TTS Institute in American Studies for Scandinavian Educators

For full information and application, go to the institute's website: scandinst.luther.edu/description.htm 

THE COURSE

The institute provides participants with an increased understanding of the diversity and complexity of the United States. It emphasizes challenges, obstacles, and opportunities in contemporary American life and attempts to portray the nation and its people objectively—the successes and the failures, the problems and the potential.

Course participants may use the modern-language laboratory to work on their English skills. The college computer facilities and software are also available to participants. There are usually several lectures on computer use in language education, and sessions on other educational computer uses can be arranged depending upon interest and availability of instructors.

THE LECTURES

Lectures are presented by faculty members from Luther College (most of whom have Ph.D. degrees) and by professionals and state leaders.

Lecture topics may include:
Native American Indians
American Literature
American Jazz
The U.S. Education System
African-Americans in the United States
The Economic System and Social Class
Theater in America
The Social Welfare System
State and Local Government
The U.S. Political System
American Foreign Policy
Money and Politics
The Constitution and the Legal System
Religion in American Life
Modern U.S. Art
Immigration and Cultural Diversity

LEVEL OF INSTRUCTION

The course is postbaccalaureate; it is designed for persons who have had little or no formal academic study at the university level in any phase of American studies or American literature.

LANGUAGE

All lectures are presented in English, and participants are urged to use English in regular conversation, rapidly improving their language skills. Occasional discussion sessions provide opportunities for further language improvement as well as exchange of information and opinions.

TYPICAL DAY

Lectures take place in the morning and early afternoon. Afterward, time is available for relaxation, informal discussion, study, computer practice, library research, and recreational activities. Evenings are usually free of required activities but offer many voluntary social and recreational events.

PARTICIPANTS

The course is designed for teachers and school administrators from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden. Annually 25-50 selected participants attend, and have been active in all levels of education—kindergarten through university—and from all types of schools, both government-sponsored and private. The course also may be of interest to persons in other occupations: nursing, journalism, social work, public policy, etc. The only requirements are that the participant have a basic speaking knowledge of English and an interest in gaining a better understanding of the United States and its people. Students who are preparing to become teachers are welcome to apply.

LUTHER COLLEGE

The college is a fully accredited, university-level institution offering the baccalaureate degree. The four-year school has an enrollment of 2,450 students. Students and faculty represent a variety of religious, ethnic, and racial groups.

FACILITIES

Participants live in a modern, air-cooled residence hall. Single rooms or doubles (two persons sharing a room) are available. All the classrooms and dining and lounge areas used for the course are also air-cooled. Both indoor and outdoor swimming pools are available. Canoeing and "tubing" on the Upper Iowa River adjacent to campus are popular activities. Other recreational options include tennis, basketball, handball, football, golf, and bowling. The college library has an excellent collection for research and recreational reading. All campus facilities are available to institute participants at no additional cost.

LOCATION

Decorah is in the northeast corner of the state of Iowa, about 500 km northwest of Chicago and 260 km southwest of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It is in an area known for its scenic beauty and easy access to a wide variety of outdoor activities. Summer in this area is usually quite warm.

COSTS

The cost of the course is $1,500 (see "Stipends" below). The fee includes lectures, local excursions, including boat trips, museum and architecture visits, etc., a room in a student residence hall with clean bed linens and towel provided weekly, three meals daily in the cafeteria, and use of all college facilities. Not covered are personal expenses, costs incurred in Chicago and Madison (e.g. hotel and food), bus fare from Chicago to Decorah, and personal expenses for a final trip to Minneapolis for departure at the end of the course.

STIPENDS

Applicants are urged to seek funding from sources in their own country as early as possible. Persons attending the course have secured stipends from a variety of sources, such as their governments' departments of education, local school systems, civic organizations, teacher unions, and others. The Institute has been assured that teachers of English in Finland will be eligible for grants from their government to attend the course. It is expected that a stipend of approximately one-third of the course cost will be available for Institute participants from Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden through the Thanks To Scandinavia foundation. (The exact amount will depend on the number of participants and the stipend fund.) Participants should not make direct application for an award to the above organizations. The stipends are awarded only through the Institute office at Luther. Norwegian teachers should not apply to their Ministry of Church and Education for a stipend. Instead they will be automatically considered for a travel grant when their application to the Institute is received in the offices of Norge-Amerika Foreningen.

FAMILIES

Spouses and teenage children are welcome to come along for a holiday if space is available. Charges for spouses and children will be determined separately. Write to the directors of the cooperating organizations for additional information.

APPLICATIONS

Applications should be submitted to the appropriate TTS national partner organization before March 15. The course begins in early July. For an application, click here: Application form.

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