International and multicultural competence ( 22.3.2023)

Preparation for conference to demonstrate on international and multicultural competence

Preparation for conference was started to recruit group's members first of all. I posted in general channel to gather members. Our group members were Ivania, Jin, Maria and Pauline.  Through group discussion via teams, We could prepared for conferences how to demonstrate on international and multicultural competences. Challenges were that We need to organize topics which should not overlapped with other group. We made conference plan in order to have quick preview. While I had discussion with Maria and Pauline via teams, Ivania could follow up our conference plan via whats app as well. Ivania could supported our idea and added more opinions by Whatsapp and ppt.  

Can We distinguish between multiculturalism and internationalism? While preparation, Our group member realized that We need to know meaning of terminologis comparing to word by word. Because people easily wonder about exact meaning and terminologis. And Understanding of terminologies and distinguishing meaning of different terminologies can provide to have deep understanding of theory of multiculturalism and internationalism as well. We decided to talk about UNESCO universal declaration on cultural diversity on webinar and cultural diversity in school and work environment.

Conference day on 22.3.2023

Conference day was supposed to have participants from outside of our professional teacher education's group. We were curious that who is going to participate in. However, There was no other participants from outside. We had group 1 and group 2.

Reflection on group 1

Christina introduced about higher education mission by Finnish National Agency for Education 2023 as below:

" To promote Student's balanced mental, social, physical growth"

" To respect for life, human right, sustainable development, environment and cultural diversity"

" To encourage international networking, cooperation between teachers and student".

International competence was defined by Finnish National Agency for Education 2023. knowledge,skill, values, attitudes and will promote learner to act as part of local, national, European, global community.

Susanna have told us that international activities assumed with different approaches with teacher, student and working life. 

 1. Governmental perspective, 2. Organizational perspective, 3, Individual teacher perspective,

 4. Student's perspective 5. Working life perspective.

I experienced how teacher organized to use international student to help their classroom students to understand internationalism, understanding of new culture, language, foods in order to be brave, willing to learn about new things and develop their own skills. I was invited to Sariolan School in Kangasala to introduce and present about Korean culture, foods, how to eat foods, greeting and basic manner as one of Erasmus programme in 2013. I had to cooperate with teacher before coming for example, what to buy prepare, what I can show to their students. Students were shy but actively participated in teaching time. There were two students who organized to learn for other students cultural dynamics by assisting  me and teacher as well. Organized international day from Sariolan school still remain as good memory. I have learnt through work experiences in school as special need assistant to know cultural sensitivities, language differences, flexible to open mind for accepting new situation and differences.  My personal blog post about school visit in Sariola school is here :

https://blog.naver.com/qowl2/20205249843

Yuhua's webinar time multicultural education and challenges were impressive to consider on every student's to equality to learn regardless of ethnicity, religion, culture,  social class and gender. way of knowing and way of learning are discussed with other participants. 

Elise's webinar time,  required additional 6 competences for effective learning was introduced. Competence 1 was understanding yourself. Understanding yourself is highly related to self esteem, identity combination of cultural, ethnic, racial, religion etc. All different efforts from teacher's ability to recognize challenges, student's own ability to evaluate challenges themselves and worker's cooperation to minimize challenges will reduce risks on multicultural challenges and conflicts.

Group 2

: When our conference webinar started, We introduced our Erasmus experiences briefly. With group work, most fun part was to think and share about our own experiences abroad as Erasmus exchange student. I felt that we are united with collected memories as an Erasmus student's experiences. I explained to others as well how changed European Union's integration law influenced to non-European students to go abroad as an Erasmus student. I was one of beneficiary student as non EU nationals to go abroad as an Erasmus student from Germany to Europe in 2013. Group 2 as who experienced internationalism in practice abroad. On the other hands, International exchange experiences are unavailable for everyone with various reasons personally, financially, institutionally, nationally such as no motivation or desire or self motivation to explore abroad, financial support challenges, visa issue, language barrier, not competitive to be accepted as exchange student, no info about exchange problem, etc.    

