Abstract
My compelling question is: How do I develop my students’ global skills in English class to meet the needs of 21st century?
The rationale for my compelling question comes from my experience as a teacher and new ideas that I am learning. With the pace of globalization, the world becomes smaller and smaller. Even though we have different political, economic, or educational viewpoints, we need to dialogue and cooperate. Therefore, I have responsibility to help my students have a global consciousness from an early age. I should develop their global skills and make them become global learners, which help them in their future lives. I teach English at elementary school. I hope I can develop their global skills in my English class.
In order to answer my compelling question, I gathered and analyzed information from my courses and synthesized the information into the findings. The courses are: ECI 546 New Literacy Media, ECI 620 Special topics in Chinese and American Education, ECI 508 Teachers as Leaders, ECI 524 Theory and Research in Global Learning, FL507 College Teaching for Language.
My findings focus on 21st century skills, which are global competences. They include: 1) effective communication skills across linguistic and cultural boundaries; 2) using technology skills; 3) leadership skills, including collaboration ability, critical thinking and problem-solving ability. Therefore, from the perspective of English learning, since English has become one of the main languages in the world, students should master English language skills. They should learn English in the authentic context and communicate with global people naturally. In order to avoid conflict, students also should respect and tolerate diverse cultures. From the perspective of globalization, students should have the global consciousness and develop their communicative, cooperative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Besides, students should use technology to facilitate their learning.
Based on my findings, I will integrate these in my teaching and help my students develop the global skills when I go back to my classroom.
In a word, we need many talents in the 21st century. These skills are required. Teachers have responsibilities to help students develop the global skills and make them adapt to the future society.
My compelling question is: How do I develop my students’ global skills in English class to meet the needs of 21st century?
The rationale for my compelling question comes from my experience as a teacher and new ideas that I am learning. With the pace of globalization, the world becomes smaller and smaller. Even though we have different political, economic, or educational viewpoints, we need to dialogue and cooperate. Therefore, I have responsibility to help my students have a global consciousness from an early age. I should develop their global skills and make them become global learners, which help them in their future lives. I teach English at elementary school. I hope I can develop their global skills in my English class.
In order to answer my compelling question, I gathered and analyzed information from my courses and synthesized the information into the findings. The courses are: ECI 546 New Literacy Media, ECI 620 Special topics in Chinese and American Education, ECI 508 Teachers as Leaders, ECI 524 Theory and Research in Global Learning, FL507 College Teaching for Language.
My findings focus on 21st century skills, which are global competences. They include: 1) effective communication skills across linguistic and cultural boundaries; 2) using technology skills; 3) leadership skills, including collaboration ability, critical thinking and problem-solving ability. Therefore, from the perspective of English learning, since English has become one of the main languages in the world, students should master English language skills. They should learn English in the authentic context and communicate with global people naturally. In order to avoid conflict, students also should respect and tolerate diverse cultures. From the perspective of globalization, students should have the global consciousness and develop their communicative, cooperative, critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Besides, students should use technology to facilitate their learning.
Based on my findings, I will integrate these in my teaching and help my students develop the global skills when I go back to my classroom.
In a word, we need many talents in the 21st century. These skills are required. Teachers have responsibilities to help students develop the global skills and make them adapt to the future society.