How Children Learn Shown Through Pictures From Across the World

A revealing lens on a system-phenomenon both global in reach and strikingly local in degree of diversity.

Since 2004, Julian Germain has been capturing the inner lives of schools around the world, from England to Nigeria to Qatar, in his large-scale photographs of schoolchildren in class.Classroom Portraits (public library) is part Where Children Sleep, partBureaucratics, part What I Eat: Around the World in 80 Diets, part something else entirely — a poignant lens on a system-phenomenon that is both global in reach and strikingly local in degree of peculiarity, revealed through more than 450 portraits of schoolchildren from 20 countries.

Jessore, Bangladesh. Year 10, English.

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Brazil, Belo Horizonte, Series 6, Mathematics

Image courtesy Julian Germain

USA, St Louis, Grade 8, Geography

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Nigeria, Kano, Ooron Dutse, Senior Islamic Secondary Level 2, Social Studies

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Taiwan, Ruei Fang Township, Kindergarten, Art

Image courtesy Julian Germain

St. Petersburg, Russia. Year 2, Russian

Image courtesy Julian Germain

The extent of concentration and mutuality required for each portrait offer a beautiful metaphor for the teaching-learning process itself. Germain writes:

I never tell the students how they should look but ensuring that everybody has a clear view of the camera requires concentration and patience. Each pupil has to be aware of their place in the picture.

In order to achieve sharp focus in both fore- and background, the exposure time is usually a quarter or half a second so the pupils have to be ready for the moment the shutter is released. I am waiting for them and they are waiting for me. The process itself generates an atmosphere and the time captured in the portrait seems significant.

England, Seaham, Reception and Year 1, Structured Play

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Tokyo, Japan, Grade 5, Classical Japanese

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Havana, Cuba. Year 2, Mathematics.

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Lagos, Nigeria. Basic 7 / Junior Secondary Level 1, Mathematics

Image courtesy Julian Germain

England, Keighley, Year 6, History

Image courtesy Julian Germain

England, Washington, Year 7 (first day), Registration

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Holland, Drouwenermond, Primary Year 5, 6, 7 & 8, History

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Qatar, Grade 8, English

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Bahrain, Saar, Grade 11, Islamic

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Peru, Cusco, Primary Grade 4, Mathematics

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Cuba, Havana, Playa, Year 9, national television screening of film ‘Can Gamba’ (about Cuban participation in Angolan Revolution)

Image courtesy Julian Germain

The Netherlands, Rotterdam, Secondary Group 3, Motor Mechanics

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Yemen, Manakha, Primary Year 2, Science Revision

Image courtesy Julian Germain

Argentina, Buenos Aires, Grade 4, Natural Science

Image courtesy Julian Germain

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How to Get International Scholarships, Grants and Mentoring

Looking for education scholarships but can’t find one that suits your individual needs? Maybe the one you want only applies to a certain country, or maybe there isn’t one in your particular field of interest.

With over 6 billion people spread over 7 continents, the earth can be an overwhelming place. It can be tough to connect with others, and high-quality education scholarships, grants and mentoring may seem out of reach. But thanks to today’s technology, young scholars have the opportunity to reach their full academic potential regardless of their physical location.

International non-profit organizations are the best way to help young scholars succeed. By removing physical boundaries, they will have the opportunity to receive scholarships, connect with renowned scholars and be published in academic journals.

Here are couple of non-profits that deliver tele-education programs:

World Scholar

World Scholar is an international, non-profit foundation that allows students under the age of 19 to showcase their academic abilities on a professional level. Here’s how it works:

For a mentorship opportunity, students choose their general areas of interest and describe why the topic interests them, and

why it would appeal to others. Then, they zero in on their topic and think of a specific question they’d like answered. After developing a thesis, they submit a proposal. Once it’s been accepted, an online mentor while guide them through the paper-writing process, connect them with like-minded students, provide access to a library of online resources and ultimately create a full-fledged academic article.

The young scholars can them submit their paper to the academic journal, World Youth Scholar, where their work will be critically reviewed by an academic, and use cutting-edge technology to present their paper to a world audience. Students have the chance to showcase their academic skills and imagination to a global audience.

World Scholar Academic Scholarships recognize these efforts and achievements:

$5,000 for Best Archived Journal Entry
$25,000 for Best Mentorship Study

International Telementor Program

Telementor is another international non-profit organization that pairs students with academics. Through technology-based communication, professional academics can make significant contributions to young scholars’ lives. They will strengthen their foundation, broaden their skills and reach full potential in their area of interest.

Face-to-face mentoring has many positive impacts, but many physical and time constraints often make that difficult to achieve. With as little as 30-45 minutes a week, students can be well on their way to academic excellence. Telementoring has been shown to significantly improve the following areas: writing skills, self-directed learning, critical thinking skills and desire to go to college.

Scholarships and grants are project-specific. For example, students in a business project may draft a business plan, then compete for scholarship money. Or, they might identify their college of choice and receive mentorship on scholarship applications, tuition costs and general costs associated with college living.

Thanks to these types of organizations, students from rural, international or impoverished regions have access to high-quality mentorships, scholarships and academic opportunities. No matter where they are in the world, a support network of academics, reviewers and critics is behind them 100% of the way.