Interviews with Educators on: The Characteristics of Global Citizens
In summer 2011, I interviewed educators from more than 10 countries (America, Canada, India, Australia, Africa, Lebanon, France, Japan, Indonesia, Taiwan, and Thailand) as part of my field-study on global citizenship education. Some of the interviews were conducted by phone but most of the interviews were conducted face-to-face during the iEARN (International Educational and Resource Network) conference in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. Below are their answers word-for-word concerning their opinions about the characteristics of responsible global citizens.
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Peter Copen, Founder of iEARN (USA):
Students need to have the proper attitude, skills, and knowledge. The attitude comprises compassion and understanding. Dr. Ed Gragert, Previous Executive Director of iEARN-US (USA): The most important characteristic is respect. They need to listen to each other. Humility, openness, and respect to learn from one another and with each other because no one has all the answers. Tina Habib, Director of Government Grant Programs iEARN-US (USA): Students need to be open-minded and need to engage with students across countries with people who have different perspective. Diane Midness, Director of Professional Development Workshops iEARN-US (USA): To be responsible global citizens, they should not be judgmental. They had to develop tolerance with each other. Lisa Jobson, Assistant Director iEARN-US (USA): The characteristics of global citizens are those who are able to understand that one self as being part of multiple communities and intersect with the local community. It has a mind of being able to reach out on different perspectives and issues and being able to be curious and expose oneself to different ideas. |
Anindita Dutta Roy, Director of Youth Media Programs iEARN-US (USA): The characteristics of global citizens are the twenty-first century learners in terms of creativity, critical thinking, team work, and also life skills of being adaptable and developing leadership skills.
David Potter, Director of Development iEARN-US (USA): The most important characteristics that students need to develop is problem solving. Students will not magically learn how to work with other people in the world to solve world problems. Ronald Thomas, High school Teacher (Australia): Tolerance, acceptance, and celebration of differences and awareness are traits necessary and common for global citizens. Pascal Siegel, School IT Coordinator and Senior Program Manager for Reach Out to Asia (France and Qatar): Curiosity and respect. Francois Donfack, High School Teacher (Cameron, Africa): Open attitude, flexibility, tolérance, and respectful. Fukui Yoshiko, Kumon Teacher (Kobe, Japan): People need to have worldwide view. People who want to judge something must put into perspective other people's view. |
Anwar Abdul Baki, High School Teacher and Reach Out To Asia Coordinator (Lebanon and Qatar): Tolerant to other cultures and different people's habits, familiar with traveling, computer savvy, and an enjoyment of learning about cultures while maintaing friendships in other.
Li Ying Chiu/Iris, Junior High School Teacher (Ping-Tung, Taiwan): Respecting diverse cultures, understanding opposing perspectives, and holding views by other societies and communities. Also, developing responsibility for moral, spiritual, individual growth in addition to being an active member of a larger communities in which he or she belongs. Wat Wardani, English Teacher (Jakarta, Indonesia)i: Open minded, not feeling ethnocentric, holding respect for others, respecting the pursuit of equality, being a critical thinker, and experienced in communication. Ladawan Hengwichitkul, Primary School Teacher (Thailand): Open minded to learning new things, skills in technology Anita Townsend, Previous Principal and Educational Consultant (Canada): Responsible, ethical, and empathetic. Human beings who act wisely and collaboratively to support a peaceful world. |
