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International faculty brings different cultures to Loudoun
Each year, teachers from all over the world come to lead classes in Loudoun County schools.
Through the Visiting International Faculty Program, educators spend three years in American classrooms spreading their knowledge of academics, along with information about what life is like in their home country.
Across the United States, there are more than 1,600 teachers in the VIF program this year from more than 50 countries.
Eighty-three of them are in Loudoun County schools, said Leslie Maxwell, spokeswoman for VIF. They come from places including Romania, Australia and Costa Rica.
"VIF teachers are providing students with great classroom instruction as well as an understanding of a world beyond Loudoun County," she said. "It's going to be important for students to have an understanding of issues affecting other places in the world."
Steve Charlish, 32, taught for 10 years in England and just finished his second year teaching third grade at Potowmack Elementary School in Sterling through the VIF program.
"The systems of education are different, but the main difference I find here is there is a lot more appreciation for teachers," he said. "Parents are much more involved. You feel like an important part of the community."
To educate the students about his home country, Charlish has paired the 22 students in his class with third-grade pupils at a school in Liverpool.
"It's a good link for them to have, and they love it," Charlish said. "They write letters to each other and write poems."
The students also ask questions of each other and share information through videotaped Web casts.
Charlish also has brought the game of cricket to Potowmack and said the kids here love it.
Leticia Rodriguez, a VIF teacher from Salamanca, Spain, teaches Spanish to third-, fourth- and fifth-graders at Seldens Landing Elementary in Leesburg.
"The kids are amazing," she said. "They pick up everything so easily."
Rodriguez, 27, travels from classroom to classroom and speaks only Spanish to the students. She said visual aids help a lot in learning the language, but for the most part, the kids soak it right up.
To help the students learn Spanish culture, Rodriguez celebrates special events and holidays from her home tradition.
Rodriguez also hosts a pretend market using play euros where the students can buy pencils and other items.
"I love the kids," Rodriguez said. "They make my life happy every day. They are fun and special."
Contact the reporter at ecoe@timespapers.com
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