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Conference 2014

Getting Back to Basics

In collaboration with CBIE

May 12, 13, 14, 2014 Barrie, Ontario

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Thank you to our sponsors:

DIAMOND SPONSORS

SILVER SPONSORS

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PLENARY SPEAKERS

Tod Maffin is a leading international authority on the “Facebook Generation” and will share his insight into

how international educators can engage and service this audience in a rapidly changing, and increasingly

connected world. Tod has done presentations for a variety of education related organizations, including

British Columbia Council for International Education, the Nova Scotia School Board Association, BC Public

School Employers Association, BC Teachers’ Federation, BC Public School Employers Association, and E-

Learning Consortium, Florida, among many others.

Ian Crookshank is the Director of Student Community Life at Ryerson University, and Michelle Green is

Project Coordinator, International Student Mental Health. The Project, “Speaking your Language: A Pilot

Program for Promoting Mental Health Awareness and Support for International Students and New

Canadians” is one of 10 projects approved by the Government of Ontario that will improve access to high-

quality mental health services. The project was awarded $281,250 over two years and is a partnership with

Ryerson University, the University of Toronto, and OCAD University. One of the goals of the project is to

develop an intercultural tool kit for mental health services for international students at post-secondary

institutions.

WORKSHOP DESCRIPTIONS

LEGEND

ISA Int’l Student Advising &

Support Services

EMA Exchange/Mobility

Advising and Support

SLP Second Language

Programming

IID Internationalization and

Institutional Development

MONDAY MAY 12, 2014

Intercultural Communication Gabriela Facchini | Georgian College

ISA

Learn how to communicate across cultures. Learn to listen for cultural cues. Understand how culture

affects every aspect of our lives and how it affects the way we respond to international students. Be more

aware of Western vs. Asian cultures and how they listen and understand things differently. Understand

how culture plays an important part of decision making. Learn how to modify cultural expectations.

Envision, Plan, Measure Lynne Mitchell, Veronica Sanchez | Canadian Bureau for International Education

EMA

In 2014, CBIE introduced the Education Abroad Advisory Committee (EAAC), comprising expert members

from across Canada who will take the pulse of the education abroad community to help CBIE identify

critical issues and resources to advance education abroad for Canadians. The EAAC will also participate in

activities designed to influence the discussion around the implementation of Canada’s International

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Education Strategy. This session will serve as an introduction to the EAAC as well as an opportunity to

roundtable on priority issues.

Creating Intercultural Opportunities Tamara Fisher-Cullen | Georgian College

SLP

“Learning English is easy, it’s learning about Canada and Canadians that is hard.” Anecdotal feedback from

EAP students and a recent CBIE study indicate that international students often struggle to connect with

their Canadian counterparts in meaningful ways on and off campus. Participants will explore the use of the

Human Library Project and cultural observations to engage and promote sociolinguistic confidence in EAP

students and intercultural learning amongst all participants. Discuss the benefits and limitations of such

learning activities as well as an outline of the teaching and learning required to create opportunities for

meaningful interactions that extend beyond the classroom.

CIC/ISP Changes Discussion

Join us in an open discussion regarding the new CIC/ISP changes effective June 1st, 2014. This session will be

facilitated by Georgian College’s Bea Collins, International Student Advisor, and Cindy Mutchler, Associate

Registrar.

TUESDAY MAY 13, 2014

Managing the Masses: An Effective Model for Growing International Departments Shawna Luey, Michele Ruicci, Tatiana Young | Niagara College

ISA

Niagara International services 2000 international students. Building on the principle of mentorship, Niagara

International now employs 15 frontline student staff. Join us to learn how this model became an integrated

and successful tool to increase our international student retention and satisfaction. We will look at the

successes and challenges, recruitment and logistics, and feedback from staff and students who work within

this model daily. This session may be of interest to anyone who works within a high volume international

department, including service staff, faculty, and administration.

Changing Perceptions of the “Other” Rex Fyles | University of Ottawa

EMA

Educators responsible for designing international work-study placements and exchanges face the pedagogic

challenge of enabling their students to take a step back from their own class, gender and post-colonial

identities long enough to appreciate the perspectives of host classmates, co-workers, and neighbours from

distinctly different backgrounds. This task has become more complex in recent years given highly charged

public debates in countries where Canadian students frequently undertake internships and exchanges.

Vocabulary Learning and the Inverted Class James Papple | Brock University

SLP

This session will present a flipped classroom approach to vocabulary learning for an advanced EAP speaking

program. The project focused on direct and targeted vocabulary through an online quiz and project format.

The presentation will review the project from design to completion.

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Be in the Know with INTL International Network for Tomorrow's Leaders (INTL) Lisa Deacon | CBIE Nadya Maskurova | Queens University Michelle Adams, Melissa Dileo | Wilfrid Laurier University Kristen Bramberger, Elise Gordezky | University of Guelph

IID

Are you new to your institution? Are you new to your position? Are you new to the field of international

education? The International Network of Tomorrow's Leaders (INTL) invites you to come and learn about

their Mentorship Program, new working group, new ideas, and exciting projects for your professional

development and networking.

The Many Hats of the ISA Laura Fakla | Niagara College

ISA

With the new regulations that limit immigration advising by the ISA, we have indirectly been given an

opportunity to strengthen the many other skills and roles we engage in to help student success and

retention. In this session we will brainstorm the various hats we wear and look at actual case studies to

determine which role/skill we can engage to assist and retain a student. This session is open to all levels of

experience in the advising role.

