5 Ways For Americans To Become Global Citizens
There is a common narrative in countries outside of the US that Americans know nothing about the world. They’ll point out the fact that too many Americans cannot locate their own country on a world map. They’ll also speak badly about ignorant American tourists.
The thing that they fail to recognize is that America is a huge country. There are 50 states to remember – many non-Americans would not be able to name that many countries or cities around the world. It is difficult for us to become more global because there is so much consuming our attention right here.
That said, in a world of globalization, it pays to know a bit more about international matters. To help you along the way, here are 5 simple ways you can broaden your experience.
1. Watch Foreign Content
Broadening your experience can be as simple as watching TV. In movies and shows made in different parts of Europe, Asia, the Americas, and elsewhere, there is a lot of political and socio-economic context to learn. Along the way, you also learn about the climate and the type of people who live there.
You can even take it a step further and learn a language from watching TV. In this review of Lingopie by Michelle Checchi, you’ll find more about an app that uses binge-watching as a teaching method. Lingopie provides thousands of episodes of TV in other languages, with interactive subtitles to help you learn. It is an effective way of learning how a language is actually spoken.
2. Read World News
To know more about what’s going on around the world, you don’t need all the information available. There is far too much for that to even be possible. Rather, you can simply read or watch world news on local networks. These networks round up the most important headlines from around the world and provide you with a starting point that is not overwhelming.
3. Travel Overseas
At the moment, traveling internationally is not really an option for most of us. However, when it is, this should be a priority. Rather than going to another state or city in the US, broaden your horizons by going overseas. You’ll meet new people and experience cultures very different from your own.
4. Eat
Can you become more global just by eating? Absolutely! Eating traditional foods from different countries at restaurants here will not only broaden your palate but will introduce you to new experiences as well. The type of food people eat says a lot about their culture. Also, it will prepare you to try new things when you do travel.
5. Read International Literature
There is so much good literature available in the US that it can be easy to overlook international literature. The reality is that there are some incredible authors around the world, many of whom write in English and many others whose works have been translated into English. Instead of reading a book by an American next, find out who the most popular authors are in countries that interest you. Then dive into the world they lay out in their novels.
Americans are not the close-minded people the world sometimes thinks we are. We just have a lot going on in a country of over three hundred and twenty million people. Still, becoming more global is important in this changing world.
This articles has been published in accordance with Socialnomics’ disclosure policy.
