Comments on: 2009 PRECONFERENCE KEYNOTE:Going Global: Culture Shock, Convergence and the Future of Education

By: Cindy

Cindy — Thu, 28 Jul 2016 04:12:26 +0000

While I was in my education program, one fellow student introduced me to teaching in an international school. She was teaching in Beligium at an international school. I worked as an on-location educator, (a teacher for children working on a television show and not attending a regular school). My close friends are a third culture family. I have learned how much easier it is for them to manivure the world, language, culture, travel,experiences, understanding of world systems, opportunities. The video mentions flexibility and ease to work and adapt to different cultures. this is the main connection that I have identified.

By: Rodney Necciai

Rodney Necciai — Sun, 10 Jul 2016 20:17:53 +0000

When I graduated college in 1990, I moved to Florida immediately to start my career. I had never been to Florida, had no family or friends there. To be honest, I had never even been to a beach prior to my move there. This was pre-internet, so my access to information was very limited both prior to the move and as I became acclimated to my new home. So I had an awful lot to learn about life in general at the same time that I was learning to be a teacher and a coach. Those 6 years in Tampa truly shaped who I am as an educator in so many ways. I spent a lot of time soaking up as much knowledge about how to work with children/families from so many veteran teachers and coaches. I learned a lot about keeping away from preconceived notions about people and their surroundings. It shaped me to learn how to meet students where they are, to differentiate according to needs. I learned a lot about how to be explicit in my expectations and how to leverage clear expectations in ways to hold students accountable to learning. Nowadays, 26 years later, I still feel as though I utilize a lot of what I learned way back then to ensure that I am connecting my students globally. I am constantly looking for ways to connect our students to new and interesting experiences that can further their understanding of where they fit into the world. I want them to know as much as possible about the possibilities that exist if they can just maintain the skills necessary to navigate the decorum it sometimes takes to gain entry into them.

By: kathleen choate

kathleen choate — Wed, 10 Feb 2016 02:11:45 +0000

The video hit home with so many great points. We need to develop collaboration and responsibility, rather than working in isolation. The mentality of teaching to the whole group rather than the individual child still prevails in so many schools today. Unfortunately I think that the imbalance between resources plays a major factor in this. How do you expose students to personalized learning paths without critical resources, such as technology?

By: Lucia Behler

Lucia Behler — Sat, 24 Oct 2015 16:11:03 +0000

The only global experiences I’ve had is anything I watch on the news, read in newspapers/books or have seen in documentaries/movies (true or not). Many thoughts I’ve had is that other countries place such a high regard on education. Education is first. That’s not always so in America.

I try to connect my classroom globally by discussing with my students current events happening around the world (the meteorite crash in Russia was a big hit a few years ago). I also like to bring to my students’ attention that we as a country are better off than other countries in how we live our daily lives (freedom).

By: Lauren Conston

Lauren Conston — Mon, 14 Sep 2015 18:18:08 +0000

As a Spanish teacher, I had the opportunity to study abroad in Spanish and Puerto Rico. This provided me with valuable life experiences. I share this knowledge with my students. It really brings the language alive for them!!

By: Steph

Steph — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 19:11:24 +0000

I was able to identify with the culture shock that you described when I traveled from my home in the US to France. Sometimes you don’t appreciate the things you have until you no longer have them.

By: Christy Y.

Christy Y. — Fri, 13 Mar 2015 00:39:19 +0000

I really enjoyed learning about international schools. I have always wanted to travel internationally to experience the cultures of other areas. I never thought about the possibility of teaching internationally. I think I would have the culture shock of moving permanently to another country.

By: Kristin C.

Kristin C. — Tue, 13 Jan 2015 21:28:15 +0000

I enjoyed learning about international schools. I have always wanted to teach in another country, but have alway been too comfortable to give up my life here in the United States. I still hope to someday have this opportunity, even if it just for a short time. For now, I try to travel as much as possible and see as much of the world as I can. I don’t feel like I gain a true understanding of the culture, but it is better than nothing.

By: Deb B

Deb B — Fri, 02 Jan 2015 17:11:22 +0000

I could identify with several things that were covered since I had the opportunity to teach English at a summer camp in China. I fully understand the culture shock not only when I was in China, but also when I returned to the US.
I have met several third culture kids and find them to be very global.
I wish that even a small piece of that other culture experience could happen to the students in my school. It would be so enlightening! As it is, I do try to add information about other cultures whenever possible.

By: Katelyn

Katelyn — Mon, 15 Dec 2014 02:22:03 +0000

I enjoyed watching your video and learning more about international schools. I have not had much traveling experience, but in the little that I have done, culture shock is definitely something that I have experienced.

I liked the points that you made about customization in education. As a teacher, I believe in customizing every child’s education to meet their needs. While I think of this in terms of functional and academic needs, I can see how it would relate to cultural and lifestyle needs in other settings.

Thank you for sharing about your wonderful global experiences.