International Education Week at MHC

By Carlie Connolly

Running the third week every November, Canada along with over 100 other countries celebrate Internation Education week. Medicine Hat College was one of the school’s celebrating to show the contribution it makes to its school and community culturally and economically.

From Nov. 17 to the 21st, students and staff gave presentations and put on displays to celebrate the week of international education. There were cultural demonstrations like origami, tai chi, calligraphy and henna. There was also two major visual shows; one was a fashion show and the second was a talent show.

The second component to the week was the education component. The college contacted faculty that either taught abroad or that have taken groups to study abroad on projects. They then presented with two instructors, one from their global tourism and marketing program and one from their eco tourism and outdoor leadership program.

Michele Josey, student retention officer at the college, working in the international education department, had their recruiter do a presentation on how to recruit students and where.

The week was all encompassing of international education, not just for incoming students or students who study at the college. Its also for students who have gone abroad and how they get them abroad.

There are incoming students and students from other countries who have a different approach to learning and so they bring a different perspective to the classroom when it comes to different topics or studies.

“I think that they bring a different perspective to the classroom, so they learn differently, they react or respond differently, they work differently in groups. So, I think that’s important to expose our domestic students to that so that they know how to work collectively with other students,” Josey said.

Josey also believes its beneficial for teachers too.

“I also think its great for our instructors in that they sometimes have to adapt their teaching styles because our students are different. English is sometimes a barrier and so, do they change their method of instruction to accommodate our students? They do, and so I think it really elevates our classroom experience as well as our teaching experience.”

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