Study Education in Cuenca, Ecuador
Students studying Education have unlimited pedagogies from which to learn nowadays. Some students prefer to learn about alternative education courses; some want to learn about more traditional classroom teaching. CEDEI was created as a school, first and foremost, that would educate students around the world and bridge cultures. From that seed, it grew into a foundation that has connected cultures and initiated community programs for over 25 years. But the academic component has remained fundamental to CEDEI’s mission. For that reason, the professors of CEDEI are specifically chosen as representative of their fields of study. There are professors like Teresa Clare in the Biology and Environmental Studies department; she has lived, researched, and documented her life’s work and is now teaching what she’s learned to students at CEDEI. Another professor, Cuencana Jobita Angüisaca, has taught art with various community groups in Cuenca, and she instructs her study abroad students in not only the methods of painting, but the history, symbolism and importance of Ecuadorian artists.
What Education courses does CEDEI offer?
CEDEI has a variety of Education courses, both in the School of Education, focusing on pedagogy, as well as in the TEFL Program which specifically focuses on how to teach English. Nowadays, teachers have unlimited possibilities with where and how to teach. Teaching online is one of the new norms for teachers who want to travel. Teaching in International Schools or American Schools is also a way for teachers to experience a new culture. The two primary courses at CEDEI are still connected to the States, but also provide a different perspective. One course, Diversity and Culturally Responsive Teaching, is an exploration into the ways in which to build community with students, especially when there are cultural differences. It’s a vitally important course for teaching whether you’re in the States or teaching abroad. Another course, History and Philosophy of Education, approaches the topic of how educations systems were formed, specifically in the United States.
What is the TEFL course?
The TEFL Intensive Training Course is 114 hours of study and practice to earn a certification in TEFL, or Teaching English as a Foreign Language. Though it is not typically possible to take the TEFL course during the Fall or Spring semester in a study abroad program, the International Studies Director, Diana Rosales, is always open to discussing individual situations. Typically, the TEFL course is offered in the summer months. More information can be found here.