Teaching Across the Globe: A Fulbright Q&A with Missy Hopper
During the 2024-25 academic year, Missy Hopper took her teaching expertise from the classrooms at Mississippi State to the halls of the University of Bahrain as part of a prestigious Fulbright U.S. Scholar Program. A distinguished faculty member in MSU's Department of Teacher Education and Leadership, Hopper shares about her experience abroad.
What courses did you teach at the University of Bahrain?
I taught two undergraduate courses: Academic Listening and Speaking for Educators and Early Bird English Sections 1-3. I also taught Managing Learning Environment, which is considered a professional class, or what we would call a graduate class.
How did you adapt your teaching style to a different culture?
The male and female students were just beginning to study together routinely at the Bahrain Teacher’s College, and when finishing their degrees, most of them will be teaching in the same gender classrooms. As a result, I had to adapt the way I usually assign group work in my classroom to be culturally responsible and so students would not feel uncomfortable.
What other activities did you participate in?
I was invited to join the American Women’s Association, the Bahrain Garden Club, St. Christopher’s Cathedral, and the HABLO Languages and Culture group. The HABLO group included people of all professions, cultures, and ages interested in learning Spanish. We spoke Spanish as much as possible when we were together. Who knew I would move to the Middle East to regain my Spanish speaking skills! All of these groups sponsored fun events and outings, and I took part any time I could.
As part of my participation in the Bahrain Teacher’s College, I joined the Sustainability Committee. The committee sponsored student events throughout the year to encourage conservation and recycling. We were known as the busiest committee at the Bahrain Teacher’s College! I gave a talk with other faculty about the effect of plastics on the environment, invited speakers to speak with University of Bahrain faculty from the Bahrain Garden Club, and sponsored a writing contest with the theme of sustainability.
What was the most valuable lesson you learned from teaching abroad?
I learned that students are the same everywhere. They worry about their grades, getting along with their classmates, how they look, and what they will do when they graduate.
How do you think your experience abroad will impact your work at MSU?
I believe that travel and being exposed to other cultures and religions makes you a more open-minded person. And I believe in lifelong learning and teaching to instill that value in my students as a result of my many experiences abroad.
What is your favorite memory from your Fulbright experience?
I have so many incredible memories I would be unable to choose just one! Bahrain is a very international kingdom. I made friends from all over the world and enjoyed hearing their languages spoken and participating in some of their cultural observances.
