Education Commons^™

Beyond Nafsa: An Assessment Of Professional Development Needs Of Secondary-Level International Education Professionals, Emily A. Keizer

Capstone Collection

For many professionals, attending a conference or workshop offered by a professional organization is a logical course of action. These resources help to expand knowledge of a field, improve performance at work and connect those who share interests. Almost every field has an organization or association of some sort that offers these type of professional development opportunities for individuals seeking to learn and grow in their work. However, high school level International Education professionals struggle to find this type of resource.

As an emerging subset of International Education, the field of international high school student advising is in need of …

Transitions: The First Year Experience Of International Undergraduates At Yale College, Danielle Valles

Capstone Collection

The purpose of this study was to identify and analyze what resources Yale College provides to support first year international students through their cultural, social, emotional, and academic transitions from international high school student to Yale College undergraduate. The college provides a number of resources that are classified as programmatic, structural, and personnel support services. The only programmatic service offered by Yale College for first year international students is the Orientation for International Students, run by older international students and supported by staff members of the Office of International Students and Scholars. The number one resource used without hesitation by …

Designing And Delivering Staff Training For New Student Advisors: A Residential Esl Pathway School In Massachusetts, Brodie Henry

Capstone Collection

This capstone master’s thesis explains the comprehensive 100-hour training program for a team of new student advisors at Massachusetts International Academy. The training was designed and delivered in May-August 2014 for the 2014-2015 academic year. The school, in a partnership with the University of Massachusetts, provides English as a second language (ESL) instruction exclusively to the increasing numbers of Chinese students seeking undergraduate and graduates degrees in the United States. The school is in eastern Massachusetts and was developed by the China Education and Research Network. The academy is a residential ESL pathways program that prepares students for undergraduate and …

The Culture Conundrum: Training Faculty And Staff For Effectively Working With International Students, Mckenna S. Pencak

Capstone Collection

Over the past five years, the number of international students studying at the University of Notre Dame has increased by 30 percent. The increase in the numbers of undergraduate international students, as well as Chinese international students, has been even more significant. This rapid growth in the number of international students has created challenges for University faculty, staff, and administrators, both inside and outside of the classroom. International students typically face different challenges adjusting to an American university from their American peers, stemming from differences between their home country cultures and American culture. When an international student is facing a …

Teaching The Moral Imagination: How Global Education Aids In Peacebuilding, Charlee Bianchini

Capstone Collection

In this paper I present distinctive information from written resources and in-depth interviews with 17 constituents who are in some way involved in the incorporation of Global Education curriculum in the US. I specifically looked at Brookwood School in Manchester-by-the-Sea, Massachusetts, a private school looking to develop programming around this subject. I also looked at World Learning Youth Programs in order to gain insight from an institution solely focused on GE. The aim of the research was to learn why and how Global Education programs are being incorporated into curriculums, what skills schools are aiming to have their students learn …

Wildcats International Neighbors: Bridging International Students With Local Community At Northern Michigan University, Manato Kaisho

Capstone Collection

In Fall 2013 semester, Wildcats International Neighbors (W.I.N.) was designed and implemented as a pilot program for the International Programs Office (IPO) at Northern Michigan University (NMU). It was a cross-cultural program to connect international students and local community members for mutual cultural exchange. Moreover, this program served as a support program for international students during their transition to American culture. Fall 2013 semester was first time when the IPO implemented this program. At the end of the semester, the IPO conducted a program evaluation, and the office discovered there were several aspects of the program that needed to be …

Long-Lasting Impact Of Faculty-Led Study Abroad: An Alumni Perspective, Nancy Georgiev

Capstone Collection

Study abroad during the college years can provide a platform for personal and academic growth and development, and cultivate graduates who grasp international issues and appreciate the interconnectedness of the world. An alumni census survey with open and closed-ended questions was distributed to 1,000 alumni of Furman University who studied abroad as undergraduates and graduated from Furman University between 1994 and 2003 to elicit an answer to the question: Which long-lasting benefits do Furman University alumni associate with participation in a study abroad program? The survey asked alumni to report whether specific skills, attitudes, and depths of understanding were impacted …

My Teaching And Administrative Experience In The Middle East: A Cultural Perspective, Agustin E. Francisco

MA TESOL Collection

This paper explores the evolution of my experience in Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) culminating in my current employment as an administrator and instructor in Saudi Arabia. It focuses on TEFL as my passion for more than 20 years and highlights the impact that my various TEFL roles have had on my teaching strategies throughout my academic professional career various institutions. This paper emphasizes that despite the teacher's vast experience in designing courses, training teachers and teaching at all levels, new cultural contexts, students' expectations as well as the dynamics of divergent administrator/teacher/student cultural perspectives (especially when the …

Global Ambassadors Returnee Program: Can We Change Campus Culture?, Lynn Butler

Capstone Collection

The Education Abroad office at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) is in a growing phase, quickly expanding and working conscientiously to increase the numbers of students studying abroad. In the midst of VCU’s transition from a commuter school to a residential campus, the administration seeks to internationalize the university, citing study abroad as one of its main goals. While VCU consistently works to create affordable program options for students of all majors, what VCU lacks is an institutional culture and awareness of study abroad. The Global Ambassadors returnee program seeks to create returned student programming that provides reflective opportunities and professional …

