Students groove globally

The evening finished with a conga line weaving its way through the tables to a cacophony of maracas, tambourines, assorted rattling instruments and of course, a conga drum. \nThirty-one middle school and high school teachers representing 11 countries danced off a dinner of Indian food catered by Shanti Monday night in the Neal-Marshall Black Culture Center. \nThe evening was part of a series of educational seminars and cultural events hosted by the International Studies Summer Institute. The two-week program emphasizing global education fosters the opportunity for teachers from around the world to interact with each other in the professional educational setting and on a very personal level. \nAt one table sat two Filipinos, one Bolivian, one Thai and two Americans. As dinner wore on, it became evident that everyone's backgrounds were as far-reaching as their home countries and as diverse as the instruments featured by the world music band, Global Groove, who performed that night. \n"There is a connection between multicultural individuals gathering into one wonderful and magical intervention," said Filipino high school teacher Jose Culala of his experience at the institute. "(The teachers) all have one goal -- to be a global citizen with local values." \nThe teachers are attending the IU-hosted institute to broaden their knowledge on the international issues of trade, poverty, conflict and sustainable resources. As the Summer Institute inspires sharing of values and viewpoints between the teachers, it initiates the opportunity for the teachers to return to their students with a greater wealth of knowledge and the ability to apply it. \n"There is always room for learning," Culala said. "We are becoming bolder and flexible in adjusting to different cultures." He added he hopes to return to his students with an enhanced respect for different cultures so they too can experience the sense of global citizenship. \nIn the first week of the institute, the teachers -- many who are visiting America for the first time -- are encountering the gargantuan proportions of a Chipotle burrito, an unlimited flow of hot chocolate in the Wright Food Court and the inordinate amount of phone numbers required to make an international call with a calling card. \nA portion of the participants at the institute represent the United States. High school teacher Randa Holland-Jobe of Evansville said she thinks the beauty of IU's campus has struck her international colleagues and has shown in their willingness to help. \nAccents denote the wide range of languages represented among the participants, but English is still the binding language. \n"Most all speak excellent English," Holland-Jobe said. "It is the language of business and trade. You learn to think differently according to beliefs from around the world." \nIU Kelley School of Business professor Greg Kitzmiller, who is a guest speaker for the institute, said one of the fundamental points of the conference is the educational system is the place where most questions should and are asked and he hopes some of these questions are answered and can be related to classroom lessons. \n"We become teachers to reach other people," he said. "Maybe (these teachers) will teach somebody who can help find the answers."\nMost of the teachers present said they truly appreciated the opportunity to explore these global issues and make international connections. \n"This is a dream come true," Culala said. "It is a once in a lifetime experience"