Messiah University teacher certification students have the option to complete part of their student teaching experience in an international context. Our partnership with STAGE, a part of Interaction International, enables us to provide this opportunity for our students. STAGE provides the placement services and orientation for students in this student teaching experience. Dr. Christina Simmons is the STAGE Campus Coordinator at Messiah University.
This opportunity is available for all teacher certification students who will have completed all of the pre-requisite requirements for the Teacher Education Program leading up to the professional semester. Students will complete at least seven weeks in a local PA school before moving into a 5-7 week international teaching placement.
You will find the application for international student teaching here . We encourage students to apply as early as possible in the junior year in order to have a better chance of securing the first choice of placement. STAGE deadlines are posted on the website and on the application.
Accepted students attend a mandatory weekend orientation session in Indiana early in the semester prior to student teaching. Dates for orientation sessions are announced to accepted students by STAGE.
Students who are approved for international student teaching will register for TEP 439 Student Teaching: Domestic and International. This course will meet the requirements for cross-cultural/third language and ELI.
Additional expenses for this experience are listed below:
- $150 TEP 439 course fee in addition to regular Messiah tuition, room and board.
- $450 fee (approximate) paid to Interaction International
- Travel expenses to Indiana to attend the weekend orientation (meals and board are included in the fee)
- Travel expenses to and from the host country
- Room and Board and incidentals in the host country (approx. $400/month)
- Required international medical insurance (approx. $90)
Students who live on the Grantham campus for the first part of the semester will receive a housing rebate.
Blogs:
- Gabrielle Roeder Fall 2021 Puerto Rico
- Elena Stonge Fall 2022 Papua, New Guinea
- Micah Wagner Fall 2022 Amman, Jordan