprofit
organizations, or government agencies work. Internship placements will be made based on the
participants’ interests expressed in their applications. Polish educators will be hosted by counterparts
in each of the host communities, and will serve as chaperones and coordinators for student
participants. While students are at school, the educators will participate in individually-tailored
professional development programs, based on the interests expressed in their applications. As part of
the exchange program, Polish educators will be encouraged to develop joint lessons and community
service projects to engage students from both countries.
Washington, D.C. Civic Education Workshop
For the final week of the U.S. study tour, the two groups of Polish students and educators will meet in
Washington, D.C. for a Civic Education Workshop designed by American Civics Center. The Workshop
will focus on developing a sense of civic responsibility and a commitment to international
understanding and cooperation, and empowering participants to exercise their rights and accept the
responsibilities of citizenship and democratic leadership. The daily activities will provide participants
with a thorough understanding of the American system of government, the importance of civic
action, basic democratic principles, democratic leadership development, and the realities of American
politics. Workshop participants will also develop the necessary skills to analyze the U.S. system of
government, and share their knowledge of the U.S. with counterparts in Poland to promote mutual
understanding. Specifically, the Polish participants who complete the American Councils and
American Civics Center Civic Education Workshop will be able to:
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Outline the philosophical and historical foundations of the American political system,
including those found in the U.S. Constitution and the Bill of Rights;
Define and explain democratic principles such as federalism, judicial review, and the rule of
law;
Examine the role effective democratic leadership plays in government, the private sector, and
the political process at the local, state, and national levels;
Describe public policy-making in the U.S., including the various roles of citizens, the media,
interest groups, and government officials;
Identify the roles individual citizens (including young citizens) play in a democratic society,
and define the concepts of empowerment, volunteerism, grassroots organization, and civic
activism;
Explain the importance of tolerance and respect for individuals in a pluralistic society;
Apply the skills and tools they learn during the week to Poland;
Demonstrate civic competencies, such as consensus building, gathering and analyzing
information from primary sources, listening to and questioning experts, and promoting one’s
interests;
Examine and evaluate the U.S. foreign policy decision-making process;
Describe the roles of, and interaction among, the three branches of the U.S. federal
government;
Illustrate the different roles that governmental agencies and NGOs play in solving civic
problems; and
Compare and contrast cultural norms, civic life, and the governments of the United States and
Poland.
Workshop Description
The Washington, D.C. Civic Education Workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to
observe, debate, and reflect upon federalism and other basic principles found in the U.S. Constitution
and Bill of Rights; basic human rights and First Amendment freedoms; domestic and foreign public
policy development; current events and their impact on government action; the legal foundations of
the Republic; and American culture. The Civic Education Workshop participants will take part in
small-group meetings, onsite study visits, and meetings with government officials, public policy
experts, First Amendment scholars, and citizen activists. During these encounters, Polish students will
exercise the necessary skills for active engagement, empowerment, and democratic leadership,
including how to create consensus among competing views; public speaking; how to listen and
question experts and scholars; how to promote one’s interests; and, how to analyze information to
extract biased viewpoints.
By participating in the Civic Education Workshop, the Polish students will expand their understanding
of U.S. civil society and prepare to serve as positive agents of democratic change in Poland as they
develop and strengthen the beliefs and institutions necessary for a healthy democracy. Throughout
the Civic Education Workshop, participants will discover how individual citizens, such as themselves,
and nongovernmental organizations address and influence public policy decision-making, and the
actions of a democratic government. In addition, participants will also see and experience American
history, art, and culture through instructor-led study visits to a variety of sites throughout the
Washington, D.C. area. Following the workshop, participants will take part in a two-day debriefing
workshop conducted by American Councils staff.”
Zadania uczestników projektu
Od uczestników projektu oczekuje się gotowości do wystąpieo publicznych (wykład, prezentacja),
udziału w debatach i spotkaniach oraz przygotowania, przed wyjazdem, prezentacji o różnych
aspektach polskiego życia politycznego, kultury, zagadnieo ekonomicznych itp. itd.
“Presentations will focus on the political process in Poland, and how it has changed since the
Solidarity Revolution and the return of Polish democracy. Students will be asked to prepare
information about their culture, and the political and economic system prior to their departure to the
U.S. This information will be highlighted in PowerPoint presentations, which will be used in individual
discussions and group presentations. A special workshop will be held soon after their arrival to finalize
their presentations, and practice their delivery with other participants.”
Rekrutacja kandydatów
W projekcie może wziąd udział 7-8 osób z naszej szkoły. Osoby zainteresowane powinni do dnia 8
grudnia b.r. napisad i złożyd w formie papierowej w sekretariacie szkoły esej, w którym umotywują
swój udział w projekcie, napisad test kwalifikacyjny SLEP oraz przejśd pomyślnie rozmowę
kwalifikacyjną. Przy rozpatrywaniu zgłoszeo brane są także pod uwagę oceny kandydatów oraz
rekomendacja nauczyciela, dyrektora lub innej osoby zorientowanej w działalności i osiągnięciach
kandydata. Zarówno ocena esejów jak i rozmowa kwalifikacyjna ma byd przeprowadzona przez osoby
spoza naszej szkoły.
Opis proponowanego sposobu rekrutacji kandydatów
“The selection process will include a written application with an essay detailing the applicant’s
motivation to participate in the program, and how experiences will be shared with others after the
completion of the overseas component. Each candidate will be required to submit a school transcript
and written letters of recommendation from the Principal or Superintendent and a teacher. A panel
composed of three educational professionals with international education experience (not affiliated
with the school systems involved in the program) will screen the applications, and will identify 30
candidates to interview. World Link staff will conduct 25-30 minute interviews with each candidate to
more accurately assess leadership and communication skills. The interview scores will be added to the
application score to determine the ranking of the applicants. Candidates will be evaluated on qualities
such as flexibility, open-mindedness, sense of self, and tolerance for differences. A list of finalists will
be sent to ECA and PAS for approval.”