Global Duos: An Internationally-Minded Reflection And Mentorship Program For International Students And Study Abroad Returnees, Amanda C. Batista

Capstone Collection

The Center for Global Engagement (CGE) at the College of New Jersey (TCNJ) in Ewing, NJ is a primary catalyst in the cultural and physical exchange of students in higher education. The office sends nearly 300 students abroad every year, worldwide, while also overseeing the intake of a growing number of international students incoming to the United States studying for a semester or a year at TCNJ. While these two groups of students are ever more supported and challenged by the CGE, there is a clear disconnect in terms of interaction, exchange of resources, and communication between American students studying …

Developing A Pre-Departure And Re-Entry Orientation For Study Abroad Students At The Univerisidad Católica De La Santísima Concepción, Jennifer Ramos

Capstone Collection

Due to the Chilean government’s recent realization of the importance of international education, the concept of studying abroad is gradually becoming a more realistic opportunity for students pursuing undergraduate degrees in Chilean tertiary education than before. However, although the opportunities have increased, the support services/guidance offered to the students has remained at an extremely limited standstill. The Universidad Católica de la Santísima Concepción (UCSC) is a small private university located in Chile’s second largest city, Concepción. The majority of the students attending the UCSC are from the lower half of the socioeconomic scale in Chile as well as first-generation university …

Creating Effective Programming For Iraqi Adult Mentors In World Learning’S Youth Peacebuilding And Leadership Programs, Kira L. Brady

Capstone Collection

This paper will examine how the Iraqi Young Leaders Exchange Program (IYLEP) can continue to grow and improve aspects of their programming. Specifically, the paper will address the role of the Iraqi adult leader. In order to increase the Iraqi adult’s learning and mentorship capacity the paper will explore Youth Programs, IYLEP, and apply leadership theory through the creation of a handbook that will assist staff in addressing the needs of the adult mentor. This handbook will set clear and understandable guidelines concerning the role of the Iraqi adult as well as including a set of worksheets. The focus and …

Road Scholar Service-Learning Corps: Reflection And Reciprocity In Rajasthan, India, Lezlie R. Weber

Capstone Collection

Road Scholar (RS) is the name for the programs developed and offered by Elderhostel, Inc., the not-for-profit leader in lifelong learning since 1975. RS inspires adults to learn, discover and travel (Road Scholar, 2012). Currently, RS is in the process of launching five new service-learning programs over the next two years. Road Scholar runs five different programs yearly to India; of the current programs offered there is no service-learning component throughout any of the programs. The specific location in India was chosen due to the need for an additional English teacher at the public school. There are a growing number …

Cultivating Knowledge In The School Garden: New Ways Of Teaching Literacy To Esl Students, Michele Durivage

MA TESOL Collection

My thesis project includes a combination of materials development and classroom-based research. In my paper, I explore existing garden-related curricula, and create original garden-based lesson plans to teach literacy to fourth grade ESL students. This curriculum development project contributes to the field of ESL in its innovative garden-based pedagogy. The field study took place during the spring semester of 2009 at Increase Miller Elementary School in Westchester County, New York. Using nature as inspiration for writing descriptive essays and poetry, the ESL students at Increase Miller produced imaginative writing pieces, using their own voices to express their thoughts. The students’ …

Nate And The One Sixty-Eight, Michael S. Mcmillan

MA TESOL Collection

This paper explores the fate of 168 students who failed the Level 4 test at the American University Alumni (AUA) Language Center in Bangkok, Thailand. It examines enrollment trends of all Level 4 students during a one-year study period spanning 2006 and 2007, and reveals what happened to the students – who dropped out (and when), and who continued to study. It also examines why students might have dropped out. It then takes a critical look at certain aspects of the Level 4 test, explores what makes a test a “good” test, and recommends a series of improvements to AUA’s …

Looking Back At Esl70: Five Years In An Intenstive Language Institute, Claire P. Boise

MA TESOL Collection

This paper is an examination of the creation of, and the initial five years of operation of, ESL70, a non-academic, for-profit Intensive English Language Institute at Kingsborough Community College in New York City. Kingsborough Community College is part of the City University of New York (CUNY). This paper will examine the educational philosophy and application of ESL70 within both the historical and present academic context of CUNY, ESL70's endeavor to immerse non-native English speaking students in the study of English language, the business centered nature of ESL70, and the conflicts and issues that have arisen in response to being a …

Teachers And Their Communities: A Group Self-Assessment, Using A Cross-Cultural Approach, Timothy Butterworth

MA TESOL Collection

These are troubling times for public education in the United States. Declining College Board scores, public dissatisfaction and a shortage of qualified applicants have brought the crisis to national attention. However, becoming a political football in the 1984 political campaigns is not likely to improve the situation. Teachers and prospective teachers would do well to examine carefully their motives for teaching and the roles they choose to play in their careers. Without a clear self-image, and one they can share with each other, teachers are doomed to alienation and frustration in coming to terms with the debate that is swirling …

English Language Program Proposal For The Instituto Mexicano De Commercio Exterior, Sharon L. Voss

MA TESOL Collection

No abstract provided.

