• High School/Grades 9-12

AFS Intercultural Programs’ Global Up Americas creates an online space for students to reflect on different perspectives, mutual understanding, leadership, and how to create positive change in their communities and around the world. Students share their perspectives in open discussions and put their interpersonal skills into practice by working on case studies, doing roleplay activities, or watching and analyzing real life scenarios. A unique element of the program is that teachers who will implement the program first participate in a virtual exchange with their own peers across the Americas, engaging in training that equip them with the knowledge and skills necessary to incorporate the program into their classrooms.

Activities

The program is divided into two parts: a training for teachers and a virtual exchange for high school students. Teachers are enrolled in a learning program that includes video modules, forum discussions, quizzes, and discussions focused on current events, perspective sharing, managing emotional responses, and building meaningful relationships. 

Once they complete the training, educators are paired together to run a virtual exchange where students from both classrooms work on the learning program and connect simultaneously to learn from each other and put into practice their interpersonal skills. Students engage in open discussions where they share their perspectives and own experiences and take part in hands-on activities to exercise their empathy, active listening, and receptivity skills. The program is run in Spanish, English or both, according to the classroom’s preferences and educational goals.

Program Details