By Alexandra Mansbach
Carrboro Commons Writer

Some of the students at Carrboro High School are taking learning to the next level — the international level.

The Academy of International Studies at CHS prepares students to live and work in a diverse world. Students accepted into the program learn about different cultures, languages, issues, and practices to become more globally aware and educated individuals.

Students from Ms. Kalleberg’s 2007 Global Issues class. Twenty-five students are currently enrolled in the program.
Photo courtesy of Judith Kalleberg

The program involves a series of classes, seminars, research, service learning and speakers to provide students with a variety of learning opportunities.

“We have had a good first year and will double our membership next year,” said Judith Kalleberg, co-director of AIS. “Students are really excited about the electives being offered, and registration for the classes looks good.”

More than 60 students take one or more AIS classes, Kalleberg said, and about 25 students are currently members in the program. The application process requires downloading and filling out an application from the program’s Web site. Acceptance into AIS is based on the student’s interest in global studies and cultures and a teacher recommendation. Students can apply between their freshman and junior years, and once accepted, students must comply with academy requirements.

Those requirements include maintaining a 2.0 GPA in academy courses, completing international service-learning projects, completing a graduation project, taking four years of a foreign language, enrolling in academy seminars and electives and participating in special events.

Students can voice their opinions about AIS online in a blog linked to the academy’s Web site.

In a January entry, one student wrote: “The Global Cultures class was cool. It was interesting to learn about all the different cultures around the world.” Another student wrote: “I like the idea of planning an end-of-year trip for AIS members. I also like the idea of getting involved in a community radio because I think it would [be] a good experience and a lot of fun.”

Kalleberg said that student feedback is important in figuring out what works and what doesn’t. Some students are hesitant to join the academy because of the requirements, so certain aspects of the program are being revisited upon students’ requests.

About eight faculty members are involved in the program, Kalleberg said. Kalleberg is a co-director with Kathryn Eriksen, another teacher at CHS. Kalleberg said her involvement stems from personal ties to and interest in other cultures.

“My parents immigrated from Norway, and I grew up in an ethnic neighborhood in Brooklyn, N.Y. Therefore, I have always been interested in other cultures,” she said. “Also, my husband works at UNC-Chapel Hill, and I have had the opportunity to travel with him to many parts of the world.”

Kalleberg said she was impressed that faculty from other departments were interested in the program. This interest inspired the creation of elective classes such as Introduction to Foreign Film, Theater Around the World and Math for World Justice.

AIS came about as part of a district-wide establishment of academies this year at local high schools. East Chapel Hill High School opened their social justice academy, and Chapel Hill High School opened a performing arts academy. Kalleberg said she was excited to hear that CHS was opening an international studies academy.

“When I learned that ours was international studies, I was anxious to become a part of the program,” she said. After attending workshops and researching other high school academies, Kalleberg and Eriksen were able to design AIS.

“I do think it is important to emphasize that we provide an international focus within existing graduation requirements,” Kalleberg said. “We have an advisory board that meets each semester and is made up of community, university and high school members who are also interested in globalism.” Kalleberg said.

According to the brochure, international travel is also a possibility within the program. AIS hopes to work with UNC-CH’s Center for International Understanding by creating a partnership with a school in Puebla, Mexico. The program also aims to create partnerships with other schools around the globe — including China, where Kalleberg said the program is planning a student cultural exchange with a high school for summer 2009.

Though the academy has proven successful so far, gaining student interest and offering a variety of classes and events, Kalleberg made it clear that there are still many goals to meet, including bringing the academy’s students closer together.

“Next year we want to focus on developing a sense of community among the academy students.”