The Call for Classroom Global Awareness

by Holly Smith
Cluster Specialist
Business Management Administration
Finance, Marketing

Without checking the answers, see if you can identify the cluster by the following TEKS:

1. The student understands professional communications strategies. The student is expected to:
   (A) adapt language for audience, purpose, situation, and intent
   (F) listen to and speak with diverse individuals
2. The student integrates knowledge and presentation skills related to diplomacy when representing the United States to host-country officials, media personnel, and traveling officials. The student is expected to:
   (A) demonstrate the ability to provide host-country officials with information on United States government and culture
   (B) organize exchange programs to enable future host-country decision makers to acquire familiarity with the United States institutions, customs, and culture
3. The student explores concepts related to cultural diversity. The student is expected to:
   (A) identify significant similarities and differences in international culture
   (B) explain the variety of world markets
   (C) describe marketing factors and practices that impact other cultures.

ANSWERS:

1. Arts, A/V Technology and Communication
2. Government and Public Administration
3. Transportation, Distribution and Logistics

When I talk to CTE teachers about the impact we can make on our students by teaching global etiquette and global awareness, I always ground the discussion by referencing TEKS beyond the scope of my clusters of Business Administration and Management and Finance. While global awareness certainly fits best in the class Global Business, the topic is also covered in almost cluster explicitly; and, in every cluster in a general statement for at least one class.

Here are some quick ways we can infuse some global awareness into any class:

1. Use the professional development, 2-part series found here on our site to introduce our students to cultural etiquette in a select number of countries. http://cte.unt.edu/business/best-practices.
2. Consider getting a copy of Kiss, Bow or Shake Hands by Terri Morrison. You will be hard-pressed to find a better reference book for learning etiquette of every culture, from the tipping policies to how to hand out business cards.
3. If buying a book doesn’t fit your classroom budget, try using the CIA Factbook. https://www.cia.gov/library/publications/the-world-factbook/
4. Use Journeysinfilm.org and incorporate their free lesson plans that accompany their global documentaries.
5. Need some apps? I suggest these free apps (in both Android and Apple versions).
   API Study Abroad – app is a peer-to-peer information exchange with current, former and future exchange students.
   World Flag Currency Converter – convert dollars into any currency around the globe
   Subway Maps – Subway maps of the world

Want some games for global awareness? Use worldlicenseplates.com to create flashcards of 20+ countries. On the back, put facts about each country.

Or, send your students on a journey from Texas to the L’Ouvre. When they have their trip planned, including travel costs and logistics, exchange rate for their funds, how to travel around Paris, then have them go to the L’Ouvre’s website and take a virtual tour. Ask them questions about how to tip their waiter, the best method of traveling the city, how people greet each other, etc. For even more global awareness tips, find my presentation at TCEC this summer in Houston, Texas. For more information, click here: http://www.tcecconference.com/summer.