Teacher In-Country Fellowships to Asia (TICFA) Program India Study Tour Marianne Swain, Hale Junior School, WA, being dressed in local clothing, India, January 2001 | Leader/s | Dates | Outline | Past Participant Comments | The Asia Education Foundation's (AEF) TICFA Program is a professional development program that aims to provide Australian educators the opportunity to experience first hand the peoples, cultures and issues of the countries of Asia and to enhance skills and discipline knowledge of the studies of Asia. The Asia Education Foundation (AEF) Teacher In-Country Fellowships to Asia (TICFA) program have been developed to provide professional development opportunities for Australian primary and secondary teachers and educational administrators in the studies of Asia. The India program provides participants with direct experience of diversity and complexity of the Indian subcontinent. By traveling to Dehli, Varanasi and Calcutta, the group is able to examine the complex factors that govern contemporary Indian society. The group will arrive in Delhi with an orientation session and introduction to India before embarking on a 5-day homestay and teaching program with local Indian teachers. The group will then visit Varanasi, the oldest living city. The tour will end in Calcutta, a fascinating city, providing great insights into the impact of the British Raj as well as contemporary India. There are two phases to the Indian program: Phase 1 - will occur as part of the in-country study tour component in December 2002 / January 2003. Participants will be involved in a five-day homestay program in New Delhi with Indian teachers and be attached to a specific school during this homestay. Participants will be required to teach within the Indian school. Phase 2 - will occur in Australia in June 2003. Fourteen Indian teachers will participate in a twelve-day program in Australia; including a six-day homestay program with the Australian teacher they were hosted with in India during January. The India Study Tour very generously receives financial support from the Australia-India Council. Go to the top of the page Tour Leader/s Mr Ian Dawes, Australian Volunteers International, WA Ms Pamela Stewart, Asia Education Foundation Advisor, WA Tour Dates The dates of the 2002-2003 TICFA tour to Korea are: Date of departure from Australia is Sunday 29th December 2002 Date of return to Australia is Saturday 18th January 2003 Although every attempt has been made to ensure that this information is accurate, please note that these dates are subject to change. Go to the top of the page Tour Outline To be posted soon. Go to the top of the page Past Participant Comments Nothing we read or view on TV could possibly match the reality of this amazing journey. I have returned to Darwin armed with almost more material, observations, understandings and emotions than I can cope but the wealth of experience and newly acquired understanding will be an outlet for all sorts of shared experiences with my students and school community. I've led a pretty advantaged and worldly life and I place this experience very high in the list of those I would never give away. Dr Robert Smith, NT School of Music, NT It has been a long-term goal of mine to visit India - it was everything and more that I expected it to be. It broke down my preconceptions of both the people and the country (cricket, climate, curries and overcrowding). Matthew Bertram, Westlake Boys High School, New Zealand My fondest memories of the study tour centre on the interaction that I had with Indian people, especially my host family. The program gave me the chance to experience India from an insider perspective, or someone familiar with various people and places. This study tour will allow me to enrich my classroom program by developing learning activities that draw on my personal experiences and the resources that I have collected. Robert Care, Saint Anthony's School, SA The tour has given me a greater insight into the areas of curriculum development that I am interested in. I have found out information on what plant types are used in traditional dying and more importantly, through my experiences, my general knowledge on the people, places, religions and culture have been broadened. Jenny Cotter, The Essington School, NT I know feel more confident tackling India with my class. I have made wonderful friends and leant so much from this trip that will stay with me forever. It has increased my desire to travel and to read (both personally and professionally) more about India. It has opened my eyes to another culture and a way of living. I think it is a beginning of a wonderful relationship between India and myself. Maree Findlay, St. Joseph's School, VIC My life will never be the same! The way I see colour has changed, I have made life long friends and will always remember what this time traveling, observing, participating and processing this amazing culture. Sarah Hutchinson, Gold Creek School, ACT The first hand experience provides so much more than reading about India. These 3 weeks is just a drop in the ocean but it certainly has starting my journey of learning on India. Christine Walsh, St. Michael's School, NSW I have received an outstanding experience of another culture. I am full of experiences, stories and knowledge that I am looking forward to sharing with my class. I have wonderful resources to immerse my students in India, through visuals and sound. My classroom is really going to be vibrant and exciting. A positively life changing experience! Jennifer Massey, John Septimus Roe Anglican Community School, WA The program is a valuable first hand experience. Many things I have felt, smelt, tasted and experienced I couldn't obtain from a book or through further study on India. I have a practical and real understanding that has given me a passionate love for India and a desire to promote this country and its culture as valuable and rich. Katherine Woodward, TARA Anglican School for Girls, NSW Go to the top of the page Contacts Further information on the TICFA program is available from: Ms Kristi Sheldon, Manager, In-Country Programs k.sheldon@asialink.unimelb.edu.au Mr Aaron O'Shannessy, Project Officer, In-County Programs a.oshannessy@asialink.unimelb.edu.au Asia Education Foundation Sidney Myer Asia Centre The University of Melbourne Parkville Victoria 3010 Australia Telephone: 03 8344 4800 Facsimile: 03 9347 1768