Dr. O’Sullivan’s course examines several issues that are simultaneously local and global. Students learn from Maya indigenous communities about their struggles to reclaim their culture after 500 years of colonialism and and 36 years of armed conflict which pitted the armed forces of Guatemala against the Maya people who were struggling for their socio-economic and cultural rights, a conflict which later led to the then military dictator being found guilty of genocide. As part of the two week-long international field experience to Guatemala, Dr. O’Sullivan’s students tour ancient Mayan ruins, spend time with a survivor at the Peace Park which was the site of a 1990 massacre of Indigenous protestors by the Guatemalan military, attend music and cultural performances, visit women run Mayan co-operatives that produce chocolate, textiles and art and participate in a traditional Mayan ceremonies. Students also visit schools and universities where teaching and learning is conducted from a Mayan perspective.
“We learned their history and the challenges they face including racism, and other struggles that they’ve experienced up until this point,” said Jenny Korkes, a graduate student who participated in the course. “Learning all of that and then going to see how strong and hopeful they still are, it’s inspiring.”
The trip also highlights the value of experiential education, an important learning opportunity for Education students and future teachers. “I already knew that experiential education was a beneficial thing,” says Olivia Belmonte, now a teacher but a Concurrent Education student at the time of her trip. “I think this trip really emphasized how important it is because it was not only an individual experiential learning opportunity going into this culture — I also got to see how experiential learning happened within their culture.”
For Dr. O’Sullivan, the immersive learning experienced by students on the trip cannot be replicated in the classroom. “The learning they soaked in will impact their future teaching practice and will influence their thinking, not just for the duration of the course, but for years to come.”
Dr. O’Sullivan, whose background is in Political Science and Latin American studies, welcomes students from other faculties as the program is cross disciplinary and is designed to inform students of all backgrounds of Indigenous issues in a post-conflict setting.
Read more about the Guatemalan field experience in The Brock News:
Brock students learn from Mayan educators in Guatemala
Brock Education students get taste of global education in Guatemala
Course Outline:
The attached course outline is the one followed for the trip in Spring 2024. The course outline for the upcoming trip will be similar to this one but undoubtedly modified, but this should give you an idea of what we do during the pre trip classes. The four pre-trip classes will be held monthly during the winter semester. The pre-trip classes are face-to-face because of the importance of building group cohesion prior to the trip. In addition to a discussion of the resource materials for a particular class, time is spent on discussing the trip itself, where we will be staying, what to bring, how we will be travelling in-country and the activities and experiences we will be having.
Course: Undergraduate: EDUC 4P36 – Global Education: Field Experience; Graduate: EDUC 5P98 – Independent Study in Education
Dates: Late April to early May, 2025
Approximate Cost: Attend an Information Session to learn more.
Information Sessions: Clicking on the link for the date below will take you directly to that Information Session. Trouble logging in? Email Nathalie Jackson at nj14in@brocku.ca.
