Over the course of three weeks in July and August, Mason Korea held an online Summer Intensive English Teacher Training Program in collaboration with the Korea National University of Education (KNUE). Organized by the Office of Community Relations, the aim of this program was to provide over 20 elementary, middle, and high school teachers across Korea the opportunity to sharpen their teaching and leadership skills while advancing their English proficiency and self-efficacy.
Four of our faculty members taught intensive courses on oral communication, basic writing, and language theory, including Professors Eunmee Lee, who also served as Program Coordinator, Claude Drolet, Alice Wrigglesworth, and Antonio Covello. The program also provided an inspirational lecture series by our faculty from various fields, including Professors Roland Wilson (Conflict Analysis and Resolution), Vias Nicolaides (Business), Teresa Michals (English), and John McGrew (Computer Game Design), along with Associate Dean for University Life, Yorgun Marcel.
In addition, Mason Korea students had an opportunity to enhance their learning and leadership experience with four of our international students, Kelsi Bryson, L.J. Haider, Maggie Ruble, and Ragan Weadon, serving as English Coaching Staff. Sophomore Yunji Oh also served as Assistant Program Coordinator alongside Jeannie Choi, Manager of Community Relations, who served as Administrative Program Coordinator.
The program participants were engaged throughout the three weeks and our faculty, students, and staff displayed strong teamwork and synergy to make the program a success.
“I would like to share the sense of accomplishment and honor along with our English Coaches, Program Assistant, Administrative Program Coordinator, and my colleague professors,” said Professor Eunmee Lee. “I am also grateful that our Academic Dean Shannon Davis, and Campus Dean Robert Matz offered their unlimited support to make this program successful. From students to senior leadership, the entire Mason Korea community collaborated as a team to deliver the educational philosophy and mission of George Mason University to the selected Korean teachers. Mason Korea will shine along with Korea's educators and leaders through offering this type of teacher training program and leadership programs, and I would like to invite more students to join this project to walk and work together with the people around us,” she said.
Campus Dean, Dr. Robert Matz, praised the efforts of Professor Lee, Choi, as well as the faculty and student coaches who participated in the collaboration. "There is so much opportunity to learn from one another. That's the value of a program such as this one, and a fundamental mission of Mason Korea: to create multilingual and multicultural exchanges that advance both our students' learning and help to serve the local community."
September 03, 2021
