Where We Are

i envy those
who live in two places:
new york, say, and london;
wales and spain;
l.a. and paris;
hawaii and switzerland.

there is always the anticipation

of the change, the chance that what is wrong
is the result of where you are. i have
always loved both the freshness of
arriving and the relief of leaving. with
two homes every move would be a
homecoming.
i am not even considering the weather, hot
or cold, dry or wet: I am talking about hope.

-Gerald Locklin
Third Culture Kids:
An
Opportunity

Jen Munnerlyn
Shanghai American School
EARCOS Teachers Conference
March, 2006
 Presentation Goals
• Begin a
conversation with
my peers about
our role in
developing TCKs
• Shed light on my
experiences as a
TCK
• Share some ideas
for reaching out
to and connecting
elementary aged
TCKs
 TCK History
In the 1960s, “Third Culture Kid” or
TCK is coined by
Dr. Ruth Hill Useem
1960-1986- Dr. Useem’s research
into TCKs increased as she
worked with over 70 international
schools
1991, Dr. Useem begins polling adult
TCKs to research the long-term
effects of having lived overseas as a
child.
Summary of Findings about adult TCKs:
• they are internationally experienced and
continue their international involvement
• they are adaptable and relate easily to a
diversity of people
• they are helpers and problem solvers
• they feel different, but not isolated
• majority are highly educated compared to
their American counterparts
• they never really become adjusted to
American life, rather they find ways to “fit in”
 1999- David C. Pollock and Ruth
E. Van Reken publish Third
Culture Kids: Growing Up
Among Worlds
Challenges for TCKs
Skills of TCKs • In new situations they are very watchful,
• Well developed observation skills
so they may appear to be holding
• Ability to communicate within different
back, or shy, or reticent or
cultures
"socially slow"
• Adaptive capacity (can live with
• Not fully socialized in their home culture,
unceasing change)
including their ethnic group/s
• Can fit in behaviorally (though perhaps
• Rootlessness and restlessness
not in appearance) • Everything is relative and conditional:
• Effective with "newcomers"
"It depends"
• Language skills
• Uneven maturity
• Believe people in their home countries
don’t care or don’t want to hear about their
experiences
• Learning to “fit in” and be silent
Currently many different groups are
involved in offering repatriation
support and information for TCKs,
Global Nomads, Missionary Kids,
and “Military Brats”

from www.tckworld.com
TCK History

• Over the past 20 years there has been a lot of

research about this group of children called
TCKs.
• International Schools have a unique
opportunity to reach out and connect this
group.
• Beginning with elementary students makes
developmental sense.
Backing Up…

WHO AM I?
In the 1950s, my father moved to
Tripoli, Libya.
In 1980, my family moved to
American Samoa.
In 1986, Tim Munnerlyn
came from ASIJ in
Tokyo to ISKL. We
stayed in Malaysia until
we graduated from high
school.
In 1990, Tim and I attended university in the
United States.
 After university we married and proceeded to
work our way across the American South.

Baton
Rouge,
Louisiana
Mabank,
Texas Greensboro,
North
In 2001 our daughter Sydney was born.
 Why Me? My Conclusions

“A TCK spends his/her formative years in a country other than his/her

parents home country.”

FORMATIVE?
Why Now?
Why now?

PHUKET-
December 26, 2004
Connections?
 Why now…

“Are they [TCKs] an untapped

national resource? Would greater
recognition of this large hidden
dimension of American life (now
numbering about four million)
increase their opportunities and
enrich the lives of others?”
-Dr. Ruth Useem (Newslinks, 1993)
“Once a global nomad, always a
global nomad.” -Barbara Schaetti, Ph.D.

“One day TCKs will be the proto-

type citizens of the world.”
-Ted Ward
Sociologist Michigan State University,
1989
Why now?
Websites, Websites, Websites…
Why now? TCK merchandise…
T-shirts

Front Back
Mugs
and
bumpe
r
sticker
s
Why now? International newspapers
and journals are picking up the
story…
Why now? Relocation and repatriation
companies are offering support and
education…
Why now? TCKs are getting a
reputation…
Why now? Universities are actively
seeking out these kids...
Why now? Business recognizing their
potential…
Why now?

The World is
Flat
by Thomas
Freidman
Why now?

International
School
education
today,
the best in the
business?

Often, yes.
Why Now?- My conclusions

This is the right time to

reevaluate our roles as
educators and members
of this community.
This is finally the right
time to be a TCK.
The world is ready for us.
New Ideas and a Different
Approach
 Playground
Ambassadors
…

The Adventure
Begins
First Day at Detinu
International School

www.amazon.com
www.trafford.com

On Sale at EARCOS!
www.teachtck.com
 Our Research
Research Question:
If provided direct instruction, will
elementary-aged TCKs identify
with the larger TCK
community?

Sample:
275 students
255 parents

Test:
Group 1= received a survey to
complete without direction or
instruction “Control Group”
Group 2 = was read the book The
Adventure Begins and given
the survey
Group 3 = was given a lesson,
read the book and given the
survey
Building a True
Culture

It begins in
International
Schools
 Next Steps- Top 4

1. Promote TCK connections, lessons, and

dialog in international ELEMENTARY
schools

3. Connect and communicate with students

and educators around the world and at all
grade levels in international schools.
(“United”)

5. Recognize and use the research

7. Promote a different attitude

 Conclusion

If we teach TCKs how to

speak out as a united
group rather than
asking them to simply
“fit in”, we might just
find they have
something important to
say on the global stage.
 Thanks for your time. Please complete and
return the provided survey.
Travel is fatal to prejudice,
bigotry, and narrow-
mindedness, and many of
our people need it solely on
these accounts. Broad,
wholesome, charitable views
of men and things cannot be
acquired by vegetating in
one corner of the earth all
one's lifetime."

-- Mark Twain