Language Teaching in Canada

Trading Places: Why participate in a teaching exchange?


The single most compelling factor contributing to my decision to participate in a teaching exchange was simply that it was possible to do it. Many friends outside the teaching profession envy our opportunity to explore another country, its language and culture for one year, with salary, and being able to return to our own jobs. Second language teachers in particular are in the unique position of perfecting their language skills, and taking home new ideas and approaches toward language learning (I have always maintained that putting ourselves in the role of a student makes us better teachers). The immediate motivating factor was hearing about the tremendous experiences of a colleague upon her return from an exchange between my school in Peterborough, Ontario, at St. Peter’s Secondary School, and Belfast, Ireland. My first teaching exchange in Brittany, France, was very positive and fruitful for shedding light on important differences in pedagogy and philosophies of education between France and Canada. Four years later I was bitten by the bug again, and was lucky that in my new position in Toronto, both my principal at Malvern Collegiate and the Toronto District School Board agreed to my request to do it all over again. In August 2009, I embarked on my second teaching exchange, this time in Geneva, Switzerland. So, in addition to the insights unique to Switzerland this year has afforded me, it has been interesting to be able to make further comparisons with another European country.