Washington State Coalition for International Education
March 11, 2004 4:00-6:00 pm
Held at Associates in Cultural Exchange (ACE).
Summary
Introductions
Update on Asia Society Grant Proposal and discussion of last year’s summit
- This year’s grant includes several components including: 2004 summit, world languages survey, teacher professional development, and linkage with Model UN and special needs.
- Waiting for a letter of support from Governor Locke and Superintendent Bergeson’s offices
- This year’s summit will be in conjunction with NAFSA’s Region 1 conference in October 2004 (association for higher ed advisors, study abroad folks and other non-profits, etc. and is the largest advocacy group for international education; also NAFSA’s national 2005 conference is in Seattle drawing over 4000 people from around the world).
- Last year’s summit brought together like-minded folks, energized them, presented resources and brought out issues/challenges for further consideration. Out of a survey at last year’s summit, three listservs were created to meet various needs: a general coalition list, a news list and an advocacy list.
Other Topics
- Genesis and Mission of Steering Committee Shared: see coalition
website for more info.
- Title VI maybe facing certain restrictions: the question of which
languages and regional studies should be funded may be a decision that
is made my legislatures rather than professors, students and
administrators of schools, which is a frightening prospect for
educators.
- Caleb: Letter of support from Dr. Bergeson waiting for her to
sign. There is general support for a world language survey on the
state level, but at the same time there are many demands on schools to
fill out various kinds of surveys; and there is no mandate from the
legislatures regarding world languages.
Suggestion was offered to make it totally voluntary, contacting world language teachers, and associations such as WAFLT directly. Agreed that both options together might be ideal; as well as a look at the grassroots teaching of foreign language after school programs, heritage language programs, etc.
- David Woodward meeting with Richard Gomez about giving credit for
world languages to students who learn languages during after school
programs; David’s agenda to promote multilingualism.
- Caleb: discussion on classroom needs assessment model; we need to
be 100% behind social studies. Once business realizes the importance
of international education, that will help others see the importance
of social studies.
- Discussion about what is the focus of the Coalition’s work; some
members want more definition.
Question: who is our client? Answer: individuals and our State as a whole
Next General Coalition Meeting:
April 1st, 2004, 4:00, location TBA
Possible agenda items:
- Share big picture of coalition’s work
- Address NAFSA’s involvement
- Advocacy - a core agenda?
- Susan Bales paper: how do you frame international education?
- Address summit planning process
Masaru closed with a reflective exercise asking us to imagine: we are in a different context/culture and to explore what it feels like to live with ambiguity, that is, what does it feel like to live the idea that the coalition is still in its formation stage?