Special Report LAST UPDATE August 27, 2007
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June 2, 2007 The Global English/Español Training (GET) Program
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Teachers and students on safari in Kenya during a GET challenge programme
Photo: Chris Massey
The Global English/Español Training (GET) Program
The Global English/Español Training (GET) Program offers Peace Boat participants an opportunity to develop English and Spanish language communication skills while onboard. Led by coordinators Takayuki Okazaki and Chris Massey, the team for this voyage was composed of 10 English and 2 Spanish teachers.
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GET teacher Patricia Navarro on stage teaching a Spanish song
One Spanish teacher was Patricia Navarro Diaz from Petrer in Alicante, Spain. “I greatly enjoyed teaching, the students were eager to learn so I felt I was giving something to the students, it went beyond language skills. In the intensive class we had a chance to interact and I could learn about Japanese behavior and thinking, it was a real cultural exchange experience. Open classes were especially challenging but extremely fun, it was my first time teaching a class of over 50 students and each day I had to come up with creative, interactive activities.”
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Tomomi Fujisaki (standing) at a Spanish GET presentation
Tomomi Fujisaki from Oita, Beppu studied Spanish with Patricia, “I didn’t know any Spanish prior to the GET programme, during my classes I learned not only Spanish but the culture of Spain where my teacher is from, I learned the differences between Spain and Latin America and I was able to use my Spanish in ports as well as onboard.” Inspired by his classes onboard, Tomomi plans to continue his Spanish studies with the possibility of studying in Guatemala in summer. “I enjoyed my studies so much I am considering changes in my future to allow me to expand on the Spanish I learned through the GET programme.”
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Two GET students practice using English with two youths in Singapore during an exchange programme
Photo: Chris Massey
In addition to onboard classes, participants use their newly honed language skills in ports. On the 56th Global Voyage there were specifically designed GET Challenge programmes in Singapore, Sri Lanka, Kenya and Canada. In these in-port programmes, students apply what they have learned in the classroom to real-life situations such as language and cultural exchanges, homestays with families, and spending time with GET teachers on tour.
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GET end of voyage theater presentation
Numerous extracurricular activities onboard gave students the opportunity to communicate in the language they studied. The GET team conducted conversation sessions (Café Latino, English Café, and E-Club - one-on-one meetings), English workshops such as daily words and phrases of the day, as well as special events such as the GET Language Olympics, a speech contest that attracted 55 entries, and end-of-term project presentations which included story book making, photography and a theater show.