Clifden, Ireland

The Irish Internship Program (Irish Elementary and Secondary Schools) was established in 1986. Particular strengths of the program are its small size and the personal attention given each student. Both school heads and teachers in Ireland appreciate this relatively tight structure personalization of Vassar's Ireland Program. Evaluations of the program by participating students have been overwhelmingly positive. For more information, stop by the Education office in Blodgett, room 240 A.

Requirements

The program is open to all students who are interested in working with children, have sound knowledge of child development, and have had extensive experience with children in school or recreational settings.
As this experience is a part of the Junior Year Abroad Program at Vassar College, the student who participates must be a first or second semester junior during the actual experience.
A minimum G.P.A. of 3.0 is required of all students who participate on this program.
Careful planning with major program advisers is required so that students continue to meet their course requirements at Vassar College.
Personal qualities such as responsibility, independence, and initiative are expected of all students.

Application

During the fall term of the sophomore year, students are requested to confer with the program adviser (Assistant Professor Chris Bjork), Department of Education) to discuss their interest in and intent to participate in the program.

Students then confer with their major advisers to plan their Vassar College coursework for the junior and senior years and to discuss possible tutorials that might be taken at University College, Galway. Students are strongly encouraged to enroll in courses which they would not have the opportunity to study at Vassar.

Office of International Programs applications to participate in the program are filed with the Office of the Dean of Studies on the designated date.

The students' folders are reviewed by a Department of Education Committee. Students are then interviewed by a committee established by the program adviser. Committee members may include Department of Education faculty, college-at-large faculty members, faculty members from the Wimpfheimer Nursery School, and teachers from the local elementary schools. The purpose of this interview is to ascertain the students' purpose and interest in the program and their suitability (academically, socially, emotionally) for the program.

After the interviews, this committee ranks the students, based on their suitability for the program, and forwards this information to Susan Correll, Director of the Study Abroad Office.

In mid-January, the Committee on Leaves and Privileges, Office of the Dean of Studies, meets, and upon the recommendation of the Education Department selects participants.

Students are notified in early February by the Office of International Programs of their acceptance or non-acceptance into the program.

Evaluation

The evaluation of the students' work is a three-fold process and includes the following components:

Brother James Mungovan or Mr. Brendan Flynn, Clifden Community School, send a written evaluation of the students' work in the schools to the adviser of the program at Vassar College. This evaluation is based on observation of the students in their classroom settings, discussions with their cooperating teachers and heads. Ms. Patricia Eaton, at University College, Galway, comments on the education seminars taken there.

The students keep a detailed journal of the experience. This, in combination with the portfolio of the children's work (reflecting the students' participation in the classroom), is evaluated by the program adviser. In addition, students are involved in informal sessions at Vassar College during the recruitment periods for new students for the program. If the students have satisfactorily completed both #A and #B they are awarded three units of ungraded credit as follows:

Two (2) units of credit for Field Work (Education 290: Secondary School Teaching).
One (1) unit of credit for Independent Work (Education 298: Curriculum of the Irish Secondary School).

The adviser from the University College, Galway, Ms. Patricia Eaton, or the students' tutor, sends a written evaluation of the students' performance in the work at University College. Based upon this recommendation one unit of Vassar transfer credit is given for the work.

Fees

When studying abroad, students pay Vassar tuition.
Incidental expenses are your responsibility.
The comprehensive fee does not include airfare.

Housing

Students reside at the Ave Maria Bed & Breakfast with Ms. Catherine Lowry. Address: Ave Maria B & B, Billinboy, Clifden, Co. Glaway, Ireland. Phone: 011-353-95-21368

Program Administration

The administration of the program is the responsibility of the advisor to the internship program with the Department of Education at Vassar College. In Ireland, Ms. Patricia Eaton of University of Galway arranges tutorials for the students. School placements are arranged by Brother James Mungovan and Brendan Flynn.

The specific responsibilities are as follows:

Brother James Mungovan

Address: Clifden Community School / Galway, Ireland
Phone: 011-353-95-21184

Responsibilities:

Maintain close liaison with cooperating teachers who supervise the students in the classroom.
Write final evaluation of students' work.
Brendan Flynn Address: Clifden Community School / Galway, Ireland Phone: 011-353-95-21184
Responsibilities: Act as "domestic" tutor.
Supervise students in his school and maintain close liaison with them to ensure the happiness and well-being of the students.
Write final evaluation of the students' work.

Ms. Patricia Eaton

Address: University College Galway, Department of Education, 14 University Road, Galway, Ireland
Phone: 011-353-91-524411

Responsibilities:

Arrange tutorials for students.
Periodically check with students to see how they are coming along.
Write an evaluation of the students' performance in their tutorials or obtain the evaluations from the tutors.

Contact is maintained between the two countries by e-mail. Every year or two the program director and/or advisor visits Ireland to meet with Brother James, Brendan Flynn and Patricia Eaton to review and make program adjustments, to visit schools, and to discuss any changes in living accommodations for the upcoming year. The college provides a travel budget for the Irish Internship Program which includes transportation and living accommodations for the advisor for one week.

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Clifden, Ireland

Requirements

Application

Evaluation

Fees

Housing

Program Administration

Brother James Mungovan

Responsibilities:

Ms. Patricia Eaton

Responsibilities:

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