Student Interactions Develop Awareness of Environmental Problems

Throughout the spring semester, students across the world have come together to communicate through IVECA’s Virtual Classroom. These student interactions have enabled them to grow and learn from each other. Ultimately, the students have bonded by sharing each other's values, culture, and environmental problems.

As the relationship began, students took the opportunity to get to know each other. Culture was shared with pictures of food like Bungeoppang, a Korean snack with red bean paste inside fish shaped bread. Argentinian students shared their favorite dessert, dulce de leche. Through this exchange students found similarities in their daily life even though living far apart. One student noted, “I can’t believe we have the same hobby! I also like to read cartoon books and my major is animation design!! You can draw your own cartoons!!! You are really good! I have a feeling we are going to be good friends!!” As friendships grew, intercultural communication was enhanced. Many students bonded over their values, “Coincidentally, we share the same values. I also think happiness is a very important thing in life.” Through these interactions students came to find, the world isn’t so big after all.

An important topic of conversation this semester surrounded animal conservation and climate change. Students researched problems in their country’s environment and had the opportunity to share with their IVECA friends. When discussing the endangerment of Bottlenose Dolphins, a student expressed their dismay at the news, “I am very sad and sorry for the fact that it is endangered. I will help and get interested in them, too. I was grateful to know such cute animals and I will search for them more. Let’s make an effort to save each endangered animal!” It was beautiful that students took interest in other countries' problems by sharing empathy.

Additionally, students shared concerns about their community, “With the development of the economy and society, there are more and more high rise buildings. The traffic has been improved drastically. But the speedy development also brought a lot of pollution to this city. A lot of people still like the old city. Because health is most important, living in a place without pollution is the dream of the contemporary people.” Partners were able to understand the effects that industrialization has on the environment from a first hand account. With this new knowledge, students could share this in their home communities and educate others on environmental conservation.

By communicating on natural disasters such as forest fires, students understood the interconnectedness of the world and built a sense of solidarity to solve such issues. In response to his Indian partner, a Korean student commented, “In recent years, there have been lots of fire accidents in Korea too. I heard that many fire accidents are generated from humans' careless behaviors. So I think fire accidents are not only a domestic problem but international. We have to be careful to protect various creatures…”

Intercultural communication allowed students to see beyond their own countries and work together on common goals. Through the direct interactions with their global partners, students have realized that many other countries have similar problems while noticing different causes and impacts on their daily lives. Notably, students became open minded with diverse perspectives and found the internal motivation to make our world a better place.

#IVECA #interculturalcompetence #21stCenturyEducation #21centuryskills #SDGgoals #GlobalCitizenshipEducation #Empathy #Awareness #SDG13 #SDG15

The World Presentation Contest: Students Inspire Audiences Through Stories of Migration

This spring semester 2022, IVECA hosted the World Presentation Contest for high school students from Argentina, China, and Korea. During the contest, students were able to evaluate each others' presentations and give feedback to participating groups. Students presented on Stories of Migration in their own countries and around the world. This new learning opportunity allowed students to research migration in their communities and find the best solution for recurrent challenges migrants face. The presenters’ goal was to inspire the audience to think or behave differently by engaging them in the life journey of migrants. Overall, the unique occasion enabled students to recognize and share the empathy each group felt for migrants.

An excellent display of inspiring the audience was creating a narrative of a migrant moving to Argentina. Students detailed the point of view of someone forced to move away from their home country, “For Julian, it was not the same. It was not the same when his friends were in Spain. It was not the same when the laughter, the unique and unforgettable moments, were and would be forever in Spain. And, unfortunately, he could not take them with him in his suitcase.” Although the boy was disappointed to leave his friends, the story continues. Years later in Argentina, that same boy sits with his family in the home he had built. Although migration can cause stress, there may be triumphs in the end. The picture Argentinian students created guided the audience to sympathize for each person and connect with them on a personal level.

Each presentation group detailed different reasons people are forced to migrate. Korean students explained world events such as the civil war and industrialization that forced citizens to move away from their homes. Chinese students were able to hold interviews with friends and family that have moved away from their home country. The main reason included education and finding opportunities to study abroad. The first hand account was inspiring as the audience became more understanding of their travels and the reason people move away. The effort from students allowed audience members to step into the shoes of emigrants and have a full understanding of their challenges and achievements.

The great effort from each group presentation did not go unnoticed. Their choice of words and visuals to inspire their audience members was memorable. The presenter's strategy of connecting with the audience members to convey their message created a successful World Presentation Contest.

#IVECA #interculturalcompetence #21stCenturyEducation #WorldContest #GlobalCitizenshipEducation #virtualschooling #empathy

IVECA Students and Teachers Gain Enthusiasm for Global Collaboration

In early May, after two months of online cultural exchange activities together, high school students from China, India, Korea, and Vietnam joined their first Live Classes of the semester over video conferencing. With curiosity, students enjoyed learning more about their peers overseas and built a stronger bond to collaborate on their next group projects for the global community.

During their first Live Classes, students had an opportunity to openly share their interests and pride in life while exchanging questions about their international friends' personal life and culture. For example, a Korean student asked, "I heard that people in India memorise multiplication tables up to 19 levels. Is that true?" Indian students confirmed and added that some Indians memorise multiplication tables even up to 25 because they are not allowed to use calculators in the exam room." A student from Vietnam was curious about Korean traditional clothes. " What do you wear on New Year's Day in Korea? The Korean partner answered, "...in the past, people used to wear Hanbok, but today we wear comfortable clothes".

Feeling the meeting was fleeting to fulfill their curiosity about each other, students expressed the importance of sharing more about themselves. Indian students prepared videos to introduce their country and culture to their partners:

The first friendly and exciting conversations with their partners from the other country exalted students' enthusiasm for upcoming projects they will collaborate on throughout this semester. Ms. Choi from a Global Education Institute at the City office of Education in Korea commented, "After the first Live Classes, students are very inspired to work harder for the next activities [of this semester program]... the teachers are also delighted by their students' experiences. Both students and teachers have become more active and enthusiastic!"

#IVECA #LiveClass #21stCenturyEducation #GlobalCitizenshipEducation #VirtualSchooling #interculturalcompetence