Bloomfield College Celebrates TICKET Program with Closing Ceremony

By Alicia Cook

Nineteen teachers from Korea completed the TICKET Program (Total Immersion Courses for Korean English Teachers) and celebrated with a closing ceremony on Friday, December 2.

“Almost everything we think about is global by nature,” said Richard A. Levao, Bloomfield College President, noting Global Warming and stable world currencies as examples. “A cohesive, coherent world starts with initiatives like these programs. This is not a closing ceremony, but an opening ceremony. We have opened our minds to one another and I hope we will continue this relationship.”

Sponsored by the Korean government, Bloomfield College partnered with the Daejeon Educational Training Institute, as well as Bloomfield Public Schools, in order to make this four-week, project-based program possible.

Berkeley, Brookdale, Fairview, and Franklin schools in Bloomfield had the educators, who all teach English in Korea, in their classrooms as part of the Program.

“In the classroom we learned the similarities and differences between America and Korea and that helped me understand your culture more,” said Moonsook Kim, a TICKET Teacher from the Daejeon Educational Training Institute. “I am bringing all the lessons I learned here back to my classroom in Korea.”

Dr. Natashia Baxter, Principal of Berkeley School shared her school’s experience with the crowd. Dr. Baxter had four visiting teachers placed in second, fourth, fifth, and sixth grade. Second graders were trained on how to use chopsticks; fourth graders learned how to say and write their names in Korean; fifth grade also learned how to write and say their names, and learned about Korean currency; and sixth graders learned the aforementioned, as well as the full alphabet, and were educated on the Korean culture as a whole.

In addition to their studies, the visiting educators enjoyed American culture, taking trips to major cities and sites.

All 19 teachers were awarded certificates for their completion of the Program and the guests were treated to traditional Korean dance and food.

The TICKET Program is run by the Office of International Training and Professional Studies (ITPS). Programs like this not only benefit the students from Korea, but have lasting effects on Bloomfield College.

For photos of the ceremony, please click here.

 

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