Probing for Answers: Why University of Guelph Inquire About Studying Abroad but Don’t Apply Lisa Alleyne | University of Guelph

EMA

Every year, a large number of students attend Study Abroad Information Sessions at the University of

Guelph, but only approximately half this number actually applies. What is stopping interested students

from taking the next step? The University of Guelph conducted a survey to understand this gap. This

session will present the major findings of this survey and solutions to increase the number of students we

send abroad.

A Post-Secondary Perspective on EAP in Ontario: Panel Discussion Valerie Kilgour | Wilfrid Laurier University Trish Coles | Centennial College Ian Wigglesworth | George Brown College

SLP

International student support staff are often aware that their students are in need of "help with their

English", but what kind of English do students learn in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) programs at

public institutions? What is the difference between EAP and ESL? We will address some trends in EAP,

including the use of teaching and learning technologies and the current landscape of EAP in Ontario. The

panelists moderating this discussion are administrators of EAP programs at colleges and universities with

expertise in a wide range of EAP-related topics.

Recognize Me: Enhancing the Profile of International Education Professionals Veronica Sanchez | Canadian Bureau for International Education Abu Arif| University of Ontario Institute of Technology Ben Yang | Wilfrid Laurier University

ISA

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The field of international education has experienced rapid growth in recent years as it becomes the

preferred career path for new education professionals. This has resulted in a more diverse and complex

workplace for international education professionals. CBIE's Professional Recognition Advisory Committee

has developed a portfolio framework for professional recognition in international education. In this session,

facilitators will introduce the framework and engage the audience in providing feedback.

Culture, Gender and Sexuality: Queer Competency to Support Sexual Minority Students Asim Ashraf, Scott Clarke | University of Toronto Allison Hector-Alexander | Durham College and the University of Ontario Institute of Technology Abu Arif| University of Ontario Institute of Technology

ISA

This session aims to highlight the role of culture in shaping gender role and sexual identity. Drawing upon a

recent event with queer international students at the University of Toronto – St. George Campus,

presenters will lead discussion on how international educators can empower and support international

students who identify themselves as sexual minority and/or are in the process of exploring their queer

identities. In this session participants will also be discussing connections between homophobia,

transphobia, racism and culture, and how to empower students to overcome homophobia in cross-cultural

settings.

Diving Into the World of Apps for International Students Daniel van den Berg | Queen's University

ISA

This session will address the practical steps taken at QUIC in developing a mobile application that caters to

international students in their pre-arrival, arrival, and stay at Queen’s University. It will put forward the

rationale for initiating such a project and what makes an app a valuable resource for students. It will point

to aspects that went as expected as well as unexpected issues that came up throughout the process that

should be taken into account. There will be a focus on engaging activities and discussion throughout the

session.

How Can We Help: Examining Case Studies and Sharing Experiences in International Advising Maggie Xiaohui Liang | University of Waterloo

ISA

International students face many changes when arriving at a new school in a new country. The Canadian

social, academic and cultural systems may differ significantly from those of the home countries. This

creates crucial challenges in their daily life. As international student educators, how do we help students

overcome these barriers to ensure a smoother transition and a better life? Different people in different

institutions may have different answers. This session, based on two case scenarios, will provide

opportunities for participants to discuss in groups their advising approaches, procedures and on-campus

and community resources.

WEDNESDAY MAY 14, 2014

Orientation: A Community Affair Nancy Gallo | Lakehead University

ISA

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This session will center on a practical approach to orientation, one which involves the university and the

community as a whole, providing all of the practical tools our international students may need. This

involvement includes various government agencies (Service Canada, Service Ontario, O.P.P., Municipal

government, sexual health units, Regional health departments etc.). It will also encompass businesses of

vital importance to our new students (cell phone providers, banks, local food services, landlord and tenant

services, transit etc.).

Understanding Cultural Interfaces in Higher Education: The Ombuds as Interpreter Duncan McDonald | University of Calgary

ISA

The role of an Ombudsperson is unique in a campus community. The principles of Informality, Impartiality,

Confidentiality and Independence provide a unique space for all students to disclose issues that are not

always raised elsewhere. This session will explore the role of the Ombudsperson, and how through best

practices, Ombuds are able to provide support for international students. Case studies will be used to

discuss such hot button issues as: Academic Integrity, Cultural Interfaces and Retention of Students.

Taking a LEAP: Trying a New Approach to EAP Programming Joanne Millard, Shira Packer | York University

SLP

Brazil’s Science without Borders (SwB) scholarship program aims to send 101,000 Brazilian students abroad

by 2015 to study at international universities. Canada alone will welcome 12,000 Brazilian students, all of

whom must first attain acceptable English language proficiency. This session will discuss how the York

University English Language Institute accommodated a cohort of SwB students who were approved to study

a condensed English language program. We will present the rationale for the program design, relate

logistical, curricular, and assessment lessons learned in the process of the program roll-out, discuss

students’ and instructors’ feedback, and students’ ultimate success.

Breaking Down Barriers: ESL Activity Breaking Down Social Barriers & Develops Language Skills Leigh-Ellen Keating | Lakehead University

SLP

Many English language programs and international office programs include social activities designed to

enhance student experience, develop friendships, encourage language learning, and break down social

barriers. Unwittingly, outcomes from these social programs often result in student behavior, attitudes and

peer groups that actually run counter to the intention of the institution's internationalization objectives.

This presentation will explore some of the current trends in social activities for international, specifically

English language students, and their impacts, and then discuss the programming being run by Lakehead

University English Language program.

International Student Programs Jagdish Yadav | Senior Advisor, Education Economic Development & Culture for the City of Toronto

SLP

Jagdish will speak to International Student Programs in three main areas: Airport Welcome Program,

International Student Festival and At-Home-in-Toronto events.