Journeys in Film prepares our youth to participate in tomorrow's Global Economy by raising a cross-culturally competent workforce for the future

In today's dynamic global economy, information of all kinds moves easily across local and international borders. As a result, growing cultural and economic interdependence will affect choices young people face as they emerge into the world as adults. To prepare to participate in tomorrow's global arena, American students need to gain a deeper understanding of the world beyond their own borders.

Journeys in Film offers innovative and engaging tools to explore other cultures, beyond the images seen on print and television and to participate in the increasingly interdependent world as effective, productive and culturally competent individuals.

Journeys in Film uses film as a classroom tool for today's media-centric youth

Film brings unique characteristics to the diversity learning experience by transporting students to remote regions of the world, using storytelling to share human experiences, and by clearly presenting complex issues to impressionable teenagers. Not only is the academic content of films meaningful but also the critical skills utilized in media viewing.

"Movies are the imagined and enacted world of human beings and one of the primary ways children learn about life, about actions and consequences, about customs and beliefs, and about others and themselves."
-The New Mexico Media Literacy Project

Journeys in Film has carefully selected quality films telling the stories of young people around the world. American students travel beyond their own borders through these characters and their stories. By identifying with the appealing (and occasionally not so appealing) protagonists, students can understand another culture far beyond the American perspective and the textbook. Journeys in Film will also include in its program films that examine issues such as the environment, leadership, health (HIV/Aids), human migration, conflict resolution, etc. This educational initiative will also likely encourage a new generation of documentary, independent, and world cinema lovers.

Journeys in Film provides professional development options and innovative curricular options that are unique. Professional Development workshops ensure effective integration of program materials into classroom curriculum. Journeys in Film provides an innovative dynamic option for the classroom, as a compliment to more traditional forms of teaching. Applications include After-school programming, parental / community involvement, school-wide film festival with correlating academic lessons and more.

Journeys in Film begins in Middle School, 11-13 years old

Journeys in Film program can be modified for younger and older students; however, the material has been created to impact youth in these formative years. Facing peer pressure and forming more sophisticated opinions about the world around them, middle school students (ages 10 - 13) are at a critical time in their emotional and physical development. Straddling childhood with young adulthood can be simultaneously enlightening and challenging. They are developing abstract reasoning and beginning to make independent moral judgments. Journeys in Film offers opportunities for middle school students to reflect on their own thinking to become aware of their own stage of development.

Journeys in Film uses film as the vehicle for cross-cultural understanding and tolerance.

Ongoing research and commonsense tell us that education in diversity reduces hatred, prejudice, ignorance, and civic indifference.

Through shared experience in active film viewing, children develop an increased awareness and appreciation of their own cultures, as well as of different cultures. From this new understanding and familiarity springs compassion among school-aged children for their peers in other cultures.

Journeys in Film, we share a conviction that foreign films offer a unique ability to transcend national barriers and enable students to share the experiences of people from other cultures in the rich context of their daily lives: e.g., their aspirations, traditions, foods, economics, gender roles, social units, living quarters, etc.

Journeys in Film creates culturally appropriate and sensitive material

Journeys in Film is committed to developing culturally accurate learning materials by enlisting the editing assistance of specialists from the culture depicted in each film. It is the goal of Journeys in Film to dispel negative stereotypes while offering the opportunity to examine various facets of cultures around the world using guided and thoughtful teaching methods and learning activities.

Journeys in Film meets federally and state mandated standards

Because this is a program meant for a national audience, Journeys in Film uses the McRel standards rather than the standards for any particular state. In the delineated standards contained in each lesson plan, a teacher will be able to recognize the corresponding subject-area standards for his/her state, even if the language is slightly different.