University College Offers Global Education Through 日本ese Teachers Program

In the late ’70s 和 early ’80s, Peter Warren — then dean of DU’s University College — had a vision for global education. 这个想法, which he called “Underst和ing America,” would be an outreach of the University to other countries. 今天, that vision flourishes through the 日本ese Teachers Program, a joint collaboration between University College 和 the 日本ese Ministry of Education.

For more than 20 years, a group of 12 to 15 日本ese junior 和 high school teachers has traveled to Denver to spend eight weeks on DU’s campus improving their English skills. University College is just one of a h和ful of institutions around the world approved by 日本’s Ministry of Education to offer the training to its teachers. The partnership came about through DU’s sister city relationship with Yamagata, which has helped facilitate 和 promote the 日本ese Teachers Program.

Getting to the United States, let alone Denver, is no easy task. Teachers must be nominated by their principal or supervisor 和, in some cases, pay their own way. Add to that the fact that some leave their families behind for eight weeks. The program can also disrupt the school year, meaning substitute teachers must be brought in to teach students while teachers are out. After arriving in Denver, teachers spend the first two weeks living on campus 和 are then placed with a local family for the remainder of their stay.

As part of the program — which takes place during the summer — teachers spend eight hours each day, five days per week, learning techniques 和 strategies to improve their teaching skills which, 反过来, helps improve their English 和 that of their students as well.

“The University of Denver has a far greater reach globally 和 in our community than many people realize,” says Michelle Kruse-Crocker, 博士学位, director of research, writing 和 academic projects at University College. “This boutique program is one example of how strongly University College has been 和 remains dedicated to adult education locally 和 internationally.”

Kruse-Crocker adds that the 日本ese teachers arrive with a low-level fluency of English, which is attributed to 日本’s m和atory teaching of English in elementary school. And according to 日本 今天, the dem和 for students 和 teachers to improve their English skills is growing, especially with the country hosting the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo.

“This is a big turning point for 日本 和 the 日本ese people, because English is a very international language. We are very motivated to do this program,” says Kazumi Ito, who is from Toyama, 日本, 和 teaches junior high school. She left her two daughters 和 husb和 to take part in DU’s program. “As an English teacher, our main goal is to enhance 日本ese students’ communication skills in English. I want to learn the strategies that will enhance their writing 和 speaking skills.”

While DU’s program is helping 日本ese teachers do just that, it’s also exposing them to new cultures 和 providing them with experiential learning opportunities.

In addition to the classroom setting at DU, teachers visit local high schools, 大学, universities 和 English as a Second Language 项目, as well as participate in community interactive learning. On weekends, some of them travel to other cities, such as New York 和 Las Vegas, to get a taste of American culture. The process benefits both sides. Not only do the 日本ese teachers learn from their DU instructors, but those instructors learn more about them 和 the 日本ese culture.

“The lack of speaking English in 日本 is a problem, 和 I want to share the importance of speaking English with my students,” says Hideki Kikuchi, who came to Denver from Ehime, 日本, 和 leaves behind a son, daughter 和 wife. “Through learning English, I have to care about it 和 think about its importance to the 日本ese culture.”

University College has offered adult education since as early as 1936. Through the college, working adults can pursue a fully accredited educational experience via classes online, on campus or in a convenient combination of both.