Kids Gone Global - The International School of Hamburg Podcast

In this episode of 'Kids Gone Global' from the International School of Hamburg, host Sarah Reich interviews five students—Noelle, Tammy, Annabel, Ben, and Gasper—about their transformative journey to Sri Lanka. Crossing cultural boundaries, these teenagers participated in a student-run program assisting local Sri Lankan communities in schools and sustainable projects. 

They share their initial expectations, experiences of cultural immersion, emotional challenges, and the impactful service activities they engaged in. The students reflect on personal growth in empathy, teamwork, and leadership abilities while emphasizing the importance of sustainability and giving back. This episode provides an enlightening look into their meaningful travels and offers advice for future participants and their parents.

In this episode, we dive deep into the lesser-known IB International Baccalaureate Career-Related Programme (CP), currently offered in over 400 schools and recognized by more than 310 universities globally. Our guest, James Knight, a CP alum from the International School of Hamburg (ISH), shares his personal journey and experiences. James discusses how the CP, blending academic courses with real-world career skills in fields like business, arts, and technology, provided him with the flexibility and opportunities that traditional educational pathways might not. He also emphasizes the program's role in honing essential skills like leadership, communication, and cultural awareness. James recounts his involvement in school productions and how these experiences paved his way to the prestigious London Academy of Music and Dramatic Arts (Lambda), where he is now a second-year student. 

The episode highlights the CP's practical and theoretical components, such as the reflective project and service learning, which equip students with diverse skills suitable for the globalized job market. James also offers valuable advice for current and prospective students and their parents, detailing how the program can support various career aspirations. Tune in to explore the unique advantages and challenges of the IB Career-Related Program and its potential to shape successful futures.

In this episode of Kids Gone Global, host Sarah Reich sits down with Dr. Nneka Johnson, a leading voice on innovative educational technologies, to discuss the integration of generative AI like ChatGPT into schools. They explore how educators and administrators are responding to this fast-changing technological frontier. 

Dr. Johnson recounts her background in design thinking and her journey into AI, highlighting its potential to transform learning while acknowledging the associated challenges such as privacy risks, data bias, and the importance of critical thinking. She advises schools to focus on foundational understanding of generative AI, including prompt engineering and the creation of AI policy labs, and encourages parents to engage with these technologies to support their children's learning.

In this episode Ana Mara Leppink, a Dutch German national who graduated in 2023 and is now a student at Harvard University, and Navin Proff, a German student set to begin his studies at Yale University share with us how they navigated the international school and beyond. They discuss their diverse experiences with the International Baccalaureate (IB) curriculum at ISH, detailing how it prepared them for university and shaped their personal development. 

Ana and Navin highlight the rigorous academic challenges and the broad curricula of the IB, including the extended essay and Theory of Knowledge (TOK) components, which they believe equipped them well for higher education. Beyond academics, they also share how engaging in extracurricular activities like sports teams, student council, and various clubs contributed to their growth, leadership skills, and sense of community. The alumni emphasize the significant support they received from the school's faculty, particularly in terms of college applications, and reflect on the lasting impact of ISH's culturally diverse environment on their perspectives and personal growth. They conclude with advice for current and prospective students and parents on making the most of their time at ISH, reinforcing the value of taking on challenges, seeking support, and immersing oneself in the vibrant school community.