The Power of Education Abroad: Lessons from Sustainable Community Development in Tanzania

Title: The Power of Education Abroad: Lessons from Sustainable Community Development in Tanzania

Presenters: Jonathan Choti (Department of Linguistics, Languages, and Cultures/CAL)

Format: Paper Presentation

Date: May 11th, 2023

Time: 10:00 am - 11:15 am

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Description:

Many college students are participating in study abroad programs during their undergraduate studies. The Institute for International Education estimated that 240,000 college students studied abroad in 2006/2007. Kim & Goldstein (2005) established that female students participate in study abroad more frequently than males. Besides, research shows that undergraduate students who study abroad become globally engaged in a variety of ways later. These findings underline the importance of education abroad programs in terms of curricula, pedagogy, student and faculty experiences, outcomes as well as benefits and challenges. This talk will provide more insights about study abroad programs. I will share my six-year experience directing a six-week summer education abroad program known as “Sustainable Community Development in Tanzania”. This talk focuses on the curriculum, pedagogy, benefits, and challenges of the program. This program offers students an opportunity to have a community-engaged and cross-cultural learning experience, learn Swahili, have a home-stay experience, participate in multi-disciplinary experiential research teams, room with Tanzanian students, and work with Tanzanian faculty and locals to address urgent issues in the community. Travelling to a foreign country and experiencing a distant culture while earning academic credits are inherent values of this program. Students develop appreciation for a new culture and critical thinking and other cognitive skills, improve their interpersonal and communication skills, and establish enduring relationships. Consequently, they exhibit a deep sense of intercultural empathy and understanding, participate in the Peace Corp Program, join international and non-profit organizations, and become global citizens, full with global values and engagement patterns.