May 24/96

young women who loved it here at
Capilano College. They were bright and
enthusiastic, with excellent English
skills.”

Many of the students had acquired
either a diploma or a degree in other
studies before entering the Alice Early
Childhood Education program. Most
plan to teach English to preschool and
primary school children upon their
return to Japan.

“T believe this will become an annual
program,” Dianna added. “The
International Education Task Force
wanted to internationalize the campus
and curriculum and the CPECE
program, which is one of the results of
the task force, is a way for this to
occur.”

Ms. Hiro Seki (front left), an instructor and administrator at Alice School in Japan,
kneels with her students who are visiting Capilano College. Lois Rennie, College
ECCE coordinator, is standing at far right.

Canadian Perspectives in
Early Childhood Education

n overseas recruitment trip in the

fall of 1993 resulted in the
establishment of a new project at
Capilano College called Canadian
Perspectives in Early Childhood
Education.

By making contact with Mr. Osamu
Nishimura, the managing director of
the Amenity School in Kanazawa,
Japan, College registrar Dianna
Larsen opened the door for Japanese
students to come to Canada to obtain
experience in early childhood
education.

The Amenity School is an
educational institution where Japanese
students prepare for graduation and
find out how to further their education
with studies overseas. Mr. Nishimura
also had a relationship with the Alice
School, which teaches Early Childhood
Education in Japan. This school wanted
their students to obtain overseas
experience and after meeting Dianna
and Lois Rennie, College co-ordinator
of the Early Childhood Care and
Education program, arrangements were
made to send the first group to Canada

in March 1996. They were accompanied
by Ms. Hiro Seki, an instructor and
administrator at Alice School.

During their stay from March 18 to
April 5, the students spent one week on
campus and two weeks working in a
kindergarten class in Langley. ECCE
instructors Rosslyn Anne, Anne Carr
and Lois offered guidelines for providing
appropriate programs for young children
in the Vancouver area. The Japanese
students were impressed with the local
emphasis on honoring cultural diversity,
as well as the inclusion into childcare
centres of children with special needs.
Observations at our campus childcare
centre, the North Shore Neighborhood
House, and UBC and Berwick centres,
allowed the students to see quality
inclusive childcare.

The value of play was also discussed
and a field trip to Lynn Canyon sparked
interest in spontaneous teaching/learning
opportunities, which was a new concept
for some of the students.

“Tt expanded their awareness of the
various needs of children,” Dianna said.
“They were an exceptional group of

Award ©
Winners

wo Capilano College students

enrolled in JAPN 101 were
awarded prizes in the Eighth Annual
BC Japanese Speech Contest held
March 2 at UBC’s Asian Centre.

Richard Kim was second in the
beginner’s category with a speech
entitled “My View of Japan,” and
Samson Yu was awarded the effort
prize for his speech, “The Hidden Role
of Education.”

The grand prize winner, who also
won in the intermediate division, was
former JAPN 100 student Zahra
Hussain. Zahra, whose speech was
entitled “Independence According to
Me,” attended the College from 1994
to 1995.

Richard also placed third in the
Seventh National Japanese Speech
Contest held March 23 at the Radison
President Hotel in Richmond.

These events are organized annually
by the Consulate General of Japan.

Submitted by Kazuko Mito