Global Tourists or Global Citizens?

Lessons learned from the fourth annual U.S. Department of State’s Global Teaching Dialogue, June 29, 2019, Washington DC. Written by Anna Bernanke, Senior Education and Social Emotional Learning Advisor, Global Sleepover and Founder and Executive Director at Chance Academy in Washington, DC.

Engage All participated, for the third year in a row, in U.S. Department of State’s Global Teaching Dialogue held in June 2019 at the U.S. Department of State in Washington, DC.

This enlightening conference reinforces the importance of preparing our youth for an interconnected world and demonstrates the power of personal connections and experiences to transform thinking and learning in the classroom. Living, working, and learning with educators and students in other countries is the best way in which to guide our youth toward the path of global citizenship.

In order to develop global citizens, it is imperative that the adults in the education field embrace their own journey of learning and change and that they have the support to implement the new ideas that their experiences inspire. When we share our growth with our students, we empower them to see life-long learning at work.

Teachers and administrators can encourage a positive approach to thinking globally, demonstrate being open to new points of view, share their own experiences, support international travel, and implement classroom projects that demonstrate the connection between local and global issues. This is how best to prepare our youth for an interconnected world.

*Pictured above is the author, Anna Bernanke, celebrating Diwali (the Indian New Year) with students at Chance Academy.