Global Studies Concentration

By Jordan Collins

Why do we study languages? Why do we study other cultures? How does understanding the global world help one understand our local world better? These are questions the Global Studies concentration aims to help students better understand. According to the Global Studies concentration section on the Battle Ground Academy website, the concentration “fosters an ethos of global citizenship.” How do the students and faculty that are a part of the Global Studies concentration plan to engender this ethos? I interviewed a Global Studies concentration student, as well as Ms. Roberts, the concentration head, to ask some questions about classes, experiences, and the concentration itself. 

An interview with Ms. Roberts:

Collins: “How would you summarize the Global Studies concentration in three words?”

Ms. Roberts: “I would use the three pillars: empathy, curiosity and belonging.”

Collins: “What has been the best part of the process of formulating the Global Studies concentration? Biggest challenge?”

Ms. Roberts: “Just imagine. The creativity that goes behind it, the possibilities. (The biggest challenge would be) paring those down. Since I’m a big daydreamer, taking my ideas and putting them into working items before people can see it (has sometimes been difficult).” 

Collins: “As there is a requirement for a sophomore year travel experience, if you could choose any place in the world, what would be your ideal Global Studies concentration trip?” 

Ms. Roberts: “I would really like to take a group of students to Iceland…Singapore is another country that I really want to take students to.”

Collins: “If you could create a new class that relates to the ideas of the Global Studies curriculum, what class would you create?”

Ms. Roberts: “Well, I have two ideas. One of them is like a cultural media class where it’s all about international film and international television…Where you talk about the differences and the trends that are happening in, for example, Korean films and shows and do a deep dive into that… I also thought about doing a class about a deep dive into Shanghai, what was happening in the 1920s and 30s and comparing that to what was happening in France.”

Collins: “As there is a language requirement, if you could pick any new language that is not already in the curriculum, what language would you choose?”

Ms. Roberts: “That’s easy, Mandarin”

An interview with a student:

Collins: “What’s been your favorite Global Studies related class?”

 (Student) “I would say my favorite one is the perspectives in global thinking. You explore a lot of present day conflicts and you get to do what you want in all the projects. So, it’s interesting.”

(Collins) “I know you’re not a sophomore, but with the requirement for sophomore year travel experience, if you could pick, what would be your ideal trip?”

 (Student) “Something out of the country. I don’t know where, but I definitely want to go somewhere that’s not in the U.S.”

(Collins) “If you could make a new class that relates to Global Studies, what class would you want to create?” 

(Student) “Well, I would have said global issues, but they made a class. So, I wouldn’t know, but (the) global issues class is great.”

(Collins) “Since there’s a language requirement, if you could pick any new language that’s not already in the curriculum, what would you choose?”

(Student) “Japanese is interesting. I would take Japanese.”

(Collins) “What’s been your favorite part of the Global Studies Concentration so far?

(Student) “I would just say just learning more about different cultures, just about the world in general. It’s really interesting to learn about and also see the connections between everything.” 

Furthermore, a small piece of the “glocal” experiences that the global concentration tries to cultivate I have been fortunate enough to attend. The first “Culture Treks” experience sponsored by the Global Studies Concentration took a group of 12 students to attend a local event that showcased culture here in Nashville. The Nashville Symphony played their first Chinese New Year show, and the BGA students selected were able to take a trip to Nashville to have dinner at a local Chinese restaurant then attend the symphony for the show that night. From my own experience, I believe that this experience highlighted the Global Studies concentration’s focus on “glocal” involvement by showing students that there are many global experiences, cultures, and ideas to be discovered not too far from home.