Thailand English Teaching programme

December 18, 2014 Samantha Jane Logan Leave a comment

Are you an undergraduate, or recent graduate student interested in assisting with English teaching in Thailand?

This project offers students and recent graduates from participating Universities in the UK the chance to work as a language assistant with a Thai teacher in their classrooms and support extra activities outside classroom hours. After an orientation programme in Bangkok, you will travel to your assignment, which could be in any province of Thailand. You could be working in a school, vocational college or adult education colleges.

You will not only be able to gain first-hand knowledge and experience of Thailand’s culture, but you will also be able to improve your English teaching skills and enhance your employability for future employers.

Applications are currently open and the deadline is January 18th 2015.

For more information, visit the British Council website: http://www.tetprogramme.org/tet-2015-2016/

Or their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tetprogramme

Culture Connect, Employability, Social activities

Culture Connect – Learning through sharing

December 10, 2014 Samantha Jane Logan Leave a comment

This cross-cultural peer mentoring scheme helps new students settle into university life and meet friends from around the world.

Why you should become a mentee or mentor
This is a great opportunity to

get to know someone through a one-to-one supportive mentoring relationship
develop your cultural awareness and learn about different traditions
attend social activities (organised by Global Community, a Students’ Union Society) and regular soft skills training with other members
prepare for work in diverse organisations and add to your CV
gain eligibility for the H allam Award which is recognised by employers

Additional support
You will also be allocated to a learning set – a small, intimate group of mentees or mentors of different nationalities which enables you to gain a wide range of perspectives. You can discuss challenges and share helpful advice during your time on the scheme.

Join today – visit the Culture Connect Facebook page.

What our members say
Mentees
‘You get a friend who walks along with you as you get to know about life at university. I now have many friends and I feel fully integrated in the university.’
Judith Khamoni from Kenya

‘It breaks down all the fears that many people feel today due to lack of understanding of cultural differences and language barriers. It embraces these differences and you have the chance to make friends, try new things and experience a new point of view. You are always learning something.’
Katrina Love from Britain

Mentors
‘Culture Connect helps me to get friends from over the world, have fun, learn experience and improve my skills such as time management and communication skills. It makes my university journey more meaningful.’
Bui Huynh Thi Nhat Thanh from Vietnam

‘It brings together the university community because it gives British students first-hand experience of engaging with international students. The media constantly portrays international students in a negative light and Culture Connect dispels media falsehoods.’
Sami Riaz from Britain

Welcome

This Week’s News

December 9, 2014 David Powell Leave a comment

Monday 8 December 2014

In this week’s edition…

Social

SHU Fest 2015 is coming and we’re looking for participants! Can you sing, dance or play an instrument? Do you have any other talents? If so, we want to hear from you!
There are lots of social events and activities taking place including the Christmas Conversation Club, a Sheffield Sharks basketball game and the Culture Connect Christmas Event!

Student Voice

Are you a Chinese native speaker? Would you like to participate in a study and receive a £20 high street voucher? Find out more here.
Have you got an innovative idea for a product or a service? If you have, then enter the Enterprise Idea Competition for a chance to win £500!

Employability

The Countdown to Go Global Week has begun! – Find out how to apply to work in the UK or abroad – there are lots of talks, workshops and fun activities to get involved in!
If you are interested in working full-time in the UK after you graduate, then Working in the UK after studies sessions provide information about Tier 1, Tier 2 and Tier 5 visa routes.

Immigration

Is your visa due to expire soon? We remind you about the importance of attending a group session with an international student adviser.

Best wishes,

International Student Support Team

Student voice

Chinese native speakers wanted!

December 8, 2014 David Powell Leave a comment

Chinese native students are required for a study in to the brain activity associated with spelling and sound, organised by Gary Dicks, a PhD student and demonstrator in Psychology.

What is the criteria to take part?

18 years of age or over

Right-handed

Native Chinese

English as second language

IELTS of 6.5 or higher

No language/learning/neurological disorders

What is the study about?

The study will look at any differences in reading between native and non-native speakers by investigating the sequence of brain activity associated with orthography (spelling/form) and phonology (sound).

What will I need t EEG psycholinguistics study - French and Chinese participant advertisement (2) o do?

You will need to be able to come to Sheffield Hallam University at Collegiate Campus and be available for 2 hours.

The study involves reading and responding to English words from a computer screen while connected to an EEG (electroencephalography) machine. The study will take 2 hours.

Will I be paid for my time?

You will be given a £20.00 voucher for your time.

How can I take part?

If you would like to take part, please email Gary at g.dicks@shu.ac.uk

Beyond Europe, GoGlobal opportunities

International Volunteering Day!

December 5, 2014 Samantha Jane Logan Leave a comment

International Volunteer Day (IVD) on 5 December was designated by the United Nations in 1985 as an international observance day to celebrate the power and potential of volunteerism. It is an opportunity for volunteers, and volunteer organisations, to raise awareness of, and gain understanding for, the contribution they make to their communities. But what benefits can you get from volunteering? How can it help you after you graduate?

1. Volunteering helps you to connect with others

In an increasingly global marketplace, communication and being able to relate to people from all walks of life is an essential skill, and one that employers value greatly. Volunteering not only helps you to improve communication, but also increases your social and relationship skills.

2. Volunteering is good for your mind and body

It can help to build self-confidence through experiencing new things and communicating with new people, as well as combating depression and signs of anxiety. Self-confidence in challenging situations is another transferable job skill that employers hold in high regard.

3. Volunteering can advance your career

It can provide you with career experience for job sectors that are notoriously hard to get into, as well as skills which you may not have been able to hone in a purely academic environment. This kind of experience is a fantastic advantage over other graduate candidates when applying for jobs after study, and can help to round you out as a person.

You’re not limited to volunteering just in the UK, there are opportunities all over the world to experience something new and to make a difference to a community. For more information, check out the European Youth Portal in the link below:

http://europa.eu/youth/EU/voluntary-activities/european-voluntary-service_en