Jenny Sallee instructs fourth graders at Oakes Field Primary School in the Bahamas.

Before embarking on a semester-long teaching internship, Jenny Sallee knew the age group of the students she wanted to work with after graduation. However, the senior elementary education major has re-examined where that work will take place based on her experience teaching fourth graders at Oakes Field Primary School in the Bahamas.

Her dream job may exist on Andros, Great Exuma or one of the other slices of paradise that make up the 700-island archipelago.

"Originally, I was planning on applying for a teaching position in Charlotte, N.C.,'' said Sallee, a native of Cincinnati, Ohio. "Now I'm interested in possibly teaching in a primary school on one of the 'Family Islands' in The Bahamas.''

The sugary beaches and warm crystal water provide ample incentive to stay, but Sallee said her epiphany came courtesy of the 34 children she taught during the internship.

"I wanted to step out of my 'comfort zone' and submerge myself into another culture to gain a completely new perspective on things and ultimately grow as an educator,'' she said. "I believe that experiencing and understanding this diversity in general is something that is crucial for every educator to do in order to work with students from different backgrounds.''

Thanks to the College of Education's efforts to expand its international partnerships, students now have a plethora of colorful settings where they can hone their teaching skills and encounter new cultures. Melanie Brooks, who coordinates the college's Office of International Programs, said such travel experiences can make future educators more marketable to prospective employers and better equipped to lead increasingly diverse classrooms.

"One of the things that is a real focus with education now is globalization and the understanding that we are living in a much smaller world,'' said Brooks, who traveled to France and Australia as a student before heading to Thailand as a Peace Corps volunteer. "When students go abroad, they are challenged in ways they have never been challenged before culturally, socially and analytically. Their senses are tapped in ways they've never been tapped. They can bring their experiences back.''

Through its participation in the Consortium for Overseas Student Teaching  (COST), the College of Education enables students to take courses and complete internships in 14 countries. Brooks said the college is also working to create opportunities in Hungary and the Philippines.

Some locations offer more creature comforts than others. For instance, Sarah Cooper '08, a graduate student in the English for Speakers of Other Languages program, will spend the summer in San Marcos La Laguna, a rural village in Guatemala, teaching English to children in grades second through eighth. Cooper, who completed an undergraduate degree in Spanish education, will stay with a host family that includes eight children. While she admitted to being nervous about landing in an unfamiliar setting, Cooper offered some advice for current students who may be on the fence with regard to international internships.

"Do it!'' said Cooper, a Summerdale, Ala., native. "As an educator it is important to be able to relate to your students no matter who they are. Almost all teachers will encounter students who have just moved and it's nice to know what they feel like. You'll be like them, in a new place, new friends, maybe a new language and culture. You'll be a better teacher if you can anticipate your students' anxieties and help them relax.''

Speaking of relaxation, don't think for a moment that Sallee's location affords her non-stop recreation. Although she couldn't have asked for a more picturesque classroom setting, Sallee said her internship kept her busy with work - which is exactly what she wanted.

"When I walked in the room on my first day of teaching practice, I was initially overwhelmed by the large class size and did not think I would be able to truly develop relationships with all of these children, let alone remember all of their names,'' she said. "This assumption ended up being false and I was able to not only learn their names, but also get to know each one personally within the first week. I'm also amazed at how much they appreciate everything I do with them in the classroom, whether it's incorporating an activity into a lesson or raffling off something small for 'good behavior.'

"I've had such an amazing experience and would have ended up regretting it if I hadn't come.''