1. Exit Course for Graduating International 3/18/2011
Students
Designing and Implementing Presentation Outline
an Exit Course for Graduating  The Context & Mandate
International Students  Initial Planning for the Course
 Modification of the Plan
Jean M. Richie
Marquette University  Sample Materials from Two Workshops
 Assessment of the Workshops
TESOL 2011—New Orleans, LA
March 18, 2011  Next Steps
Belle Chase, Hilton Hotel
2-2:45pm
The Context The Mandate
• Marquette University is a private Jesuit university located in Milwaukee, WI. • As part of our on-going needs assessment, in Spring 2010, we identified two
times when international students need more support:
• We have a student body of approximately 8,000 undergraduate students and 3,500
graduate and professional studies students.
(1) when they first arrive at Marquette
• Of this total, 520(4.5%) are international. 155 are undergraduates and 326 are graduate (2) as they prepare to leave Marquette
and professional studies students, coming from 67 countries.
• To support international students, the Office of International Education (OIE) offers:
• To address this need, the two ESL lecturers were asked to design and
implement 2 new courses to run in AY 2010-11:
• a pre-semester orientation for new international students and international TAs
• 5 advanced ESL academic bridge courses and ESL sections of Freshman English a U.S. University Study Skills Course (1 credit, pass/fail)
• cross-cultural and legal advising for all international students an Exit Course for Graduating International Students (1 credit, pass/fail)
• cross-cultural programming events and opportunities through the OIE Program Center
• The ESL lecturers were chosen because they have expertise in curricular
• OIE is a comprehensive international office. It also coordinates all formal academic study design, knowledge of the content, and teaching experience.
abroad programs, establishes partnerships with international institutions, and helps to
internationalize the campus.
Initial Planning for the Course Course Learning Objectives
In Spring-Summer 2010, I started planning this 1-credit course by: Upon completion of this course, you will be able to:
(1) reviewing and gathering literature related to the proposed course • identify and reflect on significant cross-cultural experiences that you have had in the U.S.
(2) searching for existing courses at other universities similar to the one • articulate competencies acquired during your academic experience at Marquette
proposed
• carry out a culturally appropriate job search for a job in the U.S. and/or your country
(3) drafting a course syllabus and schedule
• write a resume and cover letter for a U.S. audience and/or an audience in your country
(4) locating and familiarizing myself with the university’s new course
proposal policy, process, and timeline • understand the characteristics of workplace culture and carry out an interview for a U.S.
audience and/or an audience in your country
• implement strategies to assist with the re-entry process when you return to your country
• devise a personalized plan for maintaining and improving your language skills and
cultural knowledge when you return to your country
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2. Exit Course for Graduating International 3/18/2011
Students
Major Course Assignments Modification of the Plan
1. Studying & Living in the U.S. Autobiography 20% Although we intended to run the two courses in AY 2010-11, we were unable to
for the following reasons:
2. Job Search Paper 10%
(1) In AY 2010-11 the ESL Program had the largest enrollment in our ESL
3. Cover Letter & Resume 20% courses in the last 10 years. (32% increase in # students over AY 09-10)
4. Mock Interview 20% (2) Additional projects such as our library initiative were not completed in
Spring 2010 and carried over into AY 2010-11.
5. Re-Entry Process Paper 20% (3) We hosted a Visiting Scholar from China for three months in Fall 2010.
6. Active Participation 10% (4) Our work for the university assessment initiative took a lot of time.
Given these extra demands, we decided not to run these courses this year. We did,
however, offer two workshop series instead to pilot our materials & gather more
information on our potential students.
The Workshop Series Description of Workshop #1
Specifically, we devised a 5-part workshop series to run this spring. Each workshop is “Discovering How Studying in the U.S. Has Changed You: Are You the
designed to be 1 ½ hours in length and takes place in the OIE Programming Center.
Same Person You Were?”
• “Discovering How Studying in the U.S. Has Changed You: Are You the Same This workshop will focus on helping you to identify and reflect on the specific skills,
Workshop Person You Were?” qualities, values, and beliefs you have developed during your studies in the U.S.
#1
Particular emphasis will be placed on identifying and reflecting on significant cross
cultural experiences and helping you understand what you have learned from them.
• “So You’re Ready to Work: Finding a Job and Permission to Work in the U.S.” During the workshop, you will also reflect on how your view of your home country and the
Workshop
#2 world may have changed from your experience. The information covered in this
workshop will not only help you discover how studying in the U.S. has changed you, but
• “Putting Yourself on Paper: Cover Letter and Resume Writing” it will also help you feel comfortable with articulating your experience to your family,
Workshop
#3 friends, and potential employers. Come prepared to share about and reflect on your
experiences here in the U.S.
• “Telling Your Story: Interviewing Skills and U.S. Workplace Culture”
Workshop
#4
Facilitated by: Jean Richie, ESL Lecturer
• “Packing Your Suitcase and Preparing to Return Home”
Workshop
#5
Please see the handout for a description of each workshop.
