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[Disappointed]

I've recently returned from teaching abroad in Europe for a small US University study abroad program. The director of this program really interferred with my syllabus, and told me I was giving too much work. The director also told the other instructor to "take it easy" on the students.

I can't help but feel this was more like "camp" then a legitimate study abroad program. The director had a "customer is always right" attitude and was not supportive of the faculty.

Has anyone else had this experience teaching summer abroad coursed for US universities?

Thanks.

[GEL]

No, I can't speak to that, but I think perhaps one motivation might be that they expect and want the students to have some free time to explore museums, local culture, etc., and/or get practical experience using the local language (presuming you're not talking about an English speaking country). I don't think that's crazy, personally. You could try to pack more into the courses themselves and assign less out-of-class reading and writing. Difficult, I know.

[study-abroad director]

I'd agree with GEL.  When I directed and taught in a study-abroad (in England), I did in-class field trips to complement our subject (early modern English history), and we did more presentations based on site visits rather than traditional term papers.  I still gave them a decent reading load and essay exams.   I may have not been able to get through as much material, but I think the students walked away with a better understanding of the subject since they had explored the places to which I referred in lecture.

I did not interfere with my faculty's courses (I won't unless said faculty member is really being incompetent), but I did find out that those instructors who gave out an undue amount of out-of-class work, and/or who didn't try to integrate our location with the courses were quite actively resented by the students.   So, I don't agree with your director "telling you what to do," or interfering with your class, and students are patently not customers in my classes.  However, study-abroad is a different flavor of course to teach, and I don't think a course which is essentially the same thing one would teach on a home campus is going to be as successful.  My two cents. I'm sorry you didn't have a better experience, disappointed.

[nick sainthubbins]

I have to say that I had the opposite experience teaching in South America for 6 years.  I was able to cover more material and more in depth than in any of the 4 institutions I lectured in the US.  The student quality was also superior.  It may have had something to do with the fact that this college down south was designed for wealthy and smart(er) kids.  Nevertheless, they all tried harder and most of them wanted to go to graduate school (in the US - no less)
NS