Curious to learn about a funded fellowship for teachers to travel to Germany in summer to explore STEM and history? Read about the Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP), plus two other teacher travel grants in this interview!
Teaching Traveling: Welcome to experienced teacher travel grant recipient, Saba Moin.
Saba, tell us a bit about your background.
Saba: I am a science teacher in Oakland Park, Florida, and I moved here 17 years ago. I was born and raised in Pakistan, studied in London, United Kingdom, and worked in the Middle East for a while. Living in different countries with distinct cultures has enriched my life in ways I could never have imagined.
It has taught me to embrace differences and appreciate diversity. My inspiration as an educator stems purely from my passion for children, and it fulfills my desire to experience the joy of positively influencing a child’s life.
TT: Wonderful! Tell us about your funded teacher travels.
S: I have traveled extensively during the summer for professional learning for the last two years. I was named a Fulbright Teachers for Global Classrooms fellow 2022-23 by The Department of State, and I participated in a two-week exchange program to Uruguay, South America, where I learned about their education system and shared educational strategies with teachers.
This year, I traveled to Costa Rica with the National Education Association. In Costa Rica, I was with a group of US educators, and we had first-hand experience exploring the biodiversity of tropical rainforests and volcanoes.
Later this year, I traveled to Germany with the Transatlantic Outreach Program funded travel opportunity during the summer. With TOP, we explored different aspects of contemporary Germany and learned about sustainability, renewable energy, and urban gardening.
TT: Wow! Tell us more about your Transatlantic Outreach Program travel in Germany.
S: The Transatlantic Outreach Program (TOP) with some public and private partnership provides study tour experiences relevant to contemporary Germany for K-12 US educators for STEM and Social Studies. As a TOP fellow, I traveled to Germany for two weeks.
We stayed in Munich, Nurmberg, Leipez, and Berlin with 18 other US educators. During our two-week stay, we visited German schools, businesses, government offices, nonprofits and civic organizations, historical sites, museums, and more.
TT: Amazing. How did you find the money to fund your travel?
S: All my travels were fully funded by teacher travel grants!
Fulbright, NEA, and the Transatlantic Outreach Program cover costs for selected participants, allowing educators to take part in immersive learning and cultural exchange. Because of this, teachers can focus on the learning, connections, and experiences each program offers without the financial stress of covering expenses.
TT: Excellent. Tell us one moment from your travels that was particularly powerful.
S: Goethe Institute was one of the partners of the TOP program. Growing up in Pakistan, my brother and I were fond of Goethe Institute library and the books that connected me with the world.
It opened my mind to ideas, cultures, and voices from places I had never seen. Now, when I was in Goethe institute, Munich with TOP fellows, it was a powerful moment for me — from exploring the world through books as a child to sharing that transformative experience with the very people who made it possible.
I described the impact that first experience had on me, how it sparked a passion for global perspectives, and how it now guides me as an educator, helping students access the world beyond their immediate surroundings.
TT: Lovely. How have your travels impacted you as a teacher, and as a person?
S: Traveling and exploring different academic and cultural environments made me realize that globally competent teaching is one way to make lessons relevant and meaningful and how important it is for my students to understand this concept in today’s interconnected world.
I incorporate global perspectives and teach my students the importance of experiencing other traditions and celebrating diversity to open their minds to new possibilities.
TT: So smart. What advice do you have for teachers who are dreaming of travel?
S: By blending travel and teaching, teachers can foster a global perspective in their life and in their student’s life. I would say to all teachers to avail the opportunities for traveling, document your journey, build a global network, and incorporate your experience into your teaching.
I strongly believe that the increased cross-cultural interaction can open our students’ range of experiences across the globe and ultimately be beneficial for civil society. Feel free to stay in touch with me via my website, www.GoGlobalSaba.com!
TT: Thanks so much, Saba! Readers, what questions or comments do you have?
The author, Lillie Marshall, is a 6-foot-tall National Board Certified Teacher of English from Boston who has been a public school educator since 2003. She launched TeachingTraveling.com in 2010 to share expert global education resources, and over 1.6 million readers have visited over the past decade. Lillie also runs AroundTheWorld L.com Travel and Life Blog, and DrawingsOf.com for educational art. Do stay in touch via subscribing to her monthly newsletter, and following @WorldLillie on social media!