The Augsburg Choir

On May 6, the Augsburg Choir, under the direction of Peter Hendrickson ’76, departed for a 12-day tour of the Midwest. With stops in North Dakota, South Dakota, Montana, and Washington state, the Choir will perform nine concerts and have opportunities to connect with potential Auggies and their families as well as alumni and friends of the College.

Teaching English as a Second Language in Thailand with Kathryn Swanson

This is the fifth year that English professor Kathy Swanson and her husband, Jack, have taken students to teach English in Thailand as part of a short-term study abroad course through the Center for Global Education. Years ago, the Swansons served in the Peace Corps in Thailand for two years and still have connections in the small town where they once taught.

Before departing, students learn about language and culture in Thailand and practice speaking some “survival Thai,” Swanson said. For the teaching week, students learn the pedagogy of teaching English as a second language—essentially what and how to teach. Some students on the program are English or education majors, but others are from other majors including business, religion, and the sciences. Students take Swanson’s class, she said, not only to learn more about teaching English to language learners but also to experience life in a country half way around the world from the U.S.

For the three weeks they are in Thailand, Swanson said the group has an intense schedule filled with a variety of experiences. They travel by plane, boat, train, taxi, subway, tuk-tuks (a small open motorized vehicle, like a rickshaw), and even have a chance to ride elephants. They also take in tourist activities such as visiting temples, rafting on the river, and visiting pottery and silk makers. Then for ten days, they teach in Prachuap Khirikhan, the town where the Swansons taught while in the Peace Corps.

Swanson said the students often comment in their travel journals that they are completely shocked by their experiences in Thailand—by the sights and sounds and by the stark contrast between the poverty and opulence that can be seen there. “The only way to understand anything about the world is to do it,” she said. “Word of mouth among students is that it’s exhausting but it’s worth it.”

Pictured above: Students on the 2008 Thailand program. See photos from the program on flickr.

Youth Movements and Social Change in Egypt with Joe Underhill and Mohamed Sallam

In this combined course in political science and history, students will explore the roots of Egypt’s largely youth-led revolution and ongoing efforts to rebuild Egypt. Students will examine the effects that the 2011 revolution has had on public discourse about environmental sustainability, police brutality, Muslim-Christian relations, and access to basic services. They will also observe the historic presidential elections taking place in late May, visit mosques and pyramids, Nubian villages, an ecotourism resort on the Red Sea, and a Bedouin camp in the desert.

Read about the group’s experiences on the authored by Joe Underhill.

International Management and Finance in Germany with Marc McIntosh

For four weeks in May and June, a group of German students and professors from Karlsruhe paired with Augsburg students and assistant business professor Marc McIntosh to study international business practices.

The group met for the first two weeks in Europe, visiting the European Parliament in Strasbourg and witnessing firsthand the financial crisis that was coming to a head in Europe at that time. They also went to the Frankfurt stock exchange and experienced the volatility in the financial market as a result of the crisis, McIntosh said.

While in the U.S., the students visited three companies with strong ties to Germany and gained insights into how to do business in overseas markets. Finally, the students participated in an intensive business simulation game with teams competing to maximize shareholder value through the launches of multiple product offerings.

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“Experiences in Thai Education and Culture” required students to prepare, deliver, and assess their oral presentation for Thai students in both small group and classroom settings. They learned about pedagogy for teaching effective ELL (English Language Learners) students. The students taught in the cities of Bangkok and Chiangmai, and the rural village of Prachuab Kirikhan.

Junior Bethany Thompson is pursuing a licensure in secondary education with an emphasis in Communication Arts and Literature. She wanted to go on a short-term study abroad trip and said she was intrigued by the opportunity to teach. “I knew it would be an experience I would never forget, and it was,” she said.

Thompson learned to have a greater appreciation for the Thai culture and gained valuable teaching experience. “I was able to deal with some particular ELL issues that I may come across in the future. I didn’t expect classes of 50 students, but it was just another surprise along the trip,” she said.

Becki Iverson is a Sophomore history and journalism major. She said she went on the trip to fulfill a major requirement and to get “a taste of something completely unique and separated from the Western and American lifestyle I’m used to.”

The trip taught her to open her eyes to the world around her. “Thailand is a completely different world from the one I am used to in Minnesota, and there were tons of new tastes, sights, sounds, smells, and feelings that I experienced.”

As a tall, blonde woman with a pale complexion, Iverson got a lot of attention in Thailand. She said, “I don’t think I expected to be as much of a stand out there as I was. There were actually Thai people taking photos with me instead of with the tourist attractions we visited.”

Iverson said she would definitely encourage students to go on a short-term study abroad program because it’s a safe and cost-effective way to travel. “It’s a great way to experience another country without taking a semester or year out of your plans to travel,” she said. “And it helps you make some pretty great friends as you travel.”

For more information on upcoming short-term Augsburg Abroad programs, go to . View more photos of the trip at .

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