Preparing American Students for the Global Age

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Preparing American Students for the Global Age
Establishing K-12 Critical Language Programs
Workshop Portland, Oregon April 26, 2007
Vivien Stewart Vice President, Education Asia
Society
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Challenge

• Tom Friedman The flat world
• Bill Gates Need high schools that are rigorous
  and relevant
• Henry Kaufman and Tom Johnson Americas
  economic well-being hinges on our preeminence in
  science and technologyBut in a globalized
  economy, our national well-being also hinges on
  future professionals of all kinds who are
  competent to conduct business in a global
  environment.

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Challenge What is International Education?

• Knowledge of other world regions, cultures, and
  global/international issues
• Skills in communicating in languages other than
  English, working in global or cross-cultural
  environments, and using information from
  different sources around the world
• Values of respect and concern for other cultures
  and peoples

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Challenge

• Globalization is driving demand for an
  internationally competent workforce
• One in five jobs is tied to international trade
• Most future business growth will be in overseas
  markets
• - Rise of China and India all states seek trade
  connections. Trade with Asia now equals over 800
  billion per year.

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Challenge

• Access to good jobs now requires new skills
• Future careers in business, government, health
  care, law enforcementall require greater
  international knowledge and skills
• Minorities underrepresented in international
  careersneed to be exposed to international
  content before college

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Challenge

• New national and human security challenges
• Increasing diversity in schools and workplaces
• International education needs to be a two-way
  street

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Challenge Our Students are Not Prepared

• Reports find International Knowledge Gap
• Levels of student knowledge are weak. Young
  Americans next to last in nine country survey of
  international knowledge
• Language instruction doesnt reflect todays
  realities Fewer than 50,000 K-12 students learn
  Chinese, a language spoken by 1.3 billion
• Source Asia Society Asia in the Schools
  National Geographic Roper Survey

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Challenge Students Lack Knowledge and Skills
Needed In Global Age

• To compete successfully in the global
  marketplace, both U.S.-based multinational
  corporations as well as small businesses
  increasingly need employees with knowledge of
  foreign languages and cultures to market products
  to customers around the globe and to work
  effectively with foreign employees and partners
  in other countries.

Committee for Economic Development
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Challenge Students Lack Knowledge and Skills
Needed In Global Age

• Six traits in future UPS employees
• Trade literate
• Sensitive to foreign cultures
• Conversant in different languages
• Technology savvy
• Capable of managing complexity
• Ethical
• Michael Eskew, CEO, United Parcel Service

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New Developments Competitor Countries Invest in
International Education

• Languages Most European countries start a first
  foreign language in the elementary grades. China
  teaches English from 3rd grade. 25 of
  Australian students learn an Asian languages.
• Exchanges In China, education leaders study
  education practices in other countries, teachers
  are encouraged to study abroad, and schools are
  strongly urged to form sister school partnerships
  with schools in other countries.
• Technology South Korea, Singapore and Taiwan
  have developed master plans to put high-speed
  computers in schools as a means of connecting
  students to world knowledge.
• Study Abroad Whereas 0.5 of U.S. students
  studied abroad in 2000, the comparable figures
  were 3 for France and China, 16 for Ireland and
  30 for Singapore.

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• Evanston Township High School
• Diverse student body in suburb of Chicago
• One-year international studies requirement for
  graduation
• Area studies courses on the history, literature
  and art of Asia, Africa, Latin America and the
  Middle East and global issues courses
• Ongoing professional development through
  partnerships with local university area studies
  centers

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• International School of the Americas
• Urban, public, magnet in San Antonio, TX
• International Projects. Model UN
• Emphasis on experiential learning study trips to
  Zacatecas, Mexico and the Heifer Ranch
• Science Partnerships with Japan
• Partnerships with local teacher colleges and
  museums

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• Eugene International High School
• School-within-a-school model 4 schools in Oregon
• Curriculum centered thematically around culture,
  history, and political, economic and belief
  systems
• 11th and 12th grade culminate in independent
  research extended essay with international focus
• Service-learning graduation requirement with
  international focus
• IB offered

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• Newton North and Newton South High Schools
• Public school district in Massachusetts
• Oldest running Chinese student exchange program
  in the country with strong content background and
  preparation
• Exchange program is catalyst for district-wide
  curriculum reform
• Strong foreign language program

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• John Stanford International School
• Public K-5 bilingual immersion school in Seattle
• Students spend half day studying math, science,
  culture and literacy in either Japanese or
  Spanish the other half of the day is spent
  learning reading, writing and social studies in
  English
• Partnerships with local offices of multinational
  businesses
• Offers ESL courses for children and after-school
  courses for their parents

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• International Studies Schools Network (Asia
  Society and Gates Foundation) Guiding
  Principles
• Integrate international content in all curriculum
  areas
• Offer world languages, including Asian languages
• Use technology to connect schools to schools
  around the world
• Links to international businesses, museums,
  communities
• Internationally oriented community service and
  informal learning opportunities

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• International Studies Schools Network
• Henry Street School for International Studies,
  New York, NY
• Academy for International Studies, Charlotte, NC
• International Studies Learning Center, South
  Gate, CA
• Vaughn International Studies Academy, Los
  Angeles, CA
• College of Staten Island High School for
  International Studies, Staten Island, NY
• Opening 2006-7
• International Studies School at Garinger,
  Charlotte, NC
• Houston Academy for International Studies,
  Houston,TX
• Center for International Studies, Denver, CO
• Opening 2007-8
• High School for International Studies, Austin, TX
• High School for International Studies,
  Philadelphia, PA
• 2 High Schools for International Studies, TBD, TX

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New Developments Innovations in Schools

• The Goldman Sachs Foundation Prizes for
  Excellence in International Education 500
  applications from schools, colleges and
  universities, media and technology programs. New
  youth prize added in 2006 to recognize high
  school students

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New Developments Innovations in States

• States Institute on International Education in
  the Schools Two dozen states work to improve
  international competence
• Governor or Legislative Commission/Task Forces
  Thirteen states have appointed commissions
• Statewide Summits Twelve states have brought
  together interested education, business and
  community leaders
• New Policies and Programs e.g. strengthening
  curriculum standards, new professional
  development programs, elementary school language
  programs, harnessing technology, creating
  partnerships with schools in China and Mexico,
  innovation funds to internationalize high
  schools, redefining skills for high school
  graduation
• National Governors Association Meeting on
  International Education (Feb. 2006)
• CCSSO Summer Institute on International
  Education for state commissioners of education
  (July 2006)

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Ten Questions to Ask Your School and State
internationaled.org/planningtools/research.htm
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Action Steps What You Can Do

• See Internationaled.org

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ResourcesNewsletter and WebsiteInternationalEd.
org
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ResourcesAskAsia.org
For materials on Asian cultures and issues