BGSU Graduate Brings the World into the Classroom

By Alexis Martinez

Del-Vaunté D. Scott, a BGSU International Studies recent graduate, spent his summer in US boundaries but had the sense of an international experience though the eyes of young children.

Scott interned as teacher assistant at International Montessori School located in Durham, North Carolina.

International Montessori School prepares students, Pre K to 4^rd grade, to succeed in a global society while maintaining their own bilingualism and heritage. Scott’s summer involved teaching children who were native and non-native speakers of French and Spanish.

With the rise of cultural exposure in the US, it is necessary for young students to gain knowledge of the world to engage with people from many cultures and countries. With the classroom globalizing and integrating students, the role of teachers internationalizing teaching methods has never been clearer. Scott used the skills he earned in the BGSU International Studies program to bring the world into the classroom.

“Part of being an International Studies major is being able to step outside your comfort zone to experience other cultures and parts of the world,” he said.

Scott accepted the teaching assistant internship eager to make connections and to network. He also made the goal of advancing his language skills beyond English. At the end of his international internship experience, these set goals were indeed accomplished. Looking forward, He hopes to expand his international experience by using what he has learned in his International Studies classes and his internship to apply them to his long-term career goals.

“I got the opportunity to advance my studies and experience real life instances that helped expand my international knowledge,” said Scott.  “It benefitted me personally because I grew as a person and learned new things about myself.”

He found that internships and volunteering were beneficial in guiding his career aspirations of educating foreign students. Scott’s long term goals include permanently moving to Spain, continuing his education, and sharing his knowledge to young students all over the world.

Scott has set out five to seven years of his life to enroll in classes and earn multiple degrees and certificates. During this time, he hopes to travel and spend every year in a different country teaching English to children. His internship as a teacher assistant was a great step in achieving his long-term goals. He emphasizes the importance of all students having an international experience.

“You to get a taste of how the world functions from an international perspective,” he said. “Taking the opportunity to have an international internship experience will help the step from the college world to the adult world. “

Scott has just relocated to Spain. He is turning these dreams into a reality.  He has used the International Studies program as a way to propel himself into a global sphere.

“It encouraged me to continue to go abroad and to really dive into the cultures and languages that the world holds,” said Scott. “My international internship experience definitely helped me with achieving such abilities.”

September 17, 2014