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On Monday, Feb. 28, HPU students in both the undergraduate and graduate TESOL programs (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) led engaging and interactive theme-based activity sessions for 27 international high school students from nine countries (Denmark, Germany, Switzerland, Belgium, Iceland, Ireland, Ukraine, Spain, and Mexico). This “Spotlight on Hawaii” event featured five hands-on learning stations designed to teach the international visitors special aspects of Hawaiian culture that they were not likely to experience in-depth elsewhere: Hawaiian language, the multi-cultural legacy of the plantation era, the influence of Hawaiian music on other genres, ocean sports especially surfing and the Eddie Aikau legacy, and history plus tastes of some “local” foods including kakimochi popcorn, mochi, laulau, and make-your-own musubi! Following a welcome, introductions, and a large-group icebreaker, students rotated among the five theme stations, enjoying 30 minutes at each decorated table. After an informal brown-bag lunch together, several TESOL students stayed on to lead the international visitors on a campus tour around ATM and Waterfront Plaza.
The 15 TESOL students gained valuable experience in planning activities, lesson design, materials development, setting up, and team teaching under the guidance of TESOL faculty Jean Kirschenmann and Barbara Hannum. The 27 international students benefited from this unique opportunity to engage with multi-cultural university students while experiencing and learning more about Hawaiiana and HPU. The event was the result of collaboration between Barbara Hannum (Intl. Groups), Carin Iha (Outreach Programs) and administrators at The International School in Denmark .
