Global Competency:
Global competency is the ability to collaborate with others of different nationalities, values, and beliefs to achieve a common goal. In addition, it’s important and necessary to be able to speak fluently in at least one other language apart from your mother tongue. Global competency includes a mindset that our strength as a diverse group are because of our different perspectives and backgrounds that can lead to innovative solutions toward a common goal. Personally, I understand the importance of learning the language of the country you’re working with or even working in. First, standards of Americans knowing another language are set pretty low around the world, so even just attempting a few phrases can help gain more respect and an improved introduction with someone you're trying to exchange with. Second, learning another language is like a puzzle piece to the whole picture of another country – it links the music, the food, the beliefs, the literature and movies, and the people together so you can truly understand the multifaceted personalities of a nation. It’s rewarding to communicate in other languages and automatically builds greater empathy with others.

Training students in global competency:
I liked that Yong Zhao argued we must culturally reorient our students to see ourselves (Americans) as part of one globe, instead of an isolated country and economy. It’s important for teachers to adapt pedagogies that address a globalized economy and world because students will be faced with various issues and challenges surrounding globalization in their adulthood, as it continues to morph and evolve even now. I agreed with Zhao that three main areas that are essential in the classroom are to have students analyze primary sources from around the world, recognize stereotyping, and take action in global issues to become responsible citizens. I did a research paper last fall on the high percentage of schools that include similar phrases: global citizenship / global mindedness / globally competent students. These are key words in school and district mission statements, yet the tangible curriculum that addresses this skill are vague, often only addressed in a few social studies units (which continue to be cut to make space for STEM). Identifying stereotypes is critical to break down previous bias about complex countries to move forward with learning how we are interconnected and to become genuinely globally competent. If schools are truly to stand by their mission statements, which include this hotly debated phrase, Zhao’s three points should be embedded in the classrooms, but never isolated in a single class unit.

• Jacqueline Beutell

What is global competency?
Global competency is the ability to adjust to settings that vary from a person's norm. This includes living, working, and interacting with people from different cultures and
countries. This requires a person to be culturally aware and accepting.

Why is it important for teachers to train globally competent students?
I think that it is important to teach students to be globally competent because it is part of creating a tolerant, accepting classroom. I want to be an elementary teacher and teaching young students about different cultures is a good way to get them to think beyond themselves. With social media it is easier than ever to connect with someone from a different part of the world so I think students need to be taught to be culturally sensitive.

• Eleanor Wiley

Week 1 Response

What is global competency?
Global competency is having the awareness, knowledge, and skill set to understand the environment/culture/people around the world. It requires open-mindedness, willingness to view and learn through a new perspective, and perseverance.

Why is it important for teachers to train globally competent students?
I think that it is important for teachers to train globally competent students because it advocates for empathy. I believe that students benefit from obtaining knowledge about cultures that are not their own through the most authentic lens possible. Global competency provides students with a comprehensive, holistic approach to education versus a “one-track” mindset or perspective that education (in the United States, at least, in my opinion) can often exemplify. Every student can benefit from global competency in different ways. Whether it is professionally or socially, global competency supports the understanding of other cultures, languages, and environments.

• Rebecca Panitch

Hi Jacqueline!

Responses should be about 300 words max, and more personally reflective. You do not have to cite anything in your responses.

To submit, just post on the thread for each week (aka week 1's responses will go on this thread). I will post Week 2 here in a minute, and the questions for that week should be submitted as comments under that post just like this. Hope this helps!

• Mackenzie Dankle

Hello!

Several courses have varying degrees of expectations for reading responses, so I just want to clarify:

How long are our written responses expected to be? (Word count per question or week)
Are we expected to cite reading sources in our response?
Alternatively, are our responses supposed to be more personally reflective?
Do we submit to admins via word doc, or post them to a thread here in Scholar?

Thank you!

• Jacqueline Beutell