Inquiring IB Minds Want to Know...What is International Mindedness?

Throughout our learning journey, our whole school community thinks about being INQUIRERS, showing CURIOSITY and ENTHUSIASM for learning. When we wonder, explore, and engage with the wider world, we are becoming “internationally minded”. But what is that exactly?

At Ocean Avenue Elementary School, we strive to be internationally minded. We embrace diversity and take an active interest in learning about ourselves, others, and the world around us. We use this knowledge to communicate with an open heart and actively contribute toward making our global community a better place.

Here’s an excerpt from The Blog on HUFFPOST United Kingdom, written by international educational consultant Carolyn Savage, posted 03/08/2017. Carolyn discusses her understanding of “international mindedness” and ways families can explore the idea together. 

“International Mindedness—Teachers Are Talking About It, But What Exactly Is It?”

What exactly do we mean by international mindedness? Put simply, international mindedness means understanding, respecting and valuing different cultures, embracing diversity and knowing that different perspectives have a great deal to offer.

Global politics, worldwide environmental issues and dramatic population movements across continents have become part of our everyday lives. If we want our children to grow up to be innovators and leaders in positive global change, then an international mindset is a must....

So what can you do to help your child develop international mindedness? Although exploring new countries and cultures is obviously one of the best ways to develop their understanding, you don’t have to take them on expensive holidays as there are lots of things you can be doing at home.

•   To open windows into fascinating new cultures, I enjoyed reading stories from around the world with the children in my classes. In a safe and encouraging learning environment, these stories invited discussion and celebration of our similarities and differences, they encouraged empathy for our fellow human beings, and sparked a spirit of wonder and curiosity about the world around us.

•   You can also watch foreign films or world documentaries together, volunteer at local shelters, take part in environmental work and visit local places of worship.

•   And if learning a new language is something you’ve always wanted to do but never found the time, why not try it now with your children? The benefits of multilingualism are tremendous. Learning new languages can improve your cognitive skills and mental wellbeing.

• Our world is becoming increasingly complex. Multiculturalism is widespread and with social media bringing the benefits of international living into our homes, our children are keen to explore! Encourage them to talk about their world and what they perceive to be reality—is this the same reality that is being perceived by children growing up in Brazil or Cambodia, Russia or the Middle East?

  Wouldn’t life be boring if we all thought in the same way?