Overseas Student Teaching and National Identity: Why Go Somewhere You Feel Completely Comfortable?

International Assembly of the National Council for the Social Studies. 8555 16th Street Suite 500, Silver Spring, MD 20910. Tel: 765-496-3029; Fax: 765-496-2210; Web site: http://www.iajiss.org/index.php/iajiss/index

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17

Preservice Teachers; Student Teaching; Overseas Employment; Nationalism; Self Concept; Student Teacher Attitudes; Undergraduate Students; Education Majors; Data Analysis; Life Style; Economic Climate; Cultural Pluralism; Ethnic Diversity; Stereotypes; Misconceptions; Religion; Cultural Awareness; Patriotism; Foreign Countries

South Africa; Australia; Ireland; Mexico; Ecuador; Costa Rica

2327-3585

One of the major goals of teacher education programs is to prepare globally competent teachers who hold inspiring dreams for the future and who contribute to the betterment of our world and planet (Cushner & Brennan, 2007). This study presents the emerging perceptions of national identity held by preservice teachers who completed their student teaching overseas. To help them become better global citizens and teachers in this constantly changing and increasingly diverse world, each preservice teacher in a unique international setting reflected on what it means to be an American by answering Crèvecoeur's question, "What is an American?" In addition, each preservice teacher was asked to define the national identity of the host country.

ERIC

33

2017

EJ1150285