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)
3 | iEARN iMPACT
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.
5 | iEARN iMPACT
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.
6 | iEARN iMPACT
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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