// Langwitches Blog

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From Jesse at Shibs.net and his posts about NECC 2007 on a presentation called What is a Global Citizen? Defining Global Literacy in the 21st Century

What makes a global citizen?

Going beyond learning about the world to learn with the world.

One who can connect with any person from any heritage or background, one who does not think one culture is the epitome of all cultures, one who is not afraid to borrow from another culture.

In order to acquire the skills needed for the 21st century, we need to step back and accept that everyone has strengths. Many countries have been isolated culturally and linguistically. Many of our students do not understand the value of other cultures; that there is wisdom out there in cultures other than ours.

There is nobody out there that knows too much that they cannot learn from another culture…there is nobody out there that is not smart enough that they cannot teach someone from another culture.

Students need to expand their appreciation of other cultures, or at least come to an understanding that there is value in other cultures. Many companies today are looking for this kind of appreciation.

I agree with Jesse’s summary of “What makes a Global Citizen”. It puts in words, what (many times) makes me cringe inside, when I see the lack of these mentioned qualities in adults, neighbors, colleagues, public figures…

It was one of my main goals, as a Spanish teacher over the last few years, to create a classroom for my students that would allow them to see that there are different view points out there in the world. I tried to communicate to them that a language, its words and connotations… through the history of the culture who speaks it, can hold certain view points…

As I move into my new position as the Technology Integration Facilitator at my Elementary School, I plan on continuing to open and expand my students’ horizon beyond the city, state and country’s boundaries. Our school’s Global Studies program was introduced precisely for that reason. Its mission and goals state:

MISSION
The purpose of the SJEDS global, interdisciplinary curriculum is to enhance SJEDS’ current curriculum with a program that will assist in making our students global citizens as defined by the Committee for Economic Development, National Association of Independent School (NAIS), the United Nations and the National Security Language Initiative as well as to teach and develop students critical thinking skills by realizing the potential of the human brain to make connections between all of the core and resource subjects.

GOALS

1. To weave the study of world cultures (including their language) into our curriculum in hopes that our students will embrace the diversity of our world and country. To expose students to the “interconnectedness” of the world’s countries, their cultures, and their issues.
2. To foster an interest in the celebration and study of culture and language.
3. To assist in making our students critical thinkers who have the ability to communicate across cultures.

Now, our school is not changing its entire teaching approach to turn into a global studies school. We are “weaving” it into the curriculum with great flexibility.

What are some real expectations one can hope for from this approach? Can our 12 year old graduates leave as “Global Citizens”?

In my opinion, teaching in a small private elementary school in Northern Florida (not an International school in Washington, DC), we have to do our best to make our students “Globally Aware Citizens”. It is a big step for some of our students even to realize that the possibility exists that there might be another side to a story across the ocean or South of the border. A story that they had never thought of … or questioned the point of view the media had fed them …

Learning about other countries and cultures is an integral part, but connecting at a personal level…comparing…contrasting to ones own surroundings, beliefs, way of life…will make them at least aware… and hopefully….open to becoming a global citizen when they move on to middle and high school and further…

Hopefully they will be the ones …

• …studying a foreign language beyond the required two years.
• …to sign up for a foreign exchange year in high school or college.
• …walking up to a new classmate, neighbor or co-worker that is from another country and speaks little or no English.
• …not traveling as loud obnoxious tourists, complaining that there is no McDonalds around and no Starbucks in sight.
• …going to see (or rent) SUBTITLED movies.
• …

Hopefully they will be the ones …

What can you add?