Access Pakistan Teacher Training and Cultural Exchange Program at HPU a Success

Special to The 'Ohana 

December 03, 2024

Participants in the Access Pakistan Teacher Training and Cultural Exchange Program receiving their certificate of completion, photographed here with Jerry Frank, Regional English Language Officer at the US Embassy in Islamabad (7th from right, back row), Altynai Abdukarimova, FHI360 Senior Program Officer (6th from right, back row), Hanh Nguyen, Principal Investigator and Professor of Applied Linguistics (6th from left, back row), Ann “Diane” Tai Choe, Workshop Instructor (middle row, 2nd from left), Maria Levy, Cultural Excursion Coordinator and Assistant Professor of Applied Linguistics (5th from right, back row), and several HPU students.

From October 29 to November 13, 2024, the TESOL Program (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), Department of English and Applied Linguistics, College of Liberal Arts, Hawaiʻi Pacific University, hosted 25 Pakistani teachers for a teacher training and cultural exchange program. The program opened with a warm welcome speech by HPU’s Acting Provost Brenda Jensen, Ph.D., and a moving Hawaiian chant by Kumu Hula Tracie Lopes, D.H.L.

The program is a part of the English Access Microscholarship Program Pakistan, funded by the U.S. Department of State. The HPU team, led by Principal Investigator, Program Academic Director, and Professor of Applied Linguistics Hanh Nguyen, Ph.D., and Administrative Director and Professor of English Christy Williams, Ph.D., successfully delivered the program.

The program consisted of a series of academic workshops focusing on teaching English as a foreign language through service learning and experiential learning. The workshops, led by Ann “Diane” Tai Choe, Ph.D., who has conducted in-depth research on service learning in second language acquisition, offered an in-depth coverage of theoretical concepts together with fun and interactive hands-on activities.

Enhancing the workshops were several first-hand service-learning activities, in which participants got right into the action at a lo'i (traditional Hawaiian taro patch) and a beach clean-up, contributing directly to the local community.

Participants also had the opportunity to observe classes in session at three locations in Honolulu. In Hawaiʻi Pacific University's General Education course AL 1050 Languages in the Pacific (led by Professor Maria Levy, Ph.D.), they witnessed how civic engagement is incorporated as a key course component. In the Hawaiʻi English Language Program's language courses (led by Tad Matsunaga and Sandy Iwamura and designed by Gina Redila, HPU's MA TESOL graduate '18), they observed how service learning was built in as the context for second language learning. At McKinley Community School for Adults, they got a glimpse into community-based education for adult immigrants and interacted with the learners in a sample lesson led by HPU MA TESOL student Tasman Mattox and her colleague.

Complementing the academic component, the program included several cultural activities and excursions. Coordinated mainly by Levy, these excursions introduced participants to Hawaiʻi's rich history, diverse culture, and contemporary social issues. One of the cultural excursions was a Kaka'ako tour with a focus on urban sustainability and social justice, led by HPU's Professor Serge Marek, Ph.D.,  and local artist Brandon Ng. Another highlight was a hula lesson led by Leilani Soon, HPU's BA TESOL graduate ('07), Mrs. Hawaii 2024 and Mrs. National US 2024,among other titles.

A memorable part of the program was the Friendship Family Visits, which brought the Pakistani participants close to local families, among them many HPU faculty and staff: Marc Gilbert (CLA), Barbara Hannum (CLA), Brenden Holland (CNCS), Jean Kirschenmann (CLA), Maria Levy (CLA), Maureen Silva (University Advancement), Mary Smith (CNCS), Micheline Soong (CLA), and Paul Tran (CLA). The participants repeatedly expressed their deep appreciation of the hosts' generosity and warm Aloha.

HPU's students also gained valuable training experiences and cultural exchange through the program. Among the volunteers and student trainers were students Keegan Jones (MA TESOL), Kaitlyn Hudson (MA TESOL), Tasman Mattox (MA TESOL), Jessie LaDouceur (MA TESOL), Melissa Tran (MA TESOL), Kylie Asuncion (BA TESOL), Saadiya Patrick (BA TESOL & Arts and Markets), Haley Coppock (BA TESOL), Camryn Potter (BA TESOL), Elana-Ann Barbadillo (BA Cinematic Multimedia Arts), Kayla Yee (MA Sustainability), Shayna Selesele (BA Social Work), Egypt Holland (BA Arts & Markets), Tiffany Nguyen (BA Psychology), and Samuel Nieblas (BS Computer Science).

The English teachers from Pakistan also shared their languages and cultures with the HPU ‘ohana members. In addition to the Friendship Family Visits mentioned above, at the Aloha Dinner, they showcased the unique features of the different regions of Pakistan, shared many Pakistani cultural items, and danced elegantly and energetically to traditional and contemporary Pakistani music.

The success of the program was thanks to the hard work of many offices at HPU, including the Office of the Provost, the Dean and Associate Dean of the College of Liberal Arts, the Office of Sponsored Projects, the Office of International Students and Scholars, Registrar, Marketing and Communication, IT, ATM facilities, HPU Security, the Mailroom, and the Faculty Support Center.

Source:  The ʻOhana, HPU's Daily News, December 03, 2024