1995 Indiana University - The Center for Adolescent Studies

The Cultural Immersion Projects in the School of Education at Indiana University offer a student teaching experience for those seeking a non-traditional placement. The thirty students each year who choose to participate in the American Indian Project do their student teaching on an Indian Reservation in the American Southwest. Most of these students teach in the Navajo reservations in Arizona, New Mexico and Utah.

Preparation for this unique experience requires a lot of work. Students attend meetings and a workshop the year before their assignment begins. They also read articles, prepare abstracts, and participate in group projects which help them learn about the culture they will encounter. Despite the preparation, project participant Lisa Goudarzi realized that, "You have to be there to understand the environment."

Goudarzi's placement was a mixed middle school/high school assignment in Shiprock, New Mexico. Like most project participants, she lived in a dormitory with the students and worked about twenty hours a week tutoring students in the dorm for her room and board. Even though this extra work was tiring, she remarked that it felt good to "earn your keep."

Initially, Goudarzi said that she did not see much difference between the Navajo students and those in the midwestern schools. As her student teaching progressed, she noticed cultural differences and adapted her teaching style accordingly. For example, she allowed her students extra response time to answer questions. The Navajo students did not want to answer incorrectly, therefore they took extra time to be sure of their answers.

The American Indian Project leaves participants with a rich and unique experience, a deep knowledge of Navajo culture, and an increased awareness of their own cultural influences.

For information on this program, write to: Laura Stachowski, Director, American Indian Project, School of Education 1044, Indiana University, Bloomington, IN 47405.