Skills: Facilitate intercultural and international conversations
Globally competent teachers facilitate intercultural and international conversations that promote active listening, critical thinking, and perspective recognition by providing ongoing opportunities for students to converse with diverse individuals (e.g., through video-chats, pen pal programs, or guest speakers). To find resources that will help you move along the continuum for this element, click on the description for the level that is the next one higher than how you rated yourself.
Source: The Globally Competent Teaching Continuum was originally developed in 2014 by J. M. Cain, J. Glazier, H. Parkhouse, and A. Tichnor-Wagner at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Beginning
ASCD Readings
- Tools and Projects to Help Your Students Connect with the World, ASCD Express
- Clicking Across Cultures, Educational Leadership
- Shaping Global Classrooms, Educational Leadership
- Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Your Students. Chapter 6: Flat Stanley Podcast
- Bringing Marginalized Voices in the Classroom, ASCD Express
Classroom Demo Video
11th Grade English Language Arts: Initiating the Conversation with a School in India
Additional Reading
The Elephant in the Language Classroom
Progressing
ASCD Readings
- Tools and Projects to Help Your Students Connect with the World, ASCD Express
- From Pen Pals to Global Citizens, Educational Leadership
- Clicking Across Cultures, Educational Leadership
- Around the World in 24 Hours, Educational Leadership
- Upgrade Your Curriculum: Practical Ways to Transform Units and Engage Your Students. Chapter 6: Flat Stanley Podcast
Classroom Demo Videos
1st Grade: Skype with Indonesia
Lesson Plan
Skype with Indonesia (PDF)
Suggested grade level: 1
Subject: Skype with Indonesia
Description: Using Skype, students make a personal connection with students in a different country from their own.
Classroom Resources
Reach the World
Suggested grade level: K–5
Subject: Social Studies, Geography
Cost: Free
Description: This website connects classrooms to world travelers.
Skype in the Classroom
Suggested grade level: All
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: This communication tool allows students to collaborate with others around the world without leaving the classroom.
Empatico
Suggested Grade Level: 3–5
Subject: Social Studies, Science, English Language Arts
Cost: Free
Description: Empatico is a video conferencing platform for teachers that allows them to connect their students with classrooms around the world through interactive, standards-based activities.
Generation Global
Suggested grade level: 6–12
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: This platform provides classrooms and students the opportunity tolearn and practice the skill of cross-cultural dialogues through videoconferencing and an online community, and includes trained facilitators and facilitation guides for teachers.
Proficient
ASCD Readings
- From Pen Pals to Global Citizens, Educational Leadership
- Around the World in 24 Hours, Educational Leadership
Classroom Demo Video
High School Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Lesson Plan
Spanish-speaking Countries (PDF)
Suggested grade level: 9#8211;12
Subject: Spanish for Heritage Speakers
Description: After interacting with guest speakers from a variety of Spanish-speaking countries, students compare and contrast to their own native country of origin.
Classroom Resources
The Stevens Initiative
Suggested grade level: 9–12
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: The Stevens Initiative supports virtual exchange between students in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa by connecting prospective partners and running annual competitions to give grants to educational institutions and non-profit organizations who administer virtual exchange programs.
ePals
Suggested grade level: All
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: This website connects classrooms throughout the world with email pen pals. You can search by age, language, country etc. Teachers can also create student accounts to allow for monitored student to student emails or they can sign up for a class to class communication.
Peace Corps World Wise Schools
Suggested grade level: All
Subject: Social Studies, English Language Arts
Cost: Free
Description: The Peace Corps World Wise Schools program allows you to connect with a current Peace Corps Volunteer and exchange letters, emails, videos and photograph; the site includes lesson plans and guest speaker contacts.
Empatico
Suggested Grade Level: 3–5
Subject: Social Studies, Science, English Language Arts
Cost: Free
Description: Empatico is a video conferencing platform for teachers that allows them to connect their students with classrooms around the world through interactive, standards-based activities.
Generation Global
Suggested grade level: 6–12
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: This platform provides classrooms and students the opportunity tolearn and practice the skill of cross-cultural dialogues through videoconferencing and an online community, and includes trained facilitators and facilitation guides for teachers.
Advanced
Classroom Resources
The Stevens Initiative
Suggested grade level: 9–12
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Description: The Stevens Initiative supports virtual exchange between students in the United States and the Middle East and North Africa by connecting prospective partners and running annual competitions to give grants to educational institutions and non-profit organizations who administer virtual exchange programs.
ePals
Suggested grade level: All
Subject: All
Cost: Free
Peace Corps World Wise Schools
Suggested grade level: All
Subject: Social Studies, English Language Arts
Cost: Free
Description: The Peace Corps World Wise Schools program allows you to connect with a current Peace Corps Volunteer and exchange letters, emails, videos and photograph; the site includes lesson plans and guest speaker contacts.