By Michelle Williamson

Over Spring Break, Kristi Louya and I led 14 students around Japan. During that week, we ate authentic local Japanese foods and sweets; spent a ridiculous amount of time debating which Japanese convenience store is best (7-Eleven seems to be the winner for this group); interacted with people of varying backgrounds, beliefs, and points of view; and even learned how to use Japan’s world-renowned public transportation system! Well, kind of with that last one. When to use a "JR Pass" versus a "Pasmo card" still remains a bit of a mystery.

Even more importantly, our students got to see how truly big the world is as we explored Tokyo, one of the largest cities in the world, with its sprawling, seemingly infinite streets and its endless sea of people, each one the protagonist of their own story. As a trip leader, I enjoyed seeing students look outside of themselves to the world around them. They asked thought-provoking questions, engaged with not only each other but also our tour guide and locals, and enthusiastically explored Japan’s rich history, culture, and traditions.

We were even fortunate enough to talk with Mito Kosei, a survivor of the Hiroshima bombing, when we journeyed to the Hiroshima Peace Memorial Museum. His account of his and his family’s struggles during and after the atomic bomb was particularly impactful as we stood listening with the Atomic Bomb Dome, the only structure left standing near the hypocenter of the bomb’s explosion, looming in the background. Overall, our time in Japan was transformative and left students eager to not only return to Japan but also to continue expanding their horizons by seeing more of the world and all it has to offer.

By Amy Holmes

Congratulations to Debra Ford for globalizing HSE 225 Crisis Intervention through UNC World View! This is UNC World View's first human services course!

Read about Debra's experience applying for the Global Distinction Curriculum grant and globalizing her course.

Irish Music Night is Thursday, March 23rd at 7:00 pm! Come out and support Niamh Murray, Aaron Prillaman, and International Education!

By Phil Tietjen

Video is a popular and compelling tool for teaching. Especially if you teach an online course, it offers an effective way to build a more meaningful and authentic connection with your students. But sometimes, it’s not always easy to think of different ways to use video in your teaching. Fortunately, the office of Learning Design offers a free micro-course called Using Video to Enhance Your Teaching. It’s available through Moodle and completely self-paced and asynchronous so you can access it whenever it’s convenient for your schedule.