Study Abroad and the Development of Global Competencies: Comparing Teacher Candidates' Perceptions

• In Event: Hilton Roundtable Session 12
  In Roundtable Session: International Education

Abstract

Today’s global society necessitates that high quality teachers help equip their learners to navigate an international and interconnected world. Being globally competent means understanding how the world is interrelated and the ways people--as citizens--can make a difference. Global competency also includes understanding how decisions made by individuals and communities affect the lives of other human beings around the world. This paper uses comparative case study (Yin, 2008) research design to describe and report on two case studies of teacher candidates’ perceptions of study abroad experiences in China (n=13) and South Africa (n=22). In both case studies, candidates reported how study abroad opened their eyes (Freire, 1970) to their privileges and to the importance of global education.

Authors

• Erik Jon Byker

• Tingting Xu, Stephen F. Austin State University