2007.06.23: June 23, 2007: Headlines: COS - China: Merced Sun Star: Austin Worden heading to China to teach English
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2007.06.23: June 23, 2007: Headlines: COS - China: Merced Sun Star: Austin Worden heading to China to teach English
Austin Worden heading to China to teach English
"He's done a lot for the school," she said. But it's time to try something new, Worden said, although he plans to return to the middle school after his China sojourn. The Peace Corps sends volunteers to developing counties all over the world to assist with health, education, business and environmental issues. Teachers are in high demand. At first Worden planned to teach English in a rural part of the Pacific Islands. But the Peace Corps offered to send him to China to participate in a program for teachers. He does not speak Mandarin -- yet. Worden will spend his first three months in Chengdu, China, learning as much as he can of the language and culture of his new surroundings.
Austin Worden heading to China to teach English
Winton Middle School teacher heading to China to teach English
Jun 23, 2007
Knight Ridder Tribune Business News
Jun. 23--All the world's a stage, wrote the Bard, and after revivng drama at Winton Middle School, seventh-grade teacher Austin Worden is moving to a global stage.
He turned students into actors by jump-starting a drama club that had lain dormant for almost 10 years. And he took the stage himself about a year ago on the television game show "The Price is Right." Between these stages, he also found time to teach seventh-grade English, history and literature, coach cross country and head the yearbook, art club, community service and school spirit clubs. Now he is going the way of former game-show host Bob Barker. Although Worden has had a good run, he's moving on -- at least temporarily. Come Thursday, Worden takes his act on the road and overseas to China.
The lifetime Winton resident has joined the Peace Corps and will serve his two years teaching English. He just might also put on a play. "I joked that they should send me 'The Wizard of Oz' stuff so I could do the Beijing edition," said Worden, 25, sitting in his classroom on the last day of school. He refers to his students' May performance of "The Wizard of Oz" as his "last hurrah." "We wanted to do it big," he said. About 70 students acted in the play, and almost 500 sat in the audience. "That was my first time acting ... it was cool," said student Marina Mendoza, 13, who played a tornado. She just finished seventh grade with Worden.
"He's done a lot for the school," she said. But it's time to try something new, Worden said, although he plans to return to the middle school after his China sojourn. The Peace Corps sends volunteers to developing counties all over the world to assist with health, education, business and environmental issues. Teachers are in high demand. At first Worden planned to teach English in a rural part of the Pacific Islands. But the Peace Corps offered to send him to China to participate in a program for teachers. He does not speak Mandarin -- yet. Worden will spend his first three months in Chengdu, China, learning as much as he can of the language and culture of his new surroundings.
"I'm nervous," he said. "But I'm a quick study." In September he will move to on-campus dorms at a university in Beijing, where he will teach English. He is not yet sure which university. But in case he feels lonely, 60 other Peace Corps volunteers are part of the same program. Aside from trips to Mexico and Canada, this will be Worden's first major venture beyond American borders. "It will open my eyes as an educator," Worden said. "We are so amazingly lucky. People here take public education for granted." The reaction to his departure from co-workers and students has been bittersweet. "I had a feeling he'd do something like this, but it's still a surprise," said Kem Shrum, a resource specialist who has worked at Winton Middle School for 14 years.
"There aren't enough words in the English language -- I don't know about Chinese -- to e plain him." Education has always coursed through Worden's veins. His father, Bill, is a history teacher for Atwater High School, where Worden graduated in 2000. And his mother, Brenda, works for the Merced County Office of Education. He attended Merced College until 2002. There, a teacher shared stories with him about the Peace Corps. "I thought, 'What an amazing experience,' " Worden said. That idea was put on hold while Worden finished his bachelor's degree in social science and educational credential program at California State University, Stanislaus.
Worden became part of Winton Middle School shortly before he graduated college in 2004. He assisted eighth-grade teachers with projects, helped students in the homework club and started as yearbook adviser. Afer college graduation, he began teaching seventh grade. "I know people think I'm crazy for teaching seventh grade," he said. "But it's such a transitional year: ages 12-13. Still young enough to influence but old enough to interact on a mature level." Jordan Najera, 13, just finished seventh grade with Worden. He described his former teacher as energetic and caring, and said he was surprised to hear he was leaving.
"It's good for him but bad because I have a younger brother who wanted him as a teacher," Najera said. Worden's enthusiasm for extracurricular school activities moved into drama at students' request. It had been about a decade since the school last put on a play, so Worden restarted the drama club. He directed a "A Christmas Carol" in December and then presented "The Wizard of Oz" as his second -- and last -- production in May. Worden had his own 15 minutes of fame in June 2006 when he appeared on "The Price is Right." He entertained friends, family and co-workers on television while winning more than $23,000 in prizes.
But as proven by Barker, the show's former host, even a perfect gig can't last forever. "About a year ago, I started looking at my life and thought 'what do you want?' " he recalled. And he's been filling out Peace Corps applications ever since. "Austin makes things happen no matter what," Shrum said. "They'd better watch out." Let the play begin. Reporter Dhyana Levey can be reached at 385-2472 or dlevey@mercedsun-star.com
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Headlines: June, 2007; Peace Corps China; Directory of China RPCVs; Messages and Announcements for China RPCVs
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Story Source: Merced Sun Star
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