Global News

1.   Introduce students to the importance of understanding international news.  Facilitate a discussion of one or two current events happening in the region where the class will be traveling that relates to the course content. Provide students with a list of reputable local/regional news sources (i.e., online newspapers, weekly news magazines, etc.). As possible, these sources should be native to the destination, not CNN or NBC.  Invite students to add to this list.

2.   Weekly analytical writing assignment. For each week prior to departure, require students to select one news article, write a brief summary (2-3 paragraphs), and provide an analysis that extends a concept or theme relevant to the focus of the course (less than one page). 

3.   Weekly presentations. As time allows, invite students to briefly share selected articles and their analytical perspectives with the class. The professor should relate student presentations to course content and frame the discussion toward developing a more informed understanding of the cultural context of the destination. [Option: Create an online discussion forum for students to post weekly writing assignments according to specific content-area threads. Encourage all students to read and respond to each other’s postings. Active participation in the discussion forum could count toward the overall course participation grade.]

4.   Topic-Specific Reflection. Upon return, have students select a particular topic that has emerged from the course content and weekly assignments. Require students to write a 2-3 page reflection paper on what they learned and how this learning has helped to shape their understanding of the study abroad destination.

Optional In-Country Research. Have students narrow their range of topics prior to departure to one or two broad issues. Once on-site, require students to conduct 1-2 interviews with local residents on these issues. The reflection paper should incorporate interview data and their reflections on it.