It's been a busy month around the College, so we decided to produce a larger edition of the INside to bring you all the news you need. INside Double Edition Do you have a written submission ora story you'd like us to write about for the INside? We're always interested in your ideas, so let us know. The INside is published the first Tuesday of every month; deadline for submissions is 10 business days before publication. Send WordPerfect 6.1 or MS Word 6.0 files to Tracey Winters, INside editor, CMO, Room 4700, New Westminster Campus: email to winterst@douglas.bc.ca; or call 527-5325. Students learn more than a new language Ten Douglas College students said goodbye to Canada and konichi wa (hello) to Japan last Fall as they began a 10-week stay in Osaka. As participants in the Semester in Japan Program at Momoyama Gakuin University, the students fully immersed themselves in Japanese language and culture, bringing home much more than the ability to speak Japanese. “The impact of full-immersion learning is phenomenal,” says Joni Hunter, Douglas College employee and beginner-level Japanese student. “You learn the language, but you also learn about the culture and the society. You don’t get that fullness from taking a class in Canada.” Lia Cosco, Douglas College student and intermediate-level Japanese student agrees. “I’ve been to Japan on vacation, but this was totally different. I was surrounded by people my own age, and I learned so much about Japanese culture and social interaction.” A typical week of the program consists of language classes in the morning, with hands-on workshops and lectures relating to various aspects of Japanese culture, society or history in the afternoon. Day- trips to places of interest in the greater Osaka and surrounding area round out the week. “All of our students did very well in the program, both academically and personally,” says Taeko Berwick, International Student Advisor at the College’s Centre for International Education. Students are put through a fairly tough screening process after they apply for the program. Berwick and others determine if students are academically able, as well as flexible, adaptable, responsible and mature. “We want them to get the most that they can out of this program” says Berwick. “And to do that they have to be willing to adapt.” Hunter agrees that it was challenging. “You are encouraged to speak Japanese at your homestay,” she says. “As a beginner it was hard, but my homestay family made the whole experience even better, including me in every aspect of their lives. Their philosophy is that being a student is a job, so they took care of everything, allowing me to focus on my studies.” Cosco's experience wasn't quite as good. “I think my homestay family wanted a completely non-Japanese student,” she explains. Douglas College's Semster in Japan students show off some of the skills they learned at Momoyama Gakuin University . “They weren't expecting a half-Japanese student to turn up at their door!” While the family was pleasant, Cosco was left to her own devices for much of the semester. She took it all in stride, however, and continued to focus on the positive aspects of the trip. Both Cosco and Hunter recommend the program to other Douglas College students and describe it as an “enriching, positive experience. We're very fortunate to have had this opportunity.” Douglas College and Momoyama signed an official sister school agreement in 1985. Since then, Momoyama has annually sent students for English language and university transfer study at Douglas College. The Semester in Japan Program was launched in 1997 for students from Douglas College to study Japanese language and culture at Momoyama. For more information on the program, please contact Taeko Berwick at 5493. Frick wins Coach of the Year award The next time you see Coaching instructor Tim Frick, stop and congratulate him — he’s just won Sport BC’s 1998 Coach of the Year award. Presented annually, the award honours BC’s most outstanding coach in amateur sport, and Frick is certainly a deserving winner. As head coach of the Canadian Women’s Wheelchair Basketball team since 1990, Frick has led it on an incredible winning streak. Frick’s international record stands at 34 consecutive victories since winning the bronze medal at the 1990 Gold Cup. The team has gold medals and undefeated strings at the 1991 Stoke-Mandeville Games, the 1992 Barcelona Paralympics, the 1994 Gold Cup, the 1996 Atlanta Paralympics, the 1998 America’s Qualifying tournament and most recently, a gold medal at the 1998 Gold Cup world championships in Australia. Congratulations, Tim! Briefly Bev’s a winner! The 60/40 payroll lottery winner for January ’99 is Bev Miller, Dean of CFCS. Bev wins $788.40 while student aid increases by $525.60. Let the sun shine in Get away from it all and rent a three-bedroom cabin near a sandy beach, close to Sechelt on the Sunshine Coast. Fully equipped kitchen, barbeque, fireplace, large living room, sundeck, canoe and pickleball court. July and August $375/ week, September to June $300/ week or $50/night. For more information call Jean Hammer at 939-5777. Planning PD Day The second meeting of the BCGEU 1999 Staff PD Day Committee will be held on Tuesday, March 2, 1999 at 1pm in Personnel (room 2305). All interested BCGEU members are welcome attend this planning meeting. Watching your weight? Weight watchers meetings are held every Tuesday from noon to lpm, room 1805. For more information call Janet Westwood at 5400. Bob has the ticket The first winner in the HORM raffle is Bob McConkey of Centre 2000. Bob takes home $250. The next draw is March 6 for $350, and March 12 for the computer. Staff on the move Rob Nemec moves from auxiliary in Purchasing to full- time Bookstore Shipper/ Receiver, replacing Ryan Hill who moves permanently into the position of Sr. Bookstore Clerk, replacing Nicole Chabot who has decided not to return from maternity leave. Karen I 2 INside Douglas College is published by the Communications & Marketing Office the first Tuesday of each month and is printed by the Douglas College Printshop. McKitrick moves from auxiliary to regular in Financial Aid, replacing Lisa Barone who has decided not to return from maternity leave. Erika Neilsen moves from auxiliary to regular as Instructional Facilitator - CJP Student Development, while Robert Nicholson moves from auxiliary to regular part- time as Chemistry Lab Tech II. And last but not least, Sabrina Henwood is the new regular part-time Geography Lab Tech IV in the Humanities & Social Sciences department.