During group 2's sessions, Maria and Pauline taught participants different terminologies comparing such as international vs multicultural, national vs local, multinational vs global, cultural vs sub cultural and cross-cultural vs intercultural. Ivania explained positive and celebration perspective of cultural diversity of multiculturalism in school setting, how to set school and work environment to be inclusive without social issue. When she told us about multiculturalism in school gave sights to have positive impacts to improve such as empathy, tolerance, and respect, I could compare with multiculturalism's challenges in school by Yuhua's webinar.  

Reflection 

Teacher's multicultural recognition in school setting will give impact to classroom environments and students. Teacher should be aware of Finnish society's desires toward learners by remembering international competences.

  I also participated to learn student's right, safety right implementation via eOppia according to workplace's mandatory to do for student assistant. Certificate link is attached.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:21f32d4e-8a38-445e-a76a-0f9841f86be9

Please offer examples from your own work or discuss in general terms how internationality and multiculturalism concretely show in your own work or the work of an educational institution. How do you as a teacher take into account and maker use of the inter-cultural potential and internationalization opportunities in your society and working environment?

I share my previous three experiences as internee and volunteers in Germany and Finland.

I was doing voluntary work and internship in Bielefeld, Germany in 2013 to help asylum seekers and their minor children. I took participated in interview about helping asylum seeker's family and children in refugee camp in Bielefeld, Germany. 

Link

https://m.blog.naver.com/qowl2/220219909862

I was doing voluntary work with UN Women Tampere. Our voluntary works were published in local newspaper in 2015. 

Link

https://m.blog.naver.com/qowl2/220530358117

I was daily teacher for refugee education to students in Pirkkolan school in Kangasala. Refugee education was organised by cooperation between Pakolaisapu NGO and school. I was one of volunteers in Pakolaisapu I visited 8 different classroom to openly talk about refugees and asylum seekers. I had to speak in English. Two teachers and two special needs students participated in last teaching time.

Link

https://m.blog.naver.com/qowl2/220505073943

During those voluntary works, internship and paid volunteer to educate students about refugee's info, I could participated in all things in mostly English, during those voluntary works, internship and paid volunteer to educate students about refugee's info. I myself presented as international and multicultural person in front of local people in Germany and Finland. However, still field where I worked as volunteer and internee was required to have knowledge beyond nationality, governmental law, immigration law and procedure. Understanding of multiculturalism and respecting on each nation's culture were helpful to take care of younger children from war zone countries by respecting parents's role, religious related in rule and culture and parenting style etc. And It was very interesting to teach and discuss with local students in Finland about differences between refugees and asylum seekers, why we need to help them etc. Although it was short time to teach, I experienced that teacher is a bridge to communicate among students, to help them to understand topics better by interpretating in English to Finnish, to accept diversity of lifestyle and environments etc. I as potential society teacher should bear in mind that to accept and use offered chance from institution and third sector of educational institutions to experiences to broaden citizenship study experiences as much as possible. Classroom's diversity starts from me as society teacher. I should remember not to judge students by cover or own personal background by nation, ethnic, language, skin color, culture, different religions, different political views, disabilities and so on. Student's right to learn and children's right those who are under 18 years old are ultimate to be kept as priority. However, Bear in mind that always happen interactions between Finns and those who have multicultural backgrounds in educational institutions for example, teacher with student and within students. 

 As a teacher, It needs to be sensitive and open mind to talk about different cultures to communicate positively by observing and helping students not to be segregate separately. Supporting students within multicultural learning environment will be great experiences to learn human dynamics and have  achievements personally and together.

Reference

1.

https://oamk.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/teams/ProfessionalTeacherEducationProPeda2022-2023/Jaetut%20asiakirjat/General/22.03.2023%20webinar%20MULTICULTURALISM/Team%201%20International%20and%20multicultural%20Competence%20Presentation%202.pptx?d=w91cb1cc1a211441ab5671029b496f286&csf=1&web=1&e=SyfoPv

2.

https://oamk.sharepoint.com/:p:/r/teams/ProfessionalTeacherEducationProPeda2022-2023/Jaetut%20asiakirjat/General/22.03.2023%20webinar%20MULTICULTURALISM/2023-03-22%20webinar%20-%20Multiculturalism%20FINAL.pptx?d=wf79e28bc25c14b2eb87f63a1e566f2ae&csf=1&web=1&e=U23wA1

3.

https://acrobat.adobe.com/id/urn:aaid:sc:EU:21f32d4e-8a38-445e-a76a-0f9841f86be9