Kids Showcase Their Cultural Magazines

June 11 was nothing like any other day for Korean and Vermont students from Yeomlee, JinGwan and GEMS elementary schools. As professional magazine writers, these students did an amazing job by designing cultural magazines to present life in their countries and describe their different cultural components to their partners from the other side of the world.

With their teachers’ support and by using their drawing, coloring and design talents, students prepared exquisite cultural magazines with attractive pictures and eye-catching colors where they nicely present a number of interesting facts related to specific places, people, animals, clothing and foods in their countries.

In a one- hour virtual Live Class, each school’s students had the chance to know about the culture in the other country and realize they are not living on their own. Instead, they are a part of a big world with which they share a lot. Students discussed, gave feedback about each other’s magazine and figured out the similarities and differences in terms of the contents they presented about their countries.

Throughout the live class, students were very excited to hear more from their partners and showed interest in learning about how people live in the other country. And it did not stop here, after this virtual meeting, students wrote letters to each other and expressed how happy they were to meet their global friends and work together for a whole semester.

“We wanted to thank you for participating in IVECA this year. We hope we can do it again in the future. It was so fun working with you all…We look forward to talking again.” – 3rd grader, Vermont

“We had fun to learn the different culture of Vermont. It was so helpful to learn new words for the new world. Moreover, We’re excited to communicate with GEMS School in the U.S. Hope to have another chance next time.” – 4th grader, Korea

“This virtual and cultural exposure has provided a unique and exciting learning experience that children will cherish for years to come.  A learning opportunity, for everyone involved, that has shown to be beneficial both socially and academically. A variety of academics, culture, and FUN for everyone involved.”  – Principal at GEMS, VT

Korean and Brazilian Students Travel Together into their History and Culture

On June 5 in the IVECA virtual live class, students from Hanil High School in Korea and Luiza Formozinho Ribeiro Public School in Brazil traveled into the history with their partner students and shared amazing stories and cultural backgrounds about the historical events and political conflicts that took place in their country.

Students from both schools narrated the historical facts with rich information such as people’s lives under glorious Kings and Queens, the origin of International Women’s Day, and issues with native inhabitants and European explorers. Further, they exchanged their thoughts on the impacts of religious figures, colonial explorers, and famous warriors in their histories. Through this live class, students helped each other understand different historical accounts of travelers and cultures. They also were able to relate their own experiences to the global range of travel writings, personal memoir, and history.

One of the most interesting takeaways from this virtual class was that Brazilian students learned directly from their Korean partners regarding Sunshine Policy that was adopted at the historic  Inter-Korean Summit in 2000. One Korean student explained, “The Sunshine Policy is a foreign policy aiming at peaceful reunification by cooperating and supporting North Korea.” Korean students’ narratives on their history enabled Brazilian students to connect Korea’s past with the current world event happening in Korean Peninsula and other countries for peace and security. Both Korean and Brazilian students expressed their joy of learning and desire for their future collaboration through IVECA.  

Students’ learning experience was reflected through the closing remarks of teachers and principals from both schools:

“I am speechless again! The opportunities this project promotes to students all over the world is unique. We are more than grateful for taking part. Thank you IVECA’s team for such a great job and supporting!” (English Teacher, Brazil)

“The challenges[program activities] proposed for sure have already brought enormous educational learning. This really makes us global citizens in search of a better world.” (History teacher, Brazil)

“I believe that this experience has been a great opportunity for students in both countries to learn about each other. I encourage you to think of today’s class as not the end but a new beginning and hope for each other’s best although we are far apart.” (Principal, Korea)

#Ed4GlobalCitizenship, #InterculturalCompetence, #IVECA, #PeaceEducation

Teenagers Explain the Power of Music in Life and for Cross-Cultural Harmony

Music expresses one’s emotions and ideas through voices and instruments. Most teenagers enjoy listening to music anytime during their daily activities such as studying, doing homework and playing games. Music is like meditation and yoga as it brings happiness and benefits to body and mind. It helps students concentrate on their study.  Sunday Reviews (2013) reported that music has “opened up the pathways to creative thinking to many people…and music is the power to focus on the present and the future simultaneously.”

During the IVECA Live Class on May 17, Taegwang High School in Korea and Packer Collegiate Institute in USA discussed the ways people listen and practice music and how people think music influences their life. The students exchanged their favorite songs, musicians and preferred genres of music and presented their fieldwork examining others’ perceptions on music. They interviewed their teachers, friends and family about music and musical education. With their overseas classmates connected through the video screen, these students exchanged their perspectives regarding how to learn other culture through music and musical performances. They also addressed how music should be taught in class and used to promote healthy communities, intercultural understanding, global awareness and most importantly to live together in harmony. Students came to understand that music is the universal language.

Both Korean and U.S. students realized that music has no national and geographical boundary. For them, music is all about love, joy, sharing common emotions, and making people feel better. A student highlighted it beautifully by citing Pope Benedict’s understanding of music: “Music has no borders, no race or color, no limit of country, no ethnicity. Music makes the people come together. Dance it, dance all.” They expressed their desire for future collaboration to learn more about each other’s music as global citizens. They believed that music can facilitate social development, cultural sensitivity and global peace.

One of the most important takeaways from this virtual class for Korean students was that popular music cannot be for everyone’s favorite. They appreciated learning from their US counterpart that some Muslims don’t listen to music partly due to their religious belief. For example, although rap songs are very popular among teens, they don’t enjoy such songs with offensive curse words and visual depictions. Instead, they listen to “Quranic verses from the Holy Book of Islam, which has a similar rhythm to that of music”.

After observing students’ interactions through presentations, discussion and music performances, Mr. Dejesus–principal of the High School at Packer remarked, “I myself am a great lover of music and found your exploration of this topic very inspiring. It was really interesting to almost be in your classroom on the other side of the world and to learn about the great work that you and your teachers are doing.” He then made the virtual meeting between the students more realistic by inviting Korean students to visit his school in Brooklyn New York.