Inter-American Partnership for Education

• The Inter-American Partnership for Education (IAPE) is a Clinton Global Initiative Commitment that aims to transform English language instruction in Mexico's public schools and public universities by training and supporting a dedicated network of innovative and dynamic educators. 
  
• It is sponsored by Bécalos, Dartmouth College's Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures, Nextel de México, and Worldfund. 
• IAPE's flagship program, the IAPE Teachers' Collaborative, involves over ninety hours of pedagogical training during twelve days (July 13-25 in 2009) at Dartmouth College for English teachers from Mexico's public schools and public universities, followed by three years of teaching, mentoring, and participation in the IAPE Virtual Community.
• A second program, the IAPE Intensive English program, will be piloted in 2009 in collaboration with the offices of education of select Mexican states.

Background

The Inter-American Partnership for Education is a collaborative effort of Bécalos, Dartmouth College's Rassias Center for World Languages and Cultures, Nextel de México, and Worldfund.  In 2008, forty English teachers and teacher trainers from Mexico's public schools and public universities were selected from among 120 applicants to participate in the innaugural IAPE Teachers' Collaborative project.  Priority was given to teachers from Mexico’s Programa Nacional de Escuelas de Tiempo Completo de la Subsecretaría de Educación Básica de la Secretaría de Educación Pública (SEP).  Ninety percent of the program costs of nearly USD $5,000 per participant were covered by the program sponsors, with additional generous support from The Lynde and Harry Bradley Foundation and from the participants' home institutions, most notably the Instituto de Educación de Aguascalientes, the Secretaría de Educación de Jalisco, and the Secretaría de Educación Pública y Cultura de Sinaola. 

Program Description

The IAPE Teachers' Collaborative is scheduled to take place from July 13 to July 25, 2009, exclusive of travel days. Participants will be housed in residence halls at Dartmouth College, an Ivy League institution located in Hanover, New Hampshire, USA.  Each day will include interactive workshops during which participants are introduced to dynamic language teaching techniques pioneered by world-renown language professor John A. Rassias (view interview) and seminars conducted by Dartmouth faculty members and local experts on such topics as language assessment, interdisciplinary instruction, mentoring, and children at risk. Evening cultural activities and a full-day cultural excursion to Boston, Massachusetts round out the program.

Ninety percent of each participant's $5,000 U.S. program costs are covered by the program sponsors.  The remaining ten percent are covered by each teacher's home institution or state authorities.  These program costs include round trip transportation, housing, all meals, all instructional costs, all teaching materials, medical insurance, cultural activities and excursioons, and U.S. visa fees when applicable.

About the Rassias Method®

• The Rassias Method was developed by Professor Rassias at Dartmouth College in the 1960’s.  The Rassias Method is an innovative and highly effective system for teaching second languages.
• The Rassias Method is based on the premise that students speak a language to learn it rather than learn a language to speak it. Master teachers combine fast-paced interactive techniques, dynamic emotional involvement and cultural education with intensive participant involvement.
• The Rassias Method has trained more than 165,000 Peace Corps Volunteers in languages, as well as countless numbers of students and teachers throughout the world.
  

A Typical Day

Profile of Participants

The IAPE Teachers' Collaborative is designed for English language educators at public schools and public universities in Mexico who have a minimum TOEFL score of 500.  (Please Note: The IAPE Intensive English Program, designed for English teachers with a TOEFL score between 425 and 500, will be offered for the first time in 2009.  English teachers at public schools in Aguascalientes, Jalisco, and Sinaloa are encouraged to contact their local authorities for an application.)  The IAPE Teachers' Collaborative is for teachers who have made a difference in the lives of others, and who look to continue their professional growth and development as educators.  The program is rigorous and a considerable amount of written and oral work in English will be expected each day.

Because group composition is a critical factor in determining the program's impact, preference will be given to groups of three or four educators from the same state, with different levels of responsibility, and who are committed to working together as a team to implement new teaching practices in their states.  When possible, preference will also be given to groups that include teachers at elementary, secondary, and university levels. 

Commitment

The goal of the program is to create a community of innovative and committed English language educators in Mexico.  Toward this end, the program requires a commitment to participate for a minimum of three years. This includes continuing to teach English at public institutions, serving as a mentor to other educators, participating in occasional follow-up conferences, and actively participating in the IAPE Virtual Community.  Upon completion of the three-year program, participants and their home institutions will be awarded a certificate of completion.

Articles & News Coverage

• Dartmouth's summer workshop for Mexican teachers sees results
  Dartmouth College Office of Public Affairs, June 30, 2009
• 2008 IAPE Participants are Hard at Work
  A Message from IAPE Director Jim Citron, October 2008
• Notes from some Inter-American Partnership for Education (IAPE) Participants
  August 2008
• The Universal Language of Fun: Mexican Teachers Take Dartmouth Creativity Class
  The Valley News, July 17, 2008
• Dartmouth joins Clinton Global Initiative on Latin American outreach
  Dartmouth College Office of Public Affairs, July 14, 2008
• Rassias Method travels to Mexico
  The Dartmouth, July 11, 2008
• 40 Participants Selected for 2008 Inter-American Partnership for Education
  Update from IAPE Director Jim Citron, May 2008
• 20 Teachers from Mexico Come to Dartmouth College for Pilot Project
  WCAX-TV, July 2007
• Nextel apoya la capacitación de 20 profesores mexicanos, con el objetivo de mejorar la educación del país 
  Nextel de México, July 9, 2007
• First Annual Worldfund-Rassias Foundation Program at Dartmouth College
  Worldfund, July 2007
• DCAL Partners with Rassias Foundation and Worldfund to Help Mexican English Teachers
  Dartmouth Center for the Advancement of Learning, July 6, 2007
• Mexican teachers learn Rassias Method
  The Dartmouth, June 26, 2007
• Dartmouth-based partnership aims to help English teaching in Latin America
  Dartmouth College Office of Public Affairs, June 21, 2007
• Worldfund-Rassias Foundation English Training Program
  Worldfund, March 2007