Higher learning in a diverse context

Last week at a conference on diversity in higher education, the president of the DePaul University at Chicago, IL, pointed to research which showed that students who study at a university that facilitates a culturally diverse environment develop higher cognitive learning than students who study in a non-diverse environment.

In other words, students not only learn from the books they also learn from their new and diverse environment. In a diverse environment nothing can be taken for granted. More importantly however, in a diverse environment nothing should be taken for granted if one is to survive (socially that is).

Intercultural encounters are indeed the best learning school one can have and I can tell from my own experience that an intercultural environment is perhaps the most rewarding a school can offer to its students.

I applaud the project moving targets because it precisely does that: It offers students from different countries an opportunity to work together and learn from each other for the duration of a week. During this week the students will come to understand that their environment is not the only reality based on which they can perceive the world. At the same time the students will be able to show others how they look at things that are being played out in their direct environments.

The result of all this will be a new environment: a grey area in which the students themselves have set the borders and rules. Hopefully, by the end of the week you will have learned not simply how to set up a course and teach pupils at a primary school. I hope that in addition you will have learned that there is much more than what any textbook tells you.

Hi, My name is Rachel, I am 19 years old and I am also from England. I will be taking part in the pilot course through Northumbria University, Newcastle. I am currently studying Early Years Primary Education and I'm nearly finished my second year as a trainee teacher!

I am very excited to come to Breda and participate in the pilot course as I am very interested in Multicultural Education. As well as Emma, I have recently studied a multicultural course in Sweden for 3 months. I really enjoyed this experience, as I love travelling and meeting new people!

My interests include - music, dance, singing, art, surfing and socialising with friends.

I am very excited to come to Holland! See you all soon.

Rachel

Hello,

My name is Emma and I live in England. I love travelling and meeting new people. I have recently been studying Multicultural Education at a university in Sweden. I will be participating in the pilot through my home university of Northumbria, in Newcastle, England.

I'm exited about being a part of the programme and maybe learning some Dutch!

Emma

moving targets

Hello,

My name is Alex and i am also joining the pilot moving targets.
I hope we will have fun that week and learn a lot. I'm looking forward to meet everybody. I hope that this week will improve my English.

Hope to see you soon

Introduction

‘Moving Targets’ - a unique project!

That was the first thought that crossed my mind when Agnes asked me to participate as a music teacher in this exciting pilot. But let me first introduce myself.

My name is Kitty van Gulick – Van Buul and I’m a teacher in Music and Dutch language at the Teaching Training College of Avans University in Breda. For many years I’ve combined this job with jobs in primary schools. I live in Tilburg, about 15 miles from Breda, I’m married and we’ve got three children at the age of 22, 24 and 26 years. My hobbies are singing, playing the piano, walking, reading and going to the movies with my friends. I also take part-time classes in ‘Cultural studies’ at the Distance Teaching University.

I think ‘Moving Targets’ offers us a great opportunity to work together from our own backgrounds, cultures and the motivation for our common ideal: the promotion of English language in primary schools. For me the English language is of vital importance to make contact outside our standard borders. It is never too soon to start speaking and writing English. Learning English by means of drama and music is the motto of this project. Children will enjoy the process of learning this language by various activities and games.

Last year Agnes and I made a trip to Ljubljana to make several appointments. In December the Turkish and English colleagues were our guests in Breda. Both were very pleasant experiences. At this moment I’m making preparations for the project and I’m looking forward to meeting you all in June.

My name is Muzaffer Yanik. I borned in a small willage at the high mountains in eastern Turkey. I live in the Netherlands since 1881. I was 19 years old when I came to the Netherlands. I am working as lecturer at the Avans university. Education of science is my proffesion. I do at the Avans, academi for pedagogy (teacher education) the following work: I teach education, quide internship, pleacement, intervision. I do near my work also a study now: ortho pedagogy. My hobby is the writing poetry, jogging and
make talking in a company.

The exchange of the students between the University’s at the international label is very important. People have in the shrinking world get to know each other's experiences of life distribution. This is one of the important ways to promote reconciliation in the world.

