It will be my pleasure to be able to share with you many of my experiences as a tour group leader on various programs, including several that cater to seniors.   I am Jim Becker, a retired teacher from the University of Northern Iowa; I spent 35 years teaching French and Spanish and coaching.

I hold a certificate as a Travel Agent having passed the national exam although I have never practiced in an office.  I simply “wanted to know what a travel agent knows” so I might be a better tour group leader, as well as for my own personal travels.  I hold a BA from Cornell College in Iowa; my MA is from the Sorbonne in Paris and I spent two year in a PhD program at Ohio State University studying Foreign Language Education.  

I wish to share from my many experiences and help make your travel more pleasing and comfortable.  I have been a tour group leader for a dozen Elderhostel programs in France (now called Exploritas) focusing on Food and Wine, two Smithsonian Associates programs in France with an emphasis on Paris and Provence, and a Scandinavian Seminars trip to England and France called France and England, Friends or Foes?  Each catered to seniors who love to travel and who consider themselves to be lifelong learners. 

In addition I have led ten trips to France each time with 45 high school students.  I have traveled to South America (Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Ecuador) and to Japan with 200 educators as a Fulbright scholar.  On trips to the Dominican Republic,  Mexico, Guatemala and Ecuador I served as a dental assistant on Christian Medical and Dental Society programs.  Each trip has taught me a great deal about travel and I wish to share my experiences that may enhance your travels and make them more enjoyable.

While I have mentioned three specific programs for seniors above I will attempt to bring into focus other programs that you may wish to consider.  The Internet is a wonderful means of exploring and searching for programs that fit your interests and pocketbook.  

I invite you to access my language website and travel website for more information about my life interests. 

Jim Becker

Professor Emeritus

University of Northern Iowa