Last week, we talked about what makes an IB education and the difference between an  IB education and a traditional education. We talked about the different IB programmes, lifelong learning for students and teachers, and teaching and learning approaches that guide our units. Today, we will talk about International Mindedness, why it is crucial, and how we promote it at ASB. 

International Mindedness in a Local Context

All IB programmes that we offer at ASB focus on providing students with authentic opportunities to establish connections between their learning and their world. The programmes share the same goal: promote international-mindedness and develop the Learner Profile Attributes.

In PYP, students travel around the world through their units of inquiry and through the reading of stories that promote these values. We also celebrate “Primary School Assemblies,” which offers students the chance to showcase what they are learning in class and how it relates to the Learner Profile. In January, we worked on what makes un inquirers. This month, we will be discussing how to be knowledgeable — very relevant in the world we live in today with its fake news and the use of social media for information manipulation.  Students learn about what is being knowledgeable, in what ways can be knowledgeable and use it in our daily life. Teachers design activities, read books and show videos about the learner profile attribute throughout the month. At the end of each month, we celebrate students who display the attributes of the learner profile at school with certificates. 

In MYP, students and teachers always reference the Learner Profile attributes and work hard to promote intercultural understanding in their lessons and Homeroom. For example, in Social Studies when they discuss the topic of the Palestine-Israeli conflict. Teachers make a point about bringing the testimony of both parties involved. We are lucky to have had the honor of counting on the Palestine Ambassador to Spain and the Public Relations Officer for Israel’s Embassy in Madrid. They visited the school on different occasions, and both students and teachers profited from their insights and the questions they were able to ask. 

The IB Diploma Programme also fosters the development of international-mindedness and intercultural understanding in all subjects, including the CORE components such as the extended essay, CAS, and TOK, where they discuss questions such as: 

Does history provide an absolute verdict on the actions of men and women? Or does it present a more malleable image created by those who write it?

Subjects such as Language A offered in both English and Spanish; present students with works in original and translated versions, from different times, literary movements, from different authors and places. We strive to present students with all possible points of view to construct meaning and reach an interpretation about what makes people act in a certain way. 

In Upper School, we also celebrate assemblies where we showcase a Learner Profile attribute. Students present what they do in class or clubs such as MUN, DECA, and CAS when they participate in international conferences curricular trips. 

These clubs allow students to relate to students worldwide and put their communication and intercultural skills to practice. Last week, for example, MUN students took part in a virtual conference with St. Georges School (Cologne, Germany). Our students (13) were part of 2 different committees and had the chance to discuss topics such as the crisis in Yemen and Nuclear weapons in North Korea. At the same time, they represented Brazil, Russia, Senegal, UAE, UK, France, Belgium, Turkey, and South Korea, to name a few. 

Finally, we share some questions for you to reflect on how you foster international mindedness at home: 

• ¿To what extent can we develop international-mindedness by traveling abroad? 
• ¿When we read stories to our children, do we always read the same authors, from the same countries? 
• ¿How often do we read works in translations? 
• When you watch the news or read the newspaper, do you always watch the same channel or read the same paper?
• When a piece of news calls your attention, how often do you search for it in other media, other papers, etc.? 
• ¿How do you celebrate or promote international-mindedness and intercultural understanding from home? 

To watch at home

Ted Talk “The Danger of a Single Story” by Nigerian author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie talks about the importance of getting to know the whole story of a person or place to break stereotypes that our culture self promotes.

The American School of Bilbao is a Candidate School for the Middle Years Programme. This school is pursuing authorization as an IB World School. These are schools that share a common philosophy – a commitment to high quality, challenging, International Education that ASB believes is important for our students.
* Only schools authorized by the IB Organization can offer any of its four academic programmes: the Primary Years Programme (PYP), the Middle Years Programme (MYP), the Diploma Programme (DP), or the Career-related Programme (CP). Candidate status gives no guarantee that authorization will be granted. For further information about the IB and its programmes, visit http://www.ibo.org