Nelson Mandela said, "Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world." And international education is a powerful tool to help young people develop mutual understanding and respect for others in the global economy.
A joint initiative of the U.S. State Department and the U.S. Department of Education, International Education Week promotes international education and exchange. Since its inception in 2000, IEW has been and is observed in more than 100 countries. According to Open Doors, a report issued by the Institute of International Education, 241,791 U.S. students studied abroad in 2006-2007, and 623,805 students from more than 200 countries studied in the U.S. in 2007-2008.
Here are a few ideas for your school from IEW.
- Have your students bond with their peers in another country through pen pal clubs, e-mail exchanges, or Digital Video Conferencing.
- Hold a school-wide International Luncheon. Each grade or class can make and serve foods from a different country, with all continents represented.
- Explore world music, and have your students stage a performance for families and friends. Invite your local cultural organizations to visit, such as a Chinese cultural club performing the dragon dance.
- If you do have international students, this could be their opportunity to educate the rest of your students about their countries and cultures.
- Launch a schoolwide reading program. Select one country, and have each grade level read age-appropriate literature from that country. Students can look for similarities between their own culture and the other country's. When possible, have the students look for cultural threads that stretch across the age levels.
You can find more at the Web site www.iew.state.gov/sug-schools.cfm
