JEEM Scholar 2013

Introduction

During a six-week program, the MSU College of Education, Health and Human Development will host Atta BROU from Cote d’Ivoire, West Africa.  He is this year’s recipient of the JEEM Memorial Scholarship, which was established by the family of Dr. James G. Hauwiller to support international educational exchanges.  While in Bozeman, Atta will experience a home stay with Yvonne Hauwiller.

Brief Biography of Atta BROU

       In his application, Atta said, “I would like to participate in the JEEM program to improve my personal knowledge concerning teaching, curriculum design, American culture, and education, and also to belong to a worldwide network of educators for the sharing of experience and knowledge about teaching.”

        As a vocational school teacher, he wants his students to develop the same skills as foreign students, using 21st century skills in order to be competitive on the job market.  Atta has been teaching English for Specific Purposes (ESP) since 2007.  He says that there is a lack of curriculum for teachers training students of hairdressing, dressmaking, health occupations, and social studies. The majority of his students come from secondary schools and their age varies between fourteen and twenty-five years of age (from grade 8 to 12), most of them are from poor origins.

        He is primarily interested in curriculum design and also in integration of technology. He says,  that he  wants the problem of lack of curriculum in vocational schools to be solved to give real opportunities to students when they are training or on the job.  Though he has never travelled to the US or other countries abroad, he feels that he will learn much from other teachers, professors and administrators through his participation in this study program.  He says, “It will be very profitable for my local school and my community. Upon my return I will present my experiences to my local colleagues through an area conference.  I will meet with the school inspectors to show them the appropriateness of the project and to have their permission to organize workshops in vocational schools throughout the country.”

        Atta plans to help his students improve their English for specific fields of vocational education.  They can become competent workers, managers and supervisors, as employers these days are looking for “well-qualified and bilingual workers.”  Finally, he hopes to design/edit textbooks to be used as resources on the job and in their homes.  Concerning his professional or leadership experience, he is currently the secretary general in his school of the national teacher’s union and he is also a member of the school parental committee.

          The JEEM Scholarship provides Atta with an exciting opportunity to travel.  As a recent newlywed, he will use SKYPE, e-mail and other social media to share his experiences with his bride, Beatrice.  

Welcome Atta to MSU, Bozeman, and Montana