Enhancing Pre-Service Teachers' Global Competencies Through Interdisciplinary Study Abroad

Abstract

A continuing challenge in teacher education is how to develop future teachers' global competencies to prepare them for the diversity of learners in school classrooms. This chapter investigates an undergraduate teacher education degree program which aims to enhance future teachers' intercultural engagement and global competence within an interdisciplinary curriculum incorporating an international experience. The researchers explored the level of pre-service teachers' engagement with their host society during a study abroad year through analysis of students' written assessment tasks. Findings indicates that the program encouraged the pre-service teachers' engagement with the local society through opportunities for students to explore complex social issues beyond the university context, potentially contributing to their global competence development. The chapter will be of interest for researchers and educators interested in exploring the value of alternative and interdisciplinary approaches to pre-service teacher education to prepare teachers for diversity of modern schools.