Reader Response draft 3 (Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other cultures)

In Picardo article (2012), he states that it is essential for students to have a strong sense of global awareness and better understanding of other cultures. He believes that by understanding and interacting with other people from another culture, opportunities that were once unknown to us are now open. He agrees that due to globalisation, there are new methods to bring the world into the classrooms. Examples are social networks, video conferencing, google maps and many more. To allow students from his school to have a strong sense of global awareness and understanding of other cultures, his school had organised many student exchange programmes such as: "The history trip to Berlin, the French exchange and the cultural visit to Andalucía." He also mentions that both Britain and the EU, "through the Comenius and eTwinning programmes", are supportive regarding international partnerships between schools. He conclude that students from the foreign exchange programme became more knowledgeable, capable in decision making and the students acquired new life long skills that they can pass on to people.

In the world today, globalisation has inevitably changed everything. It is so powerful that it shapes our culture, life and economy due to better technology such as the internet. Because the world is becoming more interconnected, it is important for students to have global awareness and better understanding of other cultures and the student exchange program is one of the methods which can provide them with the opportunity to study overseas. In the next few paragraphs, I will talk about why it is important for students to have a global awareness and understanding of other cultures and the benefits of student exchange programmes.

Globalisation has led to a rapid increase in migration. To be successful in this globalised world, it is important to be able to adapt and communicate when being placed in a foreign environment. According to Campbell (2012), a principal from Impington College, he argued that "In an increasingly interconnected world, today's young generation need to learn to be able to engage in communication with people from a wide range of different cultures and traditions." For students to do that, schools provide many opportunities for them to cultivate their global awareness and understanding of another culture. An example would be the student exchange programme.

The benefit of the student exchange programme can be separated into 3 parts. Educational, personal and future benefits. Educationally, students are able to experience a new culture and maybe even learn a new language. By picking up a new language, one would gain insight into another culture. Hence, being exposed to a new way of life due to the many differences such as festivals, family tradition, cuisine, dressing and beliefs. This is a great opportunity for students to see the world from a different angle.

On a personal level, the student exchange programme can improve students’ self-confidence and self-esteem. Being exposed into an unknown world, they will face many difficulties in their everyday life which they have never experienced before.  For example, being separated from their family forces a student to step out of his comfort zone to become independent.

In the future, students who participate in the student exchange program gain an advantage in getting a job. The Global Skills Gap: preparing young people for the global economy, reveals that employers are more likely to hire people with experience and knowledge of another language and culture rather than just looking at a candidate’s degree certification.

In conclusion, I personally feel that the student exchange programme is an important tool to flourish cultural and global awareness in students.
(597words)

References

Picardo, J. (2012, September 25). Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other culture. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/sep/25/students-global-awareness-other-cultures

Sutcliffe, J. (2012, November 5). Why global awareness matters to school. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/nov/05/global-awareness-schools-education

Think Global & British Council. (2011, December 8). The Global Skills Gap: Preparing young people for the new global economy. Retrieved from http://think-global.org.uk/resources/item/6404

Reader Response draft 2 (Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other cultures)

In Picardo article (2012), he states that it is essential for students to have a strong sense of global awareness and better understanding of other cultures. He believes that by understanding and interacting with other people from another culture, opportunities that were once unknown to us are now open. He claim that students are more likely to haven been overseas by the age of 16 and with the help of the internet, they are able to gather as much information as they can. However, he suggest that students are still require to be “guided through the process of discovery so that a deeper understanding of their own place in the world is developed.” To do that, he tells us about some method his school is using such as “The history trip to Berlin, the French exchange, the cultural visit to Andalucía, pen pal writing schemes and foreign language assistants.” He agrees that due to globalisation, there are new methods to bring the world into the classrooms. Examples are social networks, video conferencing, google maps and many more. He also mention that both Britain and the EU, “through the Comenius and eTwinning programmes, are supportive regarding international partnerships between schools. He find that students from the foreign exchange programme became more knowledgeable and capable in decision making. The students also acquire new life long skills that they can pass on to people. He adds that the foreign exchange benefit the teachers as well due to the collaboration of practices, knowledge and expertise, together with programmes for teacher training and professional development. Hence, this is why he believes that it is beneficial to cultivate global awareness and better understanding of other culture in students.

I personally agree with Picardo that it is important for students to have a "deeper global awareness and understanding of other cultures." I feel that one of the best way for students to cultivate their global awareness and understanding of other culture is through school because students spend most of them time in school as if is their second home. Most school in Singapore provide student exchange program resulting in several benefit ranging from educational, personal and future benefits. In the next few paragraph, I will talk about these benefits as well as my personal experience.

 Educationally, students are able to experience a new culture and maybe even learn a new language. Picado states that “It is estimated that between half and three quarters of the world’s population is bilingual to some degree.” By picking up a new language, one would gain insight into another culture. Hence, being expose to a new way of life due to the many difference such as festivals, family tradition, cuisine, dressing and beliefs. This is a great opportunity for students to see the world from a different angle.

