Browsing by Subject "Multilingualism"

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Open Access
Forms of support and challenges to developing international-mindedness: a comparative case study within a national and an international school in Turkey
(Routledge, 2019) Metlia, Akın; Martin, Robin Ann; Lane, Jennie Farber
This paper uses mixed methods to explore perceptions of international-mindedness within two case study schools in Istanbul, Turkey: a national school with mostly Turkish students and an international school with students from many nationalities. Using a conceptual framework developed by an international education programme, the authors critically analyse pillars of international-mindedness: multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and global engagement. Findings reveal that the national school was striving to overcome limitations of homogeneity, while the international school struggled to address its assumptions that a heterogeneous population alone would be enough to encourage intercultural understanding. Neither school had developed clear conceptual links among multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and global engagement. Thus, deliberate efforts are needed to provide students with experiences that foster international-mindedness. Other researchers and educators can use this framework and associated methods to examine how international-mindedness is implemented in different schools in other regions of the world.
Open Access
Forms of support for and challenges to fostering international-mindedness: perspectives about the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program from different school contexts
(2018-06) Metli, Akın
This study investigates students’, teachers’ and the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program coordinators’ perceptions of forms of support for and challenges to international-mindedness. It specifically investigates how the International Baccalaureate Diploma Program core components: Creativity, Activity, Service, Theory of Knowledge, and Extended Essay foster the pillars of international-mindedness (multilingualism, intercultural understanding and global engagement). The research used mixed methods to explore perceptions of international-mindedness within three schools in Istanbul, Turkey. The qualitative phase used semi-structured interviews, focus groups, lesson observations, and document review. The quantitative phase applied a pre and post-test design to measure intercultural understanding and the global engagement. The quantitative portion of the study compared data from schools with a Turkish (national) student body to a school that had more international staff and students and found no significant difference between and among students’ pre and post levels of intercultural understanding and global engagement in terms of improvement after one year of International Baccalaureate Diploma Program education. The study identified ways intercultural understanding and global engagement are fostered as well as various factors that undermined the implementation of international-mindedness. Regarding the three pillars of international-mindedness, the study revealed examples of the core components (especially about global knowledge, intercultural issues and community service) work to foster intercultural understanding and global engagement. The role of multilingualism and its relation to the other pillars was less clear, resulting in a reinterpretation of the international-mindedness conceptual framework used to guide the study. The revised framework illustrates that intercultural competence and global engagement should be the main components, supported by knowledge, skills, dispositions, and agency related to international-mindedness. Other researchers and educators can use this framework and associated methods to examine how international mindedness is implemented in different schools and to develop strategies to support global citizenship pedagogy in other regions of the world.
Open Access
International mindedness in a national context: analysis of an English coursebook published by Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Education for Grade 9
(2024-01) Gezer, Bilge Nur
In an era of increasing interconnectedness of the global community, fostering international mindedness has become significant for individuals. Grounded in the principles of multilingualism, intercultural understanding, and global engagement; this study aims to find out the representations of international mindedness by analyzing the Grade 9 English coursebook published by Republic of Türkiye Ministry of National Education. Through a qualitative content analysis, this research emphasizes the role of coursebooks, which are widely used at high schools in Türkiye to maintain consistency in educational content. The findings highlighted a possible relation between international mindedness and Learner Centered ideology, contributing to the holistic development of individuals who are not only academically proficient but also socially conscious and culturally sensitive to global issues. By analyzing the Grade 9 English coursebook, the research also revealed how international mindedness is integrated into the English curriculum, offering insights for educators and policymakers to raise internationally-minded individuals.