Winter 2005 - Keuka College

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Brazil Blame it on Rio After Guyana teaching in upstate New York for five years, Monique Felio Castilho ’83 decided she wanted “a little more excitement in my life. “I was single and ready for adventure. My salary did not make it possible to travel extensively, so I decided that maybe there was a way to work overseas. By chance, I found information about teaching overseas in a professional magazine to which I subscribed. I sent in the attached postcard and began the process toward working in an international school.” Castilho, a native of Webster, N.Y., admits that she “didn’t really know much” about Brazil when she accepted a position as a fourth grade teacher at the American School of Rio in 1989. She also “didn’t speak any Portuguese, but my high school Spanish helped me out at first. “I took private classes three times a week, and with time, my Portuguese improved,” said Castilho. “I don’t need to speak Portuguese at work because all classes, except Portuguese, are taught in English.” She does speak Portuguese at home, however, with her husband, a native Brazilian, and their two children, who are all bilingual. Castilho, who taught fourth grade at the American School of Rio for 12 years before moving to fifth grade in 2001, said teaching methods at her school compare favorably with those in U.S. schools. The culture, on the other hand, “takes some getting used to. “I enjoy the way the Brazilians are able to enjoy their free time,” said Castilho. “Brazilians in Rio are often late for appointments, my husband included. However, they are the friendliest people you will ever meet. They have great music and art, and are very creative people in every respect. They can South America solve any problem you throw at them.” Castilho chose Keuka for its small size and because she “was interested in early education as a minor with elementary [education] as a major. “I had been shy in high school, and I felt this women’s college would give me more confidence—I was right,” said Castilho. “I met many friends who are still very important to me today. The education I received was great. It gave me a strong foundation for being the teacher and person I have become.” —Tanya Cornell-Kestler Her Helping Hands During her annual excursion to Guyana in the summer of 2003, junior Delicia Fullington visited the David Rose School for Handicapped Children in Georgetown and “fell in love with the environment, especially the students.” So, the American Sign Language (ASL) major and communications minor made arrangements to conduct a Field Period at the school the following January. As a teacher’s assistant, Fullington taught ASL to deaf students and “helped the other students with disabilities, such as Down syndrome, learn how to read and do math.” So far, Fullington has utilized all of her Field Periods to travel to foreign lands. She followed up her trip to Guyana by taking part in a Group Field Period to Poland in July (see story on page 6). And, she has already made a contact regarding hospice work in sub-Saharan Africa this summer. —Tanya Cornell-Kestler
China Like Capitalism, Field Period Emerging in China Things can change quickly in brand mar- keting. Take Keuka College for instance. Last year, the College announced that it was the national leader in experiential, hand-on learning. No one disputes that claim, but it may not go far enough. The College may well be on its way to becoming the international leader in experiential, hands-on learning. Here’s why, and the explanation may cause Mao- Tse Tung, who led the Chinese communist government from 1949-1976, to turn over in his grave: Field Period, the centerpiece of Keuka’s commitment to experiential education, has come to China. Gary Bonvillian and Anne Marie Guthrie brought Field Period principles to China. Chinese students enrolled in Keuka College’s organizational management program are now conducting Field Periods as part of their bachelor of science degree requirements. Some 2,100 Chinese are enrolled in Keuka’s program; half of them are currently taking Keuka courses. “Field Period is a revolutionary idea in China,” said Gary Bonvillian, provost and vice president for academic affairs. “However, the Chinese are trying to adapt to how students are taught in our country.” Although China is a communist country, it is embracing new ideas such as free enterprise and individual opportunity, according to Bonvillian. And Field Period is all about individual opportunity. “The Chinese are enamored with this concept of taking what you’ve learned in the college classroom and applying it to real-life situations,” said Bonvillian, who added that the Chinese are aware of Keuka’s impressive placement record. Ninety-eight percent of Keuka graduates start their careers or go on to graduate school within 6-9 months of graduation while 54 percent report that they received job offers from previous Field Period sites. Asia “China’s economy is growing rapidly and Field Period is one way for students to become more competitive in the job market,” said Bonvillian. “Chinese businesses seem receptive to Field Period and American companies in China should also find it appealing.” Assistant Dean of Experiential Education Anne Marie Guthrie traveled to China in July to provide Chinese students with a “basic foundation of experiential learning and an overview of Field Period.” According to Bonvillian, Chinese students pursuing Keuka degrees, like those matriculating in Keuka Park, will have an edge when it comes time to enter the job market. “I talked to them about ‘intellectual capitalism,’” said Bonvillian. “The fact that they speak Chinese and English is a form of intellectual capitalism.” Nursing Next in China Keuka’s presence in China will increase later this year when the College offers its nursing program at Hebei Medical University in Shijianzhuang. The nursing program at Heibei becomes the fourth Keuka program recognized by the Ministry of Education in Beijing. “No college or university from any country ever received more than three of these recognitions,” said Bonvillian. Keuka’s organizational management programs at Tianjin University of Science and Technology, Jimei University in Xiamen, and Yunnan University in Kunming have also been recognized by the Ministry of Education. The College also offers its program at Qiqihar University, Chongqing University, and Wenzhou Normal University. —Doug Lippincott
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Winter 2005 - Keuka College

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