This spring, the College of Education's international student teacher exchange program marked its second year.

Five seniors aspiring to be teachers from the University of Seville in Spain came for a month and taught in Denton Independent School District schools and learned in UNT classrooms. In return, five UNT students will teach primary and middle school grades in an English/Spanish dual language school in Spain beginning in late March.

"The program provides our university students with experience teaching in schools and learning about education in other countries, while it gives our school children an opportunity to learn from teachers who live and teach in schools in another country," says Lisbeth Dixon-Krauss, associate dean of UNT's College of Education.

Student participants say the international experience from teaching abroad has been a life-changing opportunity.

"This was an irreplaceable experience," says Pablo Galan Lopez, who was a student teacher in a physical education class at Denton High School. "It is always good to have different points of view when you're learning how to lead students from different countries."

Lopez also noticed the cultural differences in sports played in Spain and the U.S.

"We don't practice sports in Spain like football and baseball. It was a great opportunity to get to know and enjoy these sports up close," he says.

Lucia Moruno Salvador, who served as a fourth grade student teacher at Ginnings Elementary School, says UNT's welcoming campus and classroom environments also helped to make the studying abroad experience memorable.

"We appreciated the freshness, kindness and multicultural style that are offered by UNT," Salvador says. "Our time here was such a special academic and cultural opportunity."