Student Voices: Chhayankdhar

The ILE: TESOL Program has equipped me with the academic and teaching skills that have enabled me to thrive professionally. The curriculum offers a balance between the disciplines of applied linguistics and education. The knowledge I gained during my time in the program and in my interaction with the faculty has provided me with a solid academic foundation such that I have been able to understand and keep up with academic discourse at various conferences and in working groups and committees. For me, the highlight of the program was the semester-long teaching practicum with university students. The practicum gave me hands-on training that enabled me to cope with my teaching responsibilities in my first few years of teaching in the tertiary sector in Japan. Finally, many of the faculty are active in their professional development activities so they are familiar with the conversations happening in the field and serve as role models and mentors for not just the current students but also graduates of this program.