Learn more about Stamford’s innovative way of teaching kids about different cultures and being internationally minded.
Living in Singapore means we’re surrounded by lots of different cultures and languages; how lucky are we to live in such a multicultural country? At Stamford American International School, being multicultural (with over 75 different nationalities, to be exact!) is a big part of what makes the school so special. And during its International Mindedness Week in March, the school celebrated its diversity by inspiring international mindedness through learning different languages and cultures – pretty cool stuff, we think! Here’s what went on:
What is international mindedness?
In short, being internationally minded means understanding and showing respect for different cultures, people and beliefs. Its ultimate goal? To help make the world a better and more accepting place.
Celebrating International Mindedness Week at SAIS
From 23 to 27 March, in spite of the coronavirus pandemic, Stamford students enjoyed their annual International Mindedness Week. “With so much going on in the world around us, it’s good for students to take a step back and realise we are a community from all around the world and that is something to celebrate,” said 7th grade teachers Mr Gavel and Mr Robson. As part of the celebrations, students and teachers came to school wearing their own culture’s national dress or colours. “It was uplifting to see so many of our grade 8 students celebrating international mindedness by wearing their country’s colours, representing their own countries of origin but also in support of the countries currently in crisis,” remarked 8th grade teachers Mr Rkulovik and Mr Burros.
The younger kids in Early Years joined in the fun, too. Parents sent in books, videos and artefacts that were used in the classrooms for show-and-tell sessions. As for the Middle Schoolers, students enjoyed cool activities including international quizzes, world music and learning different phrases in different languages.
Why teaching international mindedness is so important
At Stamford, international mindedness is at the heart of everything it does. It celebrates diversity through an attitude of openness, which helps students hone their inquiry, critical-thinking, perspective-taking and problem-solving abilities – all very important skills that lead to success in the workplace. Above all, it teaches students how to navigate multiple cultures, which is definitely an advantage in today’s highly globalised world.
Keen to know more about diversity and international mindedness at Stamford? Book a virtual tour today!
This post is in partnership with Stamford American International School.