There are a lot of parts to Level Up Village that I have yet to discover, so my curiosity led me down an investigative route. What is a Global Success Specialist? What do they do? What part do they play in the overall success of virtual exchanges? To get the answers, I reached out to colleagues and friends at Level Up Village, Maria Belén Caeiro and Astrid De Herrera, from Argentina. Below are the fruits of a great discussion on their work helping facilitate virtual exchanges in classrooms worldwide.
The Interview
Dan Pieraccini:
Thank you for joining me. Let’s start from the beginning. What are your titles, and what do you do at Level Up Village?
Maria Belén Caeiro:
I’m a Global Success Specialist at Level Up Village. My role involves assisting teachers throughout the exchange process. I’ve worked as an English teacher for 11 years and am currently a project coordinator for 11 schools. At Level Up Village, I support educators, troubleshoot issues, and help facilitate communication between them.
Dan Pieraccini:
Great. So, you work closely with the educators. What are some of the common challenges you face when working with them, and how do you help overcome those?
Maria Belén Caeiro:
One of the main challenges is that teachers often stick too closely to the curriculum guide and hesitate to be creative. They sometimes view the course as something they “have to do” rather than something they can make their own. Astrid and I work hard to inspire teachers to engage with the material and encourage students to be creative—whether that’s through projects, videos, or other interactive activities.
Astrid De Herrera:
Exactly. We encourage teachers to add their personal touch and make the course more engaging. Sometimes the guide can feel rigid, and we try to show them that it’s okay to step outside the box. We want students to have fun and enjoy the learning process, not just go through the motions because it’s “what’s required.”
Dan Pieraccini:
Can you give me an example where you were able to bring more personality or creativity into a project?
Astrid De Herrera:
Sure. For instance, in a project where students were discussing professions, we encouraged teachers to have students explore their local environment. Some teachers had their students show musical instruments, visit locations related to their future jobs, or create posters that represented what they had learned. We try to provide ideas to help teachers add variety and creativity to the students’ projects.
Dan Pieraccini:
That’s great! Why do you think some teachers struggle with reaching that level of engagement in their projects?
Maria Belén Caeiro:
A lot of it comes down to time and how the courses are introduced. Sometimes head teachers tell their staff to include the course without explaining its value, so teachers see it as something extra they need to squeeze into their curriculum. We also see that some teachers just need more support in integrating the course with their existing objectives. That’s where we come in—helping them align the exchange with their educational goals and making it a beneficial experience for everyone.
Dan Pieraccini:
What would you say to teachers who are on the fence about starting their first exchange with Level Up Village?
Astrid De Herrera:
Take the opportunity to be global. This is a chance for your students to connect with peers from different countries and cultures. It opens the classroom to the world in ways that wouldn’t be possible otherwise.
Maria Belén Caeiro:
Exactly. It’s about breaking down those classroom walls and exposing students to new perspectives. Take the chance to engage with the world.
Dan Pieraccini:
What are some amazing things you’ve seen from teachers and students through these exchanges?
Astrid De Herrera:
We’ve seen some incredible examples. One teacher created videos showcasing their school, neighborhood, and local culture. Some students put in a lot of effort to make their projects visually interesting by using apps to edit their videos or create posters. The younger students tend to be particularly creative, especially in arts and sciences.
Maria Belén Caeiro:
Yes, and sometimes these exchanges go beyond the classroom. We’ve had instances where students continued communicating with their peers long after the course was over, which is really special.
Dan Pieraccini:
That’s wonderful! Thank you again for your insights, and the work you do inspiring teachers and students across the world through Level Up Village!
Conclusion
Hearing from Maria and Astrid gave me a deeper appreciation for the work behind the scenes at Level Up Village. Their dedication to empowering educators and inspiring students to step outside the traditional classroom boundaries is the cornerstone of these global exchanges. The creativity, collaboration, and cultural connections that emerge from these partnerships go far beyond completing a curriculum—they help shape students into global citizens.
If you’re an educator considering a virtual exchange, take the plunge. As Maria and Astrid said, it’s an opportunity to open your classroom doors to the world and to give your students the chance to learn in ways that can truly transform their perspectives.
Are you ready to be global?
