Griffins Go Global

   Whenever Lincoln-Way East High School social science teacher Tom Eiden and English teacher Mike Franta teamed up to teach an AP Senior Seminar class that meshed AP European History with AP Literature & Composition, they would always end the year by encouraging students to research study abroad opportunities offered at the universities they plan to attend.

   “The object is to pique student interest in studying in foreign countries,” said Eiden, who enjoyed having students share what they learned in a brief class presentation.

   Not until recently, however, did the two teachers realize that their students were taking their lessons to heart.

   During a recent reunion for the Class of 2009, Eiden was surprised to find out that nearly a third of their AP Senior Seminar students had actually participated in a study abroad opportunity at their college or university.

   “Teaching is like planting seeds,” said Eiden. “Sometimes it is hard to observe the growth from day to day. To have the students return after a few years with such rich experiences was very heartening.”

    “Having so many former students studying abroad is not only a testament to Tom Eiden’s ability to inspire a love for learning in his students but also to the high level of scholarly presence these young people have adopted as a way of life,” added Franta. “It is extremely rewarding to witness them actively pursuing knowledge and a greater understanding of their world.”

   Among those who have studied abroad is Sarah Smith, who traveled to Fes, Morocco last summer to participate in a six-week intensive language program.

   “I went in hopes of greatly improving my Arabic skills,” said Smith, a senior at Ohio State University, “and returned with a much deeper appreciation for the cultural values found in a Muslim, Arabic-speaking nation.”

   The Lincoln-Way grad plans to double major in the Arabic language and Middle Eastern studies.

   She credited the study abroad program with opening her eyes to a foreign land and setting the record straight on the Muslim people.

   “It helped a great deal in erasing many of the stereotypes regarding Arabs and Muslims that exist in American popular culture,” said Smith. “I learned that they are a people that cherish food, music, family and tradition – much as we do here in the United States.”

   During her six-week trip, Smith visited the arid Sahara Desert in the south and the green mountains of northern Ifrane.

   “The people were extremely friendly and welcoming,” she said, “despite the fact that many of them came from humble backgrounds. It taught me not to take for granted all the resources and amenities I have here in the U.S. that make my life easier.”

   Other Lincoln-Way East grads who have participated in study abroad programs are Sarah Palomo (York, England); Nate Ruby (St. Andrews, Scotland); Lisa Mansmith (Taiwan and mainland China); Rebecca Kemp (Paris, France); Tom Wilson (Oxford, England); Elizabeth Zaplatosch (Grenada, Spain); and Lynn Koester (Madrid, Spain) and Natalie Leoni (Copenhagen, Denmark).

   Even though they no longer teach an AP Senior Seminar class together, Eiden (who continues to teach at Lincoln-Way East) and Franta (who now teaches at Lincoln-Way West) said they will continue to encourage students to study abroad when they get a chance.

   “The University of Tennessee MBA program actually requires students to study abroad as part of their graduation requirements,” said Eiden. “The program recognizes that we are in a global economy and that the next generation of leaders will have to be prepared for it.”