Outline & Materials from Workshop #1 Description of Workshop #3
This workshop was designed to be a participatory, reflective workshop. Participants were “Putting Yourself on Paper: Cover Letter and Resume Writing?”
encouraged to think about and share their own experiences and then learn from each other.
Workshop Outline This workshop will focus on understanding and practicing the basics of cover letter and
resume writing. Special emphasis will be placed on learning to write for a U.S. audience
A. Welcome & Workshop Goals 3 min but advice will also be given on preparing cover letters and writing resumes for an
audience in other countries. During the workshop, you will review sample “good” and
B. Participant Introductions 5 min
“bad” resumes and cover letters and begin to prepare or revise your own resume and
cover letter. If possible, bring a copy of your current resume and/or a copy of a cover
C. Why Are You Here at Marquette and in the U.S.? 5-8 min
letter that you have written to this session.
D. What Have You Gained from Studying and Living in the U.S.? 15 min
Facilitated by: Matt Meyers, Career Services Center
E. Cross-Cultural Experiences You’ve Had in the U.S. 15 min
Elizabeth Rullo, Graduate Assistant, Business Career Center
Small group
& reporting F. U.S. Cultural Values & Understanding Your Own Values & Beliefs 15 min
back
Assisted by: Jean Richie, ESL Lecturer
G. Exploring How Your Views of the U.S., Your Home Country, & 15 min
Ellen Blauw, Assistant Director of OIE
the World Have Changed
H. Wrap-Up & Workshop Evaluation 10 min
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3. Exit Course for Graduating International 3/18/2011
Students
Outline & Materials from Workshop #3 Assessment of the Workshops
This workshop was designed to be informational as well as interactive. Participants were Students
encouraged to bring and look at their own resumes and cover letters if they already had
drafts. • The students have indicated that the workshops have been useful and fit their needs.
This is demonstrated by written evaluations and verbal feedback.
Workshop Outline
• Although the number of participants has been fairly small (3-14 students) per workshop,
A. Welcome & Workshop Goals 2 min all students have been interested and engaged during the sessions.
B. Participant Introductions 3 min • Most students have contacted the facilitators for additional one-on-one assistance.
C. Resume Writing Information: Do’s & Don’ts 30 min
Workshop Facilitators
D. Analyzing Poor Sample Resumes in Small Groups 10 min
• All facilitators think the workshops are valuable and want to help with offering them
E. Cover Letter Writing Information 15 min again.
• Putting together the workshops has strengthened the relationship between OIE, the
F. Writing Thank You Letters 5 min
Career Services Center, and the Business Career Center.
H. Final Questions & Workshop Evaluation 10 min • OIE is interested in seeing how this initiative can help them to remain in better contact
with former and future international alumni and assist with their international recruitment.
Overall Conclusion: The workshops have been successful!
Next Steps: Workshops Next Steps: Online Materials
Given the success of the workshops, we will offer them again next spring. Although we will We will also likely create space online which features the content covered in the workshops.
use the same general workshop set-up, descriptions, and content, we will also make some Some items that might be housed in this space include:
changes:
• Informational webpages
1. We will use feedback from workshop participants, our own feedback from our planning
sessions, and feedback from the participants surveys and possibly “focus groups” to • Handouts from the workshops and additional informational handouts
revise the workshops as needed.
• PowerPoint presentations from the workshops
2. We will involve more alumni and employers in sessions when appropriate.
• Links to additional online resources
3. We will standardize our materials (e.g. PowerPoints, handouts, etc.) • Information on relevant Marquette print and video resources and their locations
4. We will expand the sessions to 2 hours and start on time. • Pictures and video clips from the workshop sessions
• Links to collaborating offices and other Marquette offices (e.g. Career Services Center,
5. We may involve other offices such as the Writing Center and Counseling Center. Business Career Center, Counseling Center, etc.)
6. We will try to increase the percentage of participants who complete the evaluation
forms.
These online materials would be particularly useful for international students who are
7. We will begin advertising the sessions earlier and have the OIE communications person unable to attend the workshops and for international alumni.
assist with creating and disseminating information.
8. We will take photos and video record the sessions.
Next Steps: The Proposed Course Electronic Copies
At this time, it seems unlikely that the proposed course will actually be run in the near
future. This is due to the following reasons:
Please visit http://www.marquette.edu/oie/eslptesol.shtml for
1. The ESL Program staff lacks the time and resources to run the course. electronic copies of the handouts and additional resources. Also,
2. The workshops and online material will accomplish most of what the course would and visit the TESOL SlideShare site at http://www.slideshare.net/.
for a potentially larger number of students.
3. Students like “free things” and realistically may not want to pay for this course. Please contact me at jean.richie@marquette.edu if you would like to
learn more about the workshops and the proposed course.
More data needs to be collected after the workshops and online materials are firmly
in place to determine if students really want to enroll in the course. If there is a
desire for the course, appropriate staff needs to be identified to teach it.
Thank you for coming to the presentation!
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