English Language Learning
Teacher Exchange Visitor Program
Overview
The exchange visitor program, administered by the Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE), is a partnership with the Ministry of Education and Culture of Spain and the Office of the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico. Spain has participated in the program since 1999, and Mexico joined in 2008.
Purpose
The purpose of these partnerships is to enhance understanding between the people of the United States and the people of other countries through educational and cultural exchanges. The programs also improve the skills of teachers of Spanish within the State of Illinois.
Illinois Exchange Visitor Program
ISBE's governmental and programmatic oversight for this cultural exchange program includes the assessment of the English language proficiency of teacher candidates in Spain and Mexico. ISBE collaborates with the Ministry of Education, Culture and Sport and the Secretary of Public Education of Mexico to locate potential teachers. The participating Illinois school districts then select teachers deemed highly qualified and English language proficient to teach Spanish or teach in a transitional bilingual education program at various grade levels. Selected teachers, sponsored by ISBE and employed by individual school districts, receive three year exchange visitor J-1 Visas from the U.S. Department of State.
For more information:- Madrid ELL Teacher Recruitment Informational Meeting
- February 8, 2013 
An informational meeting about the Visiting Teachers from Spain Program and recruitment of ELL teachers in Madrid will take place on February 8, 2013 at 10:00 a.m. at the ISBE Chicago Office, 100 West Randolph Street, Ste. 14-300.
ISBE offers Illinois School Districts the opportunity to recruit Highly Qualified teachers from Spain to teach in Dual Language, Bilingual Education and Spanish as a World Language Programs. The interviewing process is tentatively scheduled to take place during the week of April 22 - 26, 2013 and districts may interview candidates either in person in Madrid or via Skype.
If you are considering the possibility of recruiting teachers from Spain, you are encouraged to participate in the meeting in person or through a conference call. Please RSVP jorge.berne@mecd.es & paula.orrite@mecd.es or call 312-814-5696 by February 1, 2013.
• SY13-14 Visiting Teachers from Spain Brochure
- Visiting International Teacher Certificate
- Application
for Visiting International Teacher Certificate (73-03F)
- Illinois
School Code - section 25.92 and section 25 (Appendix D)
- Visiting Teachers Program School District Annual Report (92-20P)
Thus far, 497 teachers from Spain and Mexico have participated in this program. In the 2008-2009 school year, ninety-seven teachers from Spain and five from Mexico are teaching in; Arlington Heights 25, Aurora East 131, CUSD 300 (Carpentersville), Cicero 99, Danville SD 118, School District U46 (Elgin), Plainfield 202, Rockford 205, Schaumburg CUSD 54, Troy CCSD 30-C, Waukegan CUSD 60, and Woodstock CUSD 200. In addition, Mannheim 83, and Wheeling CCSD 21 have participated in past years.
North American Visiting Teachers in Spain
The North American Visiting Teachers in Spain program is a new initiative by the Ministry of Education of Spain as part of a broader policy framework that pursues implementing and reinforcing the teaching of English as a foreign language.
This pilot program will be implemented experimentally in selected schools in Spain during the 2011-12 academic year and will incorporate native U.S. and Canadian English speaking teachers who will in turn help improve the quality of the English language teaching. The initiative involves an application and selection process.
- Program Application
- Teaching Positions Available - by Region
Exchange Opportunities for Teachers
The Spanish Ministry of Education and several Spanish universities partially sponsor scholarships to U.S. teachers of Spanish to attend language and culture or children's literature courses for three weeks in Spain. The university credit courses take place in July and August.
International Spanish Academies
Students can access highly recognized institutions of higher learning in the U.S., Canada, Europe, or Spanish-speaking countries in Latin America.
AP Spanish Language Courses
Ruta Quetzal
The Quetzal Route is both a study program and an adventure trip. During the course of the trip, participants complete a program of academic activities designed by the Universidad Complutense in Madrid.
Language Assistants
The Ministry of Education and Science of Spain (MEPSYD), through an agreement with the Education Authorities in the Autonomous Regions will offer 1300 grants in 2009. Assistants will have the opportunity to learn about the Spanish language and culture and use their experience upon their return to the United States or Canada, thus helping to develop cultural understanding between the citizens of Spain and the United States of America and Canada. At the same time, the program provides Spanish students and teachers of English an opportunity to broaden and increase their knowledge of the English language and North American culture through interaction with native speakers.
Contact Information
Spanish Ministry of Education
Jorge Berne
Education Advisor-Embassy of Spain
100 W. Randolph Street, Suite 14-300
Chicago, IL 60601 USA
Phone: 312 814 5696
Fax: 312 814 8636
e-mail:jorge.berne@mecd.es and jberne@isbe.net
http://www.mepsyd.es/exterior/usa/en/home/index.shtml
Mexican Ministry of Education
Secretaria de Education Publica
Direccion General de Relaciones Internacionales
Donceles 100, 1er piso, oficina 204
Col. Centro 06020, Mexico D.F.
Phone: (55)36016957
Hours: Monday-Friday 9a.m.-3p.m.
Email: anorte@sep.gob.mx
http://www.mexterior.sep.gob.mx:7008/convig.htm
