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Making the World Your Classroom
Mr. Michael Shippie has a Bachelor of Arts in Hispanic Studies and History from Boston College and a Master of Education from the University of Notre Dame. He has completed graduate coursework in French language and literature, and is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Spanish from Middlebury College. Mr. Shippie serves as the moderator of Xaverian's International Culture Club, and has been a key chaperone on many international trips.
“Ah! Young people, travel if you can, and if you cannot, travel all the same!” said the famed 19th-century French author Jules Verne. In his classic tale Around the World in Eighty Days, main character Phileas Fogg takes on a wager to successfully circumnavigate the globe in exactly 80 days, and triumphantly returns to his London club where he had begun weeks before. Verne’s story highlights how the Industrial Revolution helped to bring a close to an age of exploration and to link the world together more so than it had ever been before.
Today, in the 21st century, we live in an even more hyper-connected and interdependent society, one in which travel and immersion are more possible than ever before. Trips that once took months or even years can be completed now in hours. Given the ease with which we can access other parts of the globe, today’s students should consider their classrooms to be not just their schools or communities, but indeed, the wider world around us. The far reaches of the globe are nearly at our fingertips.
It has been said that the most rewarding and important type of learning is through experience. Students who take their learning from the classroom to distant shores acquire skills and lessons that a truly global education can provide in profound ways.
So, what are some of the benefits of education-based world travel?
- New Opportunities - So much of our formative years are spent learning about people, places, and things throughout history through books, television, and film. Being able to actually visit sites like Shakespeare’s Globe Theatre, the Roman Forum, or Peru’s Machu Picchu provides an entirely new perspective. Our interests, passions, and knowledge are deepened when we visit new places and experience new opportunities.
- Grit and Determination - Breaking out of one’s comfort zone is a challenging task. We come to know and be attached to our routines, places, and people in profound ways. When we willingly put ourselves into entirely new contexts, we are forced to adjust to new norms, and in the process, grow as learners. Adjusting to new cities, learning environments, languages, cultures, and norms, provides insight into our own backgrounds and allows us to develop our skills to deal with adversity. Challenge can be an excellent teacher, and immersing oneself in another culture, replete with its triumphs and tribulations, is an incredibly powerful teaching experience.
- Building Meaningful Relationships - It is said that no man is an island. We cannot exist purely for ourselves. Often, the most fulfilling parts of our lives come from the relationships we form with those around us. When we open ourselves up to new people, our lives are enriched. When a circle of friends can cross the seas or span the globe, our communities become more far-reaching and profound.
- Developing Understanding - Although more interconnected than ever before, the world is filled with a multitude of languages, dialects, cultures, and perspectives. When we shut ourselves away, we become stagnant. When we open ourselves up to new opportunities, we grow in our understanding and appreciation of those around us. Allowing ourselves to become transformed by encountering new people, places, and perspectives deepens our personal sense of understanding, a value that is of extreme importance in our globalized world.
Whether you are driven by a passion or interest in history, cultures, sports, or cuisine, exploring and experiencing the wider world will certainly allow you to develop your interest further and deepen your appreciation of new experiences. Be it on a trip to a Caribbean island, to a European city rich with history, or to an exotic new destination on the other side of the globe, be sure to relax and enjoy yourself, but also remember that travel can be one of life’s greatest teachers, and be open to the powerful and transformative aspects of making the world your classroom. And if your school provides you the opportunity to experience the world with your fellow classmates, follow Verne’s age-old wisdom: “...travel if you can!”
Xaverian Brothers High School
Phone: 781-326-6392
Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Fax: 781-320-0458
Directions | Contact Us | Privacy Policy
EIN (Tax ID Number): 04-2314036
Xaverian is a Catholic, college-preparatory school for boys in grades 7-12. As an inclusive community, we embrace diverse experiences and perspectives, welcoming students and families from all faiths and backgrounds. Through exceptional academics, athletics, the arts, faith formation, and service opportunities, we help young men discover their unique gifts and talents so they can share them with a world in need.
