Are you a language teacher considering a travel abroad program with your students to a Spanish-speaking country? While there are multiple factors involved in the decision to travel with your students, one of the greatest benefits is the opportunity to immerse them in a local culture with people who speak the language they’re learning.
It’s one thing to learn about a different culture and country from a textbook, and then it’s completely different to experience them firsthand. Hear about the power of service learning from Mark Pim, a teacher from Springbrook High School, and why he takes his lesson plans and students out of the classroom and into the world.
A good place to start is to understand what you’re trying to accomplish, and work to find which programs and community partners will allow for the most meaningful cross-cultural learning. Global programming lends a boost to any thematic curriculum if you can draw creative parallels and have a good understanding of your intended learning moments.
Schools with integrated education models point to Leadership as one of the skill sets necessary to develop well-rounded students. Separating leadership development from the dynamics of school culture and community power structures can allow for students to see practical and organic applications of leadership in the real world, sometimes more clearly than in their own home contexts.