English language programmes head at Lincoln, Daryl Streat, was giving students in Japan a different taste of teaching recently.
Along with International Operations Manager Patrick Yeung, he visited Japanese Universities that already had students already visiting Lincoln, delivering classes and workshops to show what the New Zealand university offered.
Lincoln already has almost 100 students coming from Japan for short-term English programmes throughout the year, and wants to grow that number.
“The purpose was to introduce students to a New Zealand style of teaching and provide them with opportunities to ask questions, think critically and learn about some of the cultural differences between New Zealand and Japan.
“When International students come to study here they are challenged by a variety of different aspects of life. Not just language, but also social differences and academic culture. Thus, it can be a challenge for them to engage in lectures/tutorials.
He said students in Japan were used to a more traditional, teacher-centred mode of delivery, where they do not question their teachers.
“In New Zealand, we have a much more student-centred mode of delivery that requires students to question ideas and engage with content in a different way.
“This does not mean one is better than the other, it is just different.’’
He said the differences were illustrated “through a Lincoln-lens, so students also learned about LU”.
“Students were very interested in what domestic students got up to (socially), what kind of campus events we held, and what expectations would be of them were they to find themselves in classes at LU.
“Overall, it was a very positive trip.”
The visit was part of Lincoln collaborating with Japanese universities for short-term student visits, and could be extended to Korean Universities in future. It will have the benefit of adding more diversity to the English language classes currently at Lincoln.