Cultural Exchange with a Purpose: What Ambassador Teachers Bring to Your School or District

Participate Learning’s Ambassador Teachers are a unique group of highly qualified educators who bring their global experiences to U.S. classrooms. As ambassadors of their culture and home country, they provide unparalleled experiences for their students, who may never have the opportunity to travel outside of their community.

Welcoming an Ambassador Teacher to your school or district for the first time can seem like a big unknown, but Participate Learning’s thorough vetting process and unparalleled support ensure that teachers, students, and families have meaningful, positive experiences. 

Hosting an international teacher at your school enriches the educational environment, promotes cultural understanding, and prepares students to thrive in an increasingly connected world. As “cultural exchange” implies, Ambassador Teachers return to their home country at the end of their tour, bringing their rich experiences and newfound cultural knowledge about the U.S. to share.  

Read on for the unique skills, experiences, and methodologies Ambassador Teachers bring to their school and the broader community!

Preparing students for global careers

Interacting with international teachers better prepares students for future careers in a global marketplace. They gain career-readiness skills such as cross-cultural communication, adaptability, and empathy, which are highly valued in today’s interconnected workplaces.

Ambassador Teachers also bring diverse perspectives, cultural experiences, and customs into the classroom. This exposure helps students develop a broader worldview, fosters cultural sensitivity, and promotes inclusivity. They also incorporate global issues, current events, and international perspectives into their lessons. This helps students understand how the world is interconnected and prepares them to be global citizens.

International teachers often speak two or more languages fluently. Native speakers are particularly beneficial in language immersion programs or in teaching second languages. They provide students with authentic language usage and cultural context, helping them become multilingual. Speaking two or more languages is an increasingly valuable career-readiness skill that will set students up for future success.

Unique experiences and teaching methodologies

In addition to diverse experiences, international teachers may also bring a diversity in teaching practice, which can help cater to different learning styles among students and enhance their experiences.

Teachers often bring unique expertise or specialized knowledge in certain subjects or areas. This can provide students with access to specialized courses, interdisciplinary perspectives, or insights into global industries and trends. Many of Participate Learning’s Ambassador Teachers have international experience teaching outside their home countries.

Schools with international teachers may have opportunities for other cultural exchange programs, such as virtual exchanges or joint projects with schools in the teacher’s home country. These programs facilitate cross-cultural understanding and promote friendship and cooperation among students across the world.

Ambassador Teachers also serve as role models for students in embracing diversity, open-mindedness, and adaptability. Their experiences of living and working in different countries can inspire students to pursue opportunities beyond their immediate surroundings.

Mutual satisfaction among schools and teachers

Schools that host Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers consistently report high levels of satisfaction with their teachers’ effectiveness and performance. One partner principal said:

“The Ambassador Teachers who I have worked with are committed to excellence. They are professional and coachable. They always share their culture with the school community and work to contribute positively to the school culture.”

In turn, Ambassador Teachers report their own satisfaction with their cultural exchange experience and have high rates of renewing their teaching contract each year. At the end of the 2022-2023 school year, 97% of eligible Participate Learning Ambassador Teachers chose to renew their contract for the 2023-2024 academic year.

Ambassador Teachers cite being excited to interact with students and to be an ambassador for their country and culture:

“I still feel the excitement I felt when I first started the experience and I am happy in my school community. It is rewarding to see the impact we have on so many kids, having the opportunity to share our culture and open a window for them to explore.”

“It has been a great experience for me as a teacher. It has been challenging, but I have learned about different cultures, and I have taught about my country as well. It has been great to interact with students from different countries, and to be a proud Colombian ambassador. My family is having a great time as well, especially my daughter, who is becoming bilingual.”

Hosting cultural exchange teachers in your school or district enriches the learning environment for everyone, bringing unique experiences and cultural diversity to the community. Students will get to see themselves and their culture reflected in educators, and will be better prepared to succeed in our interconnected world. 

Are you interested in hosting Ambassador Teachers at your school or district? Learn more about our teachers and the unrivaled support we provide both host administrators and international educators.