Implementing My Philosophy Of Education As A School Administrator, Joseph T. Sefcheck

MA TESOL Collection

As a school administrator, I have been responsible for the implementation of my philosophy of education, i.e., that people work, live or learn best by working as a community. By community, I mean a group of people working together toward common goals, and whose interactions are characterized by the elements of understanding, trust, openness and respect for each other's professional and personal lives. I have designed the administrative procedures: interviewing, training and development, and decision and policy making to incorporate these elements and encourage the spirit of community. To evaluate the implementation of my philosophy, I have provided examples of …

A Study Of The Possible Implications Of Current Institutional Practices On The Future Of International Higher Education And A Broader Higher Education Bubble, Tamer Khadre

Capstone Collection

The hypothesis of a higher education bubble in the United States is one that has been discussed in literature for a number of years, with parallels being drawn to the inflation and deflation of prices of commodities in industries such as housing and the stock market. This study examines the applicability of such a hypothesis to the international education sector of the higher education industry in the United States. The focus of this study is (a) the perceived impact of current institutional practices in the field of international education on the long term viability of the field overall and (b) …

Designing And Implementing A University Level English As A Second Language Program, Janice Gallagher

MA TESOL Collection

This paper represents a one year study of the steps taken to devise and implement an English as a Second Language (ESL) program at the University of Manitoba in Winnipeg, Canada. The study involves analyzing the teaching / learning environment; designing, implementing and evaluating the program; and analyzing the results for future programs of this nature. The paper focuses on the intermediate and advanced ESL student and includes suggestions for materials development at each particular level. The purpose of the paper is to provide a practical outline for those teachers or administrators whose task is to initiate a formal ESL …

Advising An Institution: A Report To The Administration Of Deerfield Academy Regarding Thier Foreign Students, Stuart P. Salomon

MA TESOL Collection

No abstract provided.

Proposal For "An Introduction To Adult Literacy" As An Elective Course In The Mat Program, Ruth Ellen Passo

MA TESOL Collection

Few ESL teacher programs in the United States offer such compatibility highly trained humanistic instructors than the MAT program at the School for International Training in Brattleboro, Vermont. Nonetheless, most of the studies at this institution are geared to teaching in a private language academy abroad or in the United States. Yet, a real need for competent ESL teachers exists in our country within the public domain. The recent emergence and evolving role of the bilingual/bicultural education major at SIT addresses itself to this area, mainly from the standpoint of elementary education and child language acquisition and development. By the …

Proposal For The Creation Of An English Language Program At Emporia Kansas State College, Kathryn J. Lattimer

MA TESOL Collection

This paper is a proposal for the creation of an English Language Program at Emporia Kansas State College, Emporia, Kansas. This proposed English Language program is designed to meet the cultural and linguistic needs of international students whose proficiency in English is not at a level which will enable them to pursue an academic career at an American institution of higher learning such as Emporia Kansas State College

Some Thoughts On The Effects Esl Teachers Can Have In A World Community, Ann Frentzen, Ann Brooks

MA TESOL Collection

Since Teaching English as a Second Language is a profession involved with the humanity of all nations and cultures, as ESL teachers, we can play an integral part in the inevitable process of the world growing smaller and nations growing more and more interdependent.

This paper looks at ESL teachers in this context. The first part examines the role of ESL teacher and the potential effect those in that role can have in the world. Part two consists of a series of questions that grew out of real teaching situations, and that might provide a springboard for examining our values …

Leadership In Mexico: A Guide To Reassessing The Mat Student-Teaching Experience, Danuta U. Guzowski

MA TESOL Collection

No abstract provided.

A Report On One Year's Experience As The Advisor To The Board Of Directors Of Binational Center In Merida, Yucatan, Mexico, Elliott S. Glazer

MA TESOL Collection

It is my intent, in writing this, my Independent Professional Project, to present to the reader through an assortment of facts, ideas, experiences and evaluations an overview of the history, components and present status of binational centers and of the INSTITUTO BENJAMIN FRANKLIN DE YUCATAN, A.C. ; a rather in-depth discussion of the work of the Advisor to the Board of Directors ( the equivalent of Executive or Administrative Director in most other centers ) during the 1974-75 academic year, including his duties, goals and frustrations (often caused by problems of communication, culture and/or politics), and his relationship with the …

Toward Community: A Tentative Theory Of Group Process, And Its Implications For Teachers, Elizabeth Ann Sparks

MA TESOL Collection

No abstract provided.

Teacher Training And Coordination In An Intensive French Language Program : Solt/ Vermont Academy, William P. Dant

MA TESOL Collection

This report outlines in detail the organization and coordination of an intensive summer language program, from program planning to training of a native speaking staff to actual program activities, including teacher supervision and in-service training. The report includes a detailed appendix of all documents and lesson plans used for program organization and teacher training.

Report On Leadership To Castres, France, Enid Larimer Dangerfield

MA TESOL Collection

No abstract provided.