A little introduction

Hi, my name is Esther, I am a second year student on the Avans school in Breda. I'm very pleased to join this pilot! And I hope that my English gets better doing this.. =D

I don't know how to use this Blogger but I'm learning so I hope soon I will be a better user.

On my weblog you can read my home situation. Right now I'm going to make homework...again hahaha.

See you all soon!!

Hi everyone,

My name is Mateja and I'm the project co-ordinator for Slovenia.

Let me tell you something about me. I've always been in love with the English language, well at least ever since we got our first cassette-recorder at home (yes, I'm that old) and I could listen to all the songs in English with my 'big' sister. It didn't take us long to start transcribing the lyrics (phonetically, of course) and sing along.

I still listen to English songs whenever I can and this is also one of the reasons I'm so happy to be a part of this project.

My second passion is mountain cycling (Slovenia is perfect for that), although I don't have as much time for that as I used to. Nowadays I mostly teach my two children how to cycle; a boy Žan (pronounced as French 'Jean') is four years old and a girl, Ema is two.

I've been teaching at the Faculty of Education in Ljubljana for the past ten years. I teach practical English classes and methodology (how to teach English to children). Besides that I teach English to children at a language school.

I'm really looking forward to meeting you all in June. I think we'll have a great time together!

Mateja

Welcome to innovation.

Goodday Everyone,

Call me Shawn E. I'm a second year student at Avans school of education. As I am working hard to finish my bachelor, i also find time to participate in this international programme. Why should we focus our attention solely on our national education system? While the whole world is out there! We can learn by looking further than our nose allows us.

As a writer and artist i look at the world and it's potential. Seeing what only i see, i like to share my vision world wide.
I also feel that a teacher should share his vision with his students and not only teach them about the world, but also show them how wonderfull it is to be part of it.

sharing our views will provide us with a broader view of the world around us. Whiche will lead to a fuller self-awereness. Teaching is something done by many and not always understood by all. While learning is an activity done by all and has no end to it, since we are born with curiousity and we are eager to find out. I would like to welcome you all.

I am truly looking forward to sharing our worlds and unite our thoughts in our quest to find the education for tomorrow. We won't sit still we will start moving targets!

See you all soon,

Shawn E.

Let me introduce myself

Hi Y'all!,

I'm Sven van Roij, (jr) coordinator of this pilot and in my 2nd year of Avans University of Applied Science (College of Education).

This year Agnes invited me to join the pilot of 'Moving Targets' as a coordinator. After a short briefing I was hooked instantly. Last year I've joined the International Air Cadet Exchange programme (IACE). I've spend two weeks in Germany as a Dutch air-cadet to participate in a aviation related program.

The IACE showed me the usefulness of exchanges, international contacts and host parents, and I therefore fully support the project of Avans University!

Together with Agnes and our team of students I'll guide you through the programme in the Netherlands, during night and daytimes ;).

I'm looking forward to meet you all!

On behalf of the entire 'Moving Targets team'.

Kind regards,
Sven van Roij

Hi!

My name is Julija and I come from Slovenia :)

I am looking forward to see you all!

Have a nice day, Julija

Sanne

Hello,

My name is Sanne, i'm participating in this project. My information can be found on my own blog!

Much love,
Sanne

Coordinator

Dear students, dear colleagues

My name is Agnes Taks, I am the coordinator of the pilot project. I will collect you from the airport on the 6-th of June, of course if you arrive by plane. I will take part in the teaching as well during the programme and therefore looking forward to seeing you all in the flesh.
I like my work at the Avans University of Applied Science not as much as I like sailing, cycling, gardening or playing golf, but the combination of teaching and organising a project such as "Moving Targets" makes working at this institution very enjoyable.

I live in Breda, about 5 km from Avans and cycle to school every day even when it rains.
I have got one child, a daughter who graduated from the university last month, We. together, are very much into travelling and I can tell you that we have seen a great part of the world already.

I will post the final programme of the pilot very soon.

See you soon,
Agnes