The eight-week course hosts 18 students from two teacher-training colleges in central Mexico, the Escuela Normal de Atlacomulco and the Escuela Normal de Tenancingo.

The students are in their third year of teacher training in Mexico to become instructors of English in Mexican middle schools. They come to Grossmont for four classes in English and English as a Second Language as part of their accreditation program.

“What is unique about this program is that this is the only program the Mexican Ministry of Education is accepting as full credit for teacher training,” said Peter White, the founder of the exchange program. “This program has strengthened our relationship with the Cajon and Lakeside School Districts,” said White, Vice President of Student Affairs at Grossmont.

While here, the Mexican instructors live with American families in El Cajon, Lakeside, La Mesa and San Diego.”

“It helps them strengthen their English skills and provides them a window into American life and culture,” said White. “Each Friday they spend a full day in middle schools in the Lakeside and El Cajon districts as student-teachers.”

The American students like learning Spanish from their visitors, and the Mexican instructors-in-training learn English much faster when they work with the students, White said.

White had the idea for the exchange while on a Fulbright administrator exchange program in 1999-2000. He worked and learned at the Teacher Training College of Central Mexico while his counterpart, Higinio Ordonez, worked at Grossmont.