Students enrolled in York\u2019s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate Program spent a week in Japan as part of a teaching practicum in Meiji University\u2019s English language program. Since 2007, this partnership between York and Meiji has given York\u2019s TESOL students the opportunity to gain international English language experience and has introduced Meiji undergraduate students to aspects of Canadian culture and language. The visit trip took place March 7 to 14.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year, TESOL Certificate Program Coordinator, Professor Antonella Valeo, in the Department of Languages, Literatures and Linguistics in the Faculty of Liberal Arts and Professional Studies (LA&PS), accompanied TESOL students, Ivana Kovacevic and Michelle Giatti, on this one-week intensive program. The program is held in the mountains of Yamanashi prefecture, outside of Tokyo, Japan and open only to undergraduate Meiji University students. During this time, Michelle and Ivana observed and participated in language classes taught by Meiji University faculty and carried out language lessons exploring different topics in Canadian Studies. In the evenings, they created activities for an evening conversation lounge, aimed at improving the students\u2019 speaking skills and sharing cultural perspectives and experiences in a casual setting.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Michelle and Ivana describe this experience as quite unique. \u201cThis truly opened our eyes to the value of such an exceptional overseas practicum,\u201d said Michelle.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cWe have become aware of several teaching techniques and were given the opportunity to also adjust to the different learning styles of this particular culture while simultaneously self-evaluating our teaching practices,\u201d added Ivana.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Now graduates of the TESOL program, both teachers strongly recommend this practicum opportunity to future TESOL students.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The TESOL Certificate program is an accredited teacher education program that prepares teacher candidates to teach English language to adults. It consists of 30 credits and can be completed concurrently with a bachelor\u2019s degree or post degree. A key component of this program is the teaching practicum that students complete during the program. The partnership with Meiji provides an international dimension to this practicum experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
York\u2019s TESOL students received funding support through the International Mobility Award, York International and LA&PS, while the Canadian Studies section of Meiji\u2019s International Office provided accommodation.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
Students enrolled in York\u2019s Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) Certificate Program spent a week in Japan as part of a teaching practicum in Meiji University\u2019s English language program. Since 2007, this partnership between York and Meiji has given York\u2019s TESOL students the opportunity to gain international English language experience and has introduced […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":93,"featured_media":384225,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_kad_blocks_custom_css":"","_kad_blocks_head_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_body_custom_js":"","_kad_blocks_footer_custom_js":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[],"department":[27],"academic-program":[188],"class_list":["post-53380","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-department-news","department-dlll","academic-program-tesol"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n