The world is our campus.
Thousands of students see the iconic phrase on their daily commute to school. It communicates a core tenet of Brigham Young University. BYU Continuing Education is dedicated to benefiting the world through its educational offerings. Lifelong learning for everyone is the standard that Continuing Education holds itself to.
BYU Continuing Education’s rich involvement in international education has early beginnings. Continuing Education organized a 1951 tour to Mexico, which served as the first official BYU international tour. By 1958, the BYU Travel Study program was receiving serious recognition; William I. Holbrook, vice president of American Youth Abroad, referred to it as “the . . . most highly developed educational travel program of any . . . university in the country.” One of the key objectives of such study abroad programs was to “make friends for the Church and the university.”
This Christlike international influence is in full force today, as illustrated by the recent visit of Shibaura Junior High to BYU. In September of last year, thirty-nine students and seven teachers from Japan’s Shibaura Junior High came to BYU. BYU Continuing Education had the privilege of hosting the group.
“It was super fun. We spent all day with the kids, which is exactly what I wanted to do. [We taught] them English, so [they had] a couple of classes every day, and [we did] fun activities,” says Amber Springer, one of the trip’s counselors. Having served a mission in Japan, Springer jumped in, helping the young Japanese students learn and grow. Her cohort of eight students made the most of their BYU experience.
For the kids, one of the trip’s most pivotal moments was a theater workshop with local American youth. “[The] theater conference was the most impactful for them because they got to interact with kids their own age who speak English. They had the most fun just getting to be with American students to have fun and learn,” reflects Springer. The Shibaura youth were able to make new friends and practice their English in a fun, engaging setting.
This cross-culture connection is part of Continuing Education’s larger mission. The students’ experience serves as a launchpad; down the road, they can come study full-time through BYU’s English Language Center. This program is dedicated to providing high quality English language instruction in a rigorous university environment, giving foreign students the tools they’ll need to succeed.
The students had a blast, and we’re looking forward to hosting them in the future. The recurring visit showcases Continuing Education’s commitment to fostering global learning.
It’s an eventful time for BYU Continuing Education on the international stage. BYU Continuing Education is committed to creating lifelong learners, from Salt Lake to Shibaura, who make a difference in their communities and reflect Christlike attributes in all they do. Much like the Church that sponsors it, BYU isn’t a Utah institution but a globally-present university concerned with making the world a better place. Continuing Education will continue to enable such borderless scholarship.
Video Link: https://bcove.video/3CX3xff
