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My definition of globalization began as teaching a curriculum that exposed students to international material and different perspectives.
Now I realize that international education began as an effort for globally mobile workers to provide an education for their children in order for the children to be able to assimilate back into their home society; and for the children to have the same opportunities they would have had if they were learning in their native country. I realized that although there are many similarities in teaching methods and curricula around across cultures, education can still be viewed as personal to one's nationality. Quality of education also is viewed differently according to one's nationality due to access to more established universities in economically dominating cultures (the USA, Europe, and China). This is changing as more countries are providing opportunities for international students to study in their universities.
As education becomes more global and mobile, several areas appear to need improvement, further study and understanding. I have seen a need globally for more opportunities for adults to further their education, particularly in businesses with international markets and relations. Personally, I would like to further develop my understanding of a teacher's role in a Middle Eastern classroom- to better understand how my students view me and what they expect of me as their teacher, so I can better communicate what I expect of them as my students. I also need to further understand how to engage the parents of my local Kuwaiti students more in the child's education in English at an American international school. To better understand how to do this, it would perhaps be good to read more about the the politics of the education system and how parents influence and feel about the role of education in society.
As I began studying my Master's in Education, I knew globalization impacted education around the world, but I realized that I am participating in this globalization of education by working at the American School of Kuwait. I teach American students, but I also teach majority Kuwaiti students, all preparing to attend destination universities in the USA or Europe.
After researching the history of the founding of international schools, and the history of the International Baccalaureate, I realize that at ASK, we still follow an American curriculum with some components changed to meet a dominantly international student population, and to follow government regulations.
International education is a primary choice of parents and students in Kuwait due to the government still developing its education curriculum to 21st Century standards, and due to the country's lacking in universities for students to attend. The government provides funding for students qualifying to attend "top" universities abroad in the hopes that these students will return and use their international expertise in Kuwait.
To support students at ASK, teachers can continue to add international components to an American curriculum, or perhaps a better choice in the future would be to incorporate a fully international curriculum such as the IB Primary Years Program. It is flexible enough to be adapted in addition to the Common Core standards and the Kuwait government requirements, yet it will ensure that students are learning important international themes and material.
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