Going global: How to make your school international

We all know that travel can broaden our horizons. The world is a vast learning resource for teaching kids about different cultures and countries, and celebrating diversity.

So, what steps can your school take to promote an international outlook and encourage your students to re-consider their ideas about the world?

Activities to make your school international

We’ve selected some of our favourite ways to bring an international element to your school:

1) Hold informal language sessions

Many schools are likely to have staff who can speak a few languages – including some of the less common ones that don’t feature on the curriculum!

So, make the most of this and set up some informal language classes for kids to get involved in. They’re likely to be surprised to hear their teachers speak an unfamiliar language. It will also spark further discussion and strengthen staff-student relationships.

2) Connect with classrooms around the world

Technology offers schools boundless opportunities to gain an insight into other classrooms across the globe. Through initiatives like the British Council’s eTwinning or Connecting Classrooms, schools can easily collaborate on shared projects – on a range of topics from robotics to history – using a secure network and platform.

Connecting in person, through school exchanges and trips, is also likely to make a lasting impact on your students and can motivate them to put their language skills to use, too.

3) Host an international meal

Arranging a typical meal (or simple assortment of snacks) from another country can be a fun way to introduce kids to a different culture. You could follow this up with a short video about the country, for example, or a traditional song. You might want to end the activity by asking kids to complete a short quiz about what they’ve learned.

4) Tweak how you teach curriculum subjects

To make your school more international, give some thought to how you teach subjects like Geography. Bring your lessons to life and make them more interesting for students by incorporating destinations that are meaningful to them.

The British Council offers a host of useful classroom resources with an international slant, covering an array of topics from rising sea levels to global food security to help with lesson planning.

5) Send your teachers on a school exchange

Exposing your staff to other cultures and teaching styles, as well as the challenges faced by their peers around the world can be massively insightful. It can also encourage them to think more creatively about their own teaching and their professional development.

You could also invite overseas teachers to your school to participate in activities such as assemblies and lessons and ask them to talk to your students about their home school.

These are just a handful of suggestions to make your school more international. There are many more ideas to try, and equipment like iPads can play a vital role in making online connections between your students and their peers around the world.

If your school is interested in finding out more about how our range of equipment can support your classroom activities, talk to us today.