Valley View middle school teacher receives Fulbright scholarship

Goldberg to study secondary language instruction in China

Photo Credit: Jeff Olson

June 10, 2009

Valley View Middle School teacher, Melissa Goldberg, has been awarded a Fulbright-Hays Scholarship to study secondary language instruction in China. Goldberg, an English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher, is one of 16 educators to receive the scholarship and an opportunity to study abroad for nearly six weeks this summer.

During the seminar, Goldberg is required to develop a curricular project as a condition of her selection. The project will be submitted to the U.S. Department of Education and the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, which administers the Fulbright-Hays program. Educators nationwide will later have access to the published material online. Goldberg has stated an interest in Chinese language instruction for her publication.

Goldberg, who has taught ESL at Valley View middle school since 2006, has had students from China in her classroom each year. She believes the scholarship will provide her with a better understanding of how her students learn English before they come to America.

“Now I will get to see where my students are coming from first hand,” said Goldberg. “I am excited to learn more about my students’ culture.”

The Fulbright-Hays travel seminar is a short-term study abroad program for primary through postsecondary instructors. Goldberg will leave later this month for the program.