Aside from offering educational opportunities for students, students are able to enrich themselves during the exchange. Being expose into an unknown world, they will face many difficulties in their everyday life which they have never experienced before.  Being away from their family force students to step out of their comfort zone and become independent. This often improve their self-confidence and self-esteem and bring out the best in them. these are the perks of going for an overseas exchange.

Lastly, in the long run, due to our highly globalized world, the student exchange program provide a stepping stone into socializing with other parts of the world. Employers are in favour of people with experience and knowledge of another language and culture. This is further supported by Picardo. He states that "According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters companies cannot find enough applicants with the requisite skills to operate in an international market place, indicating that greater efforts by schools in fostering global awareness and international collaboration are needed to best prepare our students "

In conclusion, I agre that it is important for students to have global awareness and better understanding of other cultures. The student exchange program is one of the many program which can provide students the opportunity for going overseas to study and the benefit of it is a life changing one.


References

Jose Picardo. (2012) Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other culture. Retrieved from: http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/sep/25/students-global-awareness-other-cultures

An event that has shaped your life and the person you have become.

This event took place at about 8 years ago. Back then, I was 13 years old. It happened when I woke up and found mist in my room. I immediately called for my mother and asked her if she was seeing the mist. She said no and that's when I realised something was wrong with my eyes. We went to see a doctor a few days later and the doctor suspected that I had a cataract in my left eye. We consulted an eye specialist and the eye specialist laughed at me, doubting that a kid could have a cataract. He was wrong. I was unable to go for the cataract removal operation because I was too young.

Over a year later, my pupil was completely white and I was bombarded by many teachers who accused me of wearing a contact lenses. Eventually, I was "blind" in my right eye as all I could see was the colour white. However, that does not stop me in doing the things I want. It was difficult to only be able to see with one eye but I persevered. Even though losing the vision from my right eye, I was always optimistic about everything. Eventually, in JC2, I went for the operation. The recovery period was horrible but I didn't gave up. And this is how having a cataract has shaped myself into a person who never give up until the end.

239 words

Edited Sep 11

Reader Response draft 1 (Why students need a global awareness and understanding of other cultures)

In Picardo article (2012), he states that it is important for students to have global awareness and better understanding of other cultures. To him, language is an important aspect of a person. He noticed that by interacting with other people during work, we learn about their cultures and become open to new concept and prospects. Due to globalisation and technological advancement, there are new methods to bring the world into the classrooms. Examples are social networks and video conferencing. Student exchange programme not only benefit the students, but the teachers due to the “exchange of practices, knowledge and expertise, with welcome positive implications for teacher training and professional development. These programmes “results more rounded individuals”, “encouraging pupils to see things from different perspectives”, the ability to make better decisions, “acquiring transferable skills that would be useful in their whole life. Hence, Picardo believe that it is essential for students to have a “deeper global awareness and understanding of other cultures."

I personally agree with Picardo that it is important for students to have a "deeper global awareness and understanding of other cultures." This can be achieve through student exchange program resulting in several benefit ranging from educational, personal and future benefits.

Educationally, students are able to experience a new culture and maybe even learn a new language. Being exposed to an unknown country, students will have to adapt to the new way of life due to the many difference such as festivals, family tradition, cuisine, beliefs and language. This is a great opportunity for students to see the world from a different angle.

Besides offering educational opportunities for students, students who participate in the student exchange program are faced with many difficulties in their everyday life which they have never experienced before.  By being away from their family, it forces them to step out of their comfort zone and become independent. This often improve their self-confidence and self-esteem and bring out the best in them. That is the perks of going for an overseas exchange.

Lastly, in the long term, due to our highly globalized world, the student exchange program provide an stepping stone into socializing with other parts of the world. Employers are in favour of people with experience and knowledge of another language and culture. This is further supported by Picardo. He states that "According to the Association of Graduate Recruiters companies cannot find enough applicants with the requisite skills to operate in an international market place, indicating that greater efforts by schools in fostering global awareness and international collaboration are needed to best prepare our students "


In conclusion, it is important for students to have global awareness and better understanding of other cultures. The student exchange program is one of the many program which can provide students the opportunity for going overseas to study and the benefit of it is a life changing one.

( 477 words)
Reference

http://www.theguardian.com/teacher-network/2012/sep/25/students-global-awareness-other-cultures

Summary on "World wakes up to digital divide"

According to Wakefield (2010), research from International Telecommunications Union (ITU) reveals that a technological disparity is increasing on a global scale. According to an ITU Analyst, Gray, the extent of a nation’s economic status is shown by its 'scale of it's digital divide'. To minimise the gap, countries in Eastern Europe have created a ‘wi-fi village programme’ which provides internet access and training and also sells recycled computers to villagers. The United States also adopts a similar approach by granting ‘specialised’ health services to Native Americans. However, Meinrath highlighted that their willingness to learn is also important to narrow the technological gap. Link: http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/technology/8568681.stm

D1 Summary

According to Leake and Warren (2009), researchers show that university students who spend less time on Facebook are more likely to perform better than those who spend more time on Facebook because they are studying less. This is shown by a fall in their cumulative grade point average and exam scores.

Edited on 9/5/2014
5:13pm