Sponsored by the Bureau of Education and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State, the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching Program recognizes and encourages excellence in teaching in the U.S. and abroad.
Petteri Granat, a history and social studies teacher from Helsinki, Finland, has taught for more than 10 years.
IDS What has your experience been like as a Fulbright Distinguished Teacher?
Granat So far it has been really great. I’m not saying this out of politeness, but the team at the Center for International Education, Development and Research and School of Education, as well as the contact teachers at Bloomington High School North, have done a marvelous job setting it all up.
During the program so far I’ve learned a lot about the American educational system, with its strengths and weaknesses and American society and culture in general.
I’m not a first-timer in America or in the Midwest. I went to Ohio State in 1997-98 and have been traveling in America a few times, but there are always new and interesting angles to this country.
IDS How does living in the United States and Indiana differ from your home country, Finland?
Granat Basically things are not that different between Finland and the U.S. Both are western democracies with civil liberties, free press, etc.
Also, the food is not that different from what I usually eat at home. But of course, if you take a closer look, you can find differences.
Abundance of energy, resources, food, etc. in America have led to a wasteful use of them. Portions in restaurants tend to be bigger as well as packing sizes in a supermarket.
Personally, I feel bad that I can’t recycle at the place I stay here in Bloomington. One thing I really like about America is the casual friendliness of people that separates them from most Finns.
Here people will help you and be nice to you even if they don’t know you.
IDS How do American students differ from the ones you are accustomed to teaching?
Granat Mind you that I haven’t really taught classes here, rather I have been observing classes mainly at Bloomington High School North, which has been great.
Actually I have been a bit surprised to notice that high school students at BHSN and my home school in Vantaa, Finland, aren’t that different from each other.
You’ll always have different groups in a classroom, for example those who want to participate a lot and are always willing to lead a group work and then you have the students who would rather sit back and observe than participate.
Also, it seems to me that things high school students think about, like future plans, education and hobbies, are quite similar in these two schools.
IDS What is the focus of your research project? Why does it interest you, and what is the ultimate goal you hope to accomplish from your findings? What impact do you hope your research has?
Granat My project is not so much research as the other projects in the program are.
I’m teaching an American Studies class called “USA! USA!” You know how Homer Simpson goes when he’s excited over something, back home, and my project here is to create material for the class.
It is an elective class and not available in national core curriculum, so there aren’t textbooks or other material for it.
I’m writing short pieces on U.S. history, society, culture and creating assignments and exercises for my students, all on an electronic platform instead of print.
Ultimately I hope that other schools and teachers in Finland would provide a similar class. They could use the material I have already.
