Global Updates From World View

September 2004

International Education Week

November 15-19, 2004

WHAT ARE YOU DOING TO CELEBRATE?

WORLD VIEW WANTS TO KNOW!!!!!!!!!!!

Please email Julie at World View ( kinnaird@unc.edu ) with the activities or events that you or your school will be sponsoring to observe International Education Week 2004. All events and activities will be posted on the World View website for others to see (www.unc.edu/world )

Secretary of State Colin L. Powell and Secretary of Education Rod Paige have called for the celebration of International Education Week, November 15–19, 2004 . International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States .

"It has become very clear that broadening our international understanding is critical." says Secretary Paige, "This will mean renewed efforts to encourage the study of foreign languages and cultures, and to provide opportunities for all students to broaden their knowledge of the world." Secretary Powell adds that, "People-to-people diplomacy, created through international education and exchanges, is critical to our national interests. Americans who study abroad expand their global perspective and become more internationally engaged. Foreign students and individuals who participate in citizen exchanges return home with a greater knowledge of our democratic institutions, and America 's enduring values."

The International Education Week website provides useful resources to assist in planning and implementing International Education Week activities and may be found at http://exchanges.state.gov/iew/ .

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR K-12 SCHOOLS INCLUDE:

•  Incorporate information on a country or culture into your regular lesson plan, even if you don't teach social studies.

•  Adopt a school in a developing country and donate school supplies, reference materials, and other items.

•  Trade questions and answers with students from another country through the Internet, pen pal clubs, or a Digital Video Conference.

•  Explore international aspects of the arts—music, film, theatre, visual arts, literature, dance—by creating, performing, or studying artworks with an international component. This could include a field trip to a museum or concert or showing a foreign film in class.

•  Organize a cross-cultural potluck lunch in which students bring in or make foods from their homeland or ancestors' homeland.

•  Feature local international experts as speakers: Fulbright Scholars, former diplomats or Peace Corps volunteers, business leaders working for multi-national corporations, or journalists.

•  Participate in a Model UN.

•  Ask students to write an essay on a country they would like to visit and why.

•  Assign students to produce a video or website about their cross-cultural experiences. The video could explore issues of cultural idiosyncrasies, stereotypes, and/or their own experiences in another culture.

•  Hold a Geography, Foreign Language, or World History Bee for your students.

•  Please visit the IEW library section for ‘Classroom Resources on Countries around the World.'

SUGGESTED ACTIVITIES FOR COLLEGES AND UNIVERSITIES INCLUDE:

•  Host an International Career Day by inviting alumni and/or local international experts as speakers.

•  Organize a symposium on campus or in your community on an "international" theme. Some ideas include:

•  International education as the key to homeland security

•  The importance of foreign language study

•  International exchange and study abroad opportunities

•  The internationalization of higher education

•  The global classroom: Internet exchange, distance learning, etc.

•  Intercultural communication

•  Dealing with Culture Shock

•  Recruit local professionals with overseas experience (Fulbright Scholars, former diplomats or Peace Corps volunteers, business leaders working for multi-national corporations, or journalists) to talk about international careers and the importance of international education and exchange. This can be as formal as a panel presentation or speech or as informal as a coffee hour or brown bag lunch.

•  Produce and/or screen a video about the experiences of international students on your campus and/or students back from a semester or year abroad.

•  Organize a festival spotlighting a particular country or region. In addition to films, live performances, or art exhibits, include interactive elements such as teaching students how to cook food of the country, learn a traditional dance, or the basics of the language.

•  Host a Quiz Bowl on international affairs, geography, or world history.

•  Participate in a Model UN or play host to a high school Model UN.

Call World View at 919-962-9264 if we can help!