iEARN iMPACT - New Beginnings of 2021

IEARN-USA

STUDENT EXHANGE Experiencing cultures with appreciation and celebrating our diverse world | 3

COLLABORATION ACROSS CULTURES Progress beyond projects How students grow with and through iEARN | 6

OUR STORY OF WHY Our mission for an interconnected word is a a part of everything we do | 7

LEARNING WITH THE WORLD (NOT JUST ABOUT IT)

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Student Exchange Language is a vital part of the

In March 2020, ECA informed the

human connection. Through

NSLI-Y consortium that physical

language, we express our ideas,

language exchanges planned for the

thoughts, and feelings. Foreign

2020 summer Receiving a NSLI-Y

language learning is frequently

program scholarship traditionally

undervalued, but the ability to

involved getting on a plane and

communicate in multiple languages

traveling thousands of miles for an

is increasingly vital in today’s

in-person language and cultural

global economy. That is why

immersion program. With this

iEARN-USA is a founding partner

model challenged to near

of the U.S. Department of State’s

impossibility, iEARN-USA quickly

Bureau of Educational and Cultural

pivoted—reimagining our methods,

Affairs (ECA) National Security

yet maintaining our purpose.

Language Initiative for Youth

Despite the cancelation of travel,

(NSLI-Y). Since 2009, iEARN has

iEARN USA and our partners

been an implementing

around the world were able to

organization for the NSLI-Y

leverage technology to, not only

program which provides full

provide language instruction, but to

scholarships to U.S. high school

also create a rich, meaningful

students to learn critical languages

cultural exchange.

abroad.

Students on program learning Hindu Through this program and in line

were able to take virtual yoga

with the objectives of the

classes and traditional dance

Department of State; iEARN USA

lessons. The Arabic group took

works to build friendly, peaceful

classes to learn how to make

relations between the U.S and

Moroccan mint tea, from scratch!

partners around the world through

Lastly, the NSLI students learning

our academic and cultural

Chinese learned about Taiwanese

exchange programs. Program

film and their indigenous people.

participants to actively engage in

Recognizing that these students

citizen diplomacy and increase

would miss the opportunity to

mutual understanding between the

physically travel created an

US and host communities.

opportunity of creativity.

iEARN iMPACT | 3

After the storm...

What a wonder it is to see students participating in-person exchange and language learning, again!

In February of 2021, ECA gave the green light for the first physical language exchange in Taiwan since the start of the pandemic. iEARN USA was the first implementing organization to get students back into in-country programs after Covid-19 and the lessons learned from this pilot have set the pace for the entire NSLIY consortium!

Our NSLI-Y 2020-2021 Academic Year Chinese program students safely arrived in Kaohsiung, Taiwan, and are currently living with host families, taking in-person classes, and participating in cultural activities.

We're looking forward to phasing in more in-person language and cultural immersion programs over the next year. Until then, we will continue to offer virtual opportunities.

PROJECT SUCCESS

VIRTUAL PROJECT EXHIBITION

Projects are a vital approach to

A showcase of the work and

presentation skills and

help students grow into fully

outcomes of educators and

demonstrate how their project

engaged young people. Seeing

students who’ve completed

work directly impacts their

issues from others’

iEARN projects is displayed at

learning and growth. Some

perspectives, communicating

our annual Virtual Project

presenters are as young as five

with empathy with people who

Exhibition (VPE). This exciting

years old, sharing with

have different perspectives, and

event provides iEARN students

hundreds of audience members

collaborating to solve problems

with an opportunity to share

from around the world. This

are among the skills that iEARN

their project work outside of

year, 21 students and 16

aims to build early. Those goals

the classroom and present their

educators from 9 countries

echo what global education

final products and reflections to

presented to almost 200 guests

experts recommend as essential

a global audience.This event

from 30 countries!

learning for today’s students.

helps students develop their 4 | iEARN iMPACT

COLLABORATION ACROSS CULTURES GLOBAL LEARNING CIRCLES iEARN-USA is continually seeking new ways to offer students opportunities to develop the global competencies of critical thinking, problem solving, and communication through hands on project work. The Global Learning Circles program is unique as it guides youth in exploring the strengths of their community and learning from the strengths of their peers’ communities as they explore global issues.

While students are exploring the challenges our world faces through the lens of the Sustainable Development Goals, they are also developing solutions and building projects based on their community’s assets.

Classes from 22 different countries participated in Learning Circles this year. As a result, teachers are noticing an increased use of Padlets and other Web-based sites to make stronger presentations.

Students are also becoming more effective users of video to establish visual communication. iEARN-USA will continue to support students as they develop as global citizens who bridge cultural divides, understand sustainable development issues, and act as change-makers in their communities.

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NOMADIC

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Opportunities for Leadership NSLI-Y Interactive Virtual Events connect NSLI-Y students and alumni with individuals in the U.S. to share experiences about their NSLI-Y program experience, thereby spreading the impact of the NSLI-Y program and expanding its outreach through online events. In addition, panelists present on their language learning journeys, host country cultures, and other programmatic experiences through media sharing, facilitated discussions, and question and answer sessions using videoconferencing software.

Recent virtual events have focused on how to share the impact of one’s NSLI-Y experience, citizen diplomacy, intercultural communication, and language learning outside the classroom.

Through NSLI-Y Interactive, iEARNUSA also hosts classroom connect events, which connect NSLI-Y students currently studying abroad with a same-language classroom in the U.S.

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OUR STORY OF WHY...

In order to thrive in an increasingly global economy, youth need opportunities to develop 21st century skills to become creative, collaborative problem solvers who can navigate new technology, communicate across cultures, and build solutions to problems in their communities and globally.

competencies, educators need structured and reliable pathways to engage their students in meaningful ways with their global peers and projects.

iEARN-USA uses technology to bring the world to the students, breaking down the barriers that prohibit most students from the experience of engaging with different cultures and building the skills gained through study abroad experience.

As a result, iEARN-USA Implemented a Digital Storytelling Workshop program to support youth exchanges. 37 high school students from Girls Global Academy from Washington DC and different high schools across Morocco learned the story arc and digital technical skills and worked together to create short films about their personal life experiences

In order for students to develop these key skills and global

On a recent follow up call with an administrator at Girls Global

OUR STORY OF WHY

Academy, she related that two students were working on an assignment where they were asked to reflect on a time they experienced culture shock by meeting someone very different than themselves. Both girls immediately referred to the Digital Storytelling workshop and shared that they are still in contact with some of the students from Morocco through social media. They spoke fondly of these connections and went on to say

“You know, we are all just teenagers, despite our differences.” us.iearn.org | 7

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