A primary objective of all TEAN and ISA programs is to facilitate the learning and development of students. We rely on host universities to provide quality instruction in the classroom, but our teams abroad are the main facilitators of learning outside of the classroom. Our efforts to promote student learning are shaped by an educational framework we call Discovery Model co-curricula.
According to this model, student learning and development is organized into six areas of discovery: Intercultural, Historical, Sociopolitical, Professional, Environmental and Sustainability. Throughout the duration of all ISA and TEAN programs, we provide participants opportunities to pursue guided learning in these six areas of discovery through participation in excursions, cultural activities and community involvement.
The ISA Blog Team strives to facilitate critical reflection and learning by utilizing the Discovery Model via the ISA Student Blog. Each semester, the ISA Blog Team creates new and innovative blog prompts to spark ISA Featured Bloggers’ interest to write blog posts that reflect on the ISA areas of discovery. It is our hope to use the ISA Student Blog as a platform to encourage ISA Featured Bloggers to reflect back on what they have learned in these five areas of discovery.
Intercultural
ISA aims to increase student intercultural competence in cross-cultural settings. Examples of how we facilitate this discovery:
- Introduce theories of intercultural development and communication to our students prior to departure and on site during the Bridging Cultures Orientation and in the optional Interculturalist micro-credential course
- Provide students with specific advice to help them function more effectively in their host culture
- Facilitate language tutoring to our students and arrange cultural/linguistic exchanges between our students and locals.
- Arrange cultural activities that promote a cross-cultural exchange and allow our students to observe and participate in local culture.
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Intercultural discovery:
- Why Learning a New Language Abroad Is Making Me a Global Citizen
- Ten Cultural Differences Between Spain and the US
- Tips for Becoming More Like the French
- Belgian Frites: A Guide to Finding Your Favorite Sauce
- Hospitality and Culture in Jordan
See HERE for all blog posts in the Intercultural discovery category!
Historical
ISA encourages our students to have an appreciation of their host country’s history, architecture, and “Culture.” Historical discovery involves education in the rich history of art, architecture, language, music, theatre and dance, and the development within, and influence on, the local and global community. We facilitate this area of discovery by visiting museums, touring monuments, and attending performances. Examples of efforts we undertake to help students pursue this discovery:
- Offer excursions to museums, archaeological sites, monuments, architectural marvels, famous homes, cultural icons and UNESCO Heritage sites, all with clearly defined learning objectives.
- Take students to performances and provide context and history to help them better appreciate what they are seeing and hearing; Tango in Buenos Aires, or Flamenco in Spain.
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Historical discovery:
- 5 Important Historical Sites in South Korea
- Exploring the Top of the World: 10 Incredible Ancient Inca Sites
- Kilmainham Gaol and Ireland’s Living History
- Brief Histories of Great Britain’s Magnificent Castles
- How Study Abroad Awakened the History Buff Inside Me
See HERE for all blog posts in the Historical discovery category!
Sociopolitical
ISA programs intend for students to be well-informed about the sociopolitical reality of their program location. We strive to educate students so they can intelligently discuss important contemporary events. ISA wants students to articulate how current events impact host country nationals’ views of domestic and U.S. government policies, along with identifying the main domestic media channels and how they align politically and ideologically. Examples of efforts we undertake to help students pursue this discovery:
- Describe local and national media channels and newspapers to help students understand the political/ideological leanings of various channels from a local perspective.
- Send students links to selected news stories and provide opportunities for discussion of the contents. All ISA students have access to a New York Times subscription as a part of their ISA program. We also post these stories on social media sites.
- Offer excursions that are directly related to sociopolitical issues, such as our excursion to the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) in South Korea; its very existence has enormous geopolitical implications on trade, international security and regional relations.
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Sociopolitical discovery:
- The Yellow Vests in Paris
- How Studying Abroad Has Changed My Perspective on Political Discourse
- Being an American in Seoul, South Korea
- Interviews on Privilege and Power in South Africa
- 5 Ways to Adjust to Life in a New Country
See HERE for all blog posts in the Sociopolitical discovery category!
Professional
ISA empowers students to use their time abroad as a means to explore their professional and career goals. Students receive the Professional Development Toolbox as a resource prior to departure, during their time abroad and after returning from their program. Our mission is to enable students to intelligently leverage their study, internship or service-learning abroad experience when pursuing post-graduate careers or continuing education. Examples of ways we’ve helped students pursue this discovery:
- Provide access to the Professional Development Toolbox for all ISA participants before, during and after their program. The toolbox, located in the student portal, is a cache of multimedia resources designed to help with practical aspects of the job hunt, including résumé and cover letter writing tips, interview coaching and advice for how to effectively market their international experience. The utilization of the resources in the toolbox enables students to better articulate how their international experience has enhanced their skillset and how those transferable skills translate into benefits for their potential employer or post-graduate educational institution.
- Encourage students to think about how their international experience will give them a competitive advantage in the job market. Students are to set “SMART” goals and to look for ways they can strategically use their time abroad to influence future professional development and career ambitions.
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Professional discovery:
- Study Abroad: A Great Career Move
- The Inside Scoop on Interning Abroad with Time Out Magazine in Sydney
- Need to Learn a Language for Your Career Path? Go Abroad.
- How Studying Abroad Is Beneficial for a Pre-Med Student
- How Study Abroad Can Jumpstart Your Career
See HERE for all blog posts in the Professional discovery category!
Environmental
ISA provides opportunities for students to visit some of their host country’s incredible environmental wonders, as this gives students an appreciation of, and connection with, the natural ecology of the regions in which they are living. We have found that by developing an understanding of their local environment, students feel more comfortable, safe and healthy during their program. Examples of efforts we undertake to help students pursue this discovery:
- Offer at least one excursion or activity in each location that facilitates the interaction between our students and the natural environment.
- Educate students about local resource management procedures. Nearly every ISA office abroad has a recycling program in place, enabling us to promote conservation.
- Promote a deeper understanding of the importance of communal spaces, involvement and civic engagement by incorporating a volunteer day as a cultural activity at all ISA sites. During volunteer day, program participants typically work alongside local residents to beautify a local park or public space.
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Environmental discovery:
- How Studying Abroad Has Shown Me That the Earth Is Something We All Have in Common
- Know Your Andean Camelids
- How Belgium is Doing Sustainability Right
- A Glimpse at Australia’s Wildlife
- The Many Animals of Ireland
See HERE for all blog posts in the Environmental discovery category!
Sustainability
To help students embrace and work towards sustainable living, our programs and co-curricula are designed to foster global thinking and informed local action while various assessments keep students thinking critically about their day-to-day lifestyle choices. Cultural activities with this icon have been assessed to contribute to our core value of sustainability. We define sustainability as the ethos of social responsibility and global thinking with an eye toward fairness in the use of shared resources. Examples include:
- Incentives (such as Choose Earth micro-credential) for taking sustainability-themed courses at our host universities and study centers
- Acceptance of eco-challenges to change our students’ consumer behaviors and reduce our individual and collective carbon footprint
- Posting examples of positive impact or carbon-neutral behaviors on social media
- Submission of reflective essays on sustainable living abroad and good habits to be brought back to the US
Examples of blog posts on the ISA Student Blog that reflect on Sustainability discovery:
- Alumni Spotlight: Ayla Graney
- Alumni Spotlight: Laurel Tamayo
- Why You Need To Add Costa Rica To Your Bucket List
- Why Peruvians Believe in Climate Change
- Sustainable City Living in London
See HERE for all blog posts in the Sustainability discovery category!