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Global opportunities on campus

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There are many ways that York students can gain international experience without leaving York. The Centre for Global Programmes provides short-courses for students from around the world with which York students can get involved through events and work experience opportunities. To keep updated with all our upcoming opportunities, register to be on our mailing list.

Academic

We currently have no upcoming courses or workshops, but hope to offer them again in the academic year 2020/21.

Events

We currently have no upcoming events, but hope to offer them again in the academic year 2020/21.

 

Work experience

Peer Assisted Learning (PAL for CGP)

What is PAL for English language and culture?
PAL is a support scheme where University students (PAL leaders) facilitate support sessions for short course students from the Centre for Global Programmes (CGP) to enhance their own understanding of English language and culture. The CGP students will be mainly from Japan and have an intermediate level of English. The sessions will take place within a friendly and informal environment. PAL for CGP is open to University students of all years and although a good command of the English language is necessary, PAL leaders do not have to be native English speakers. All PAL leaders will receive training.

The CGP students will be studying English language and culture and will be conducting cultural research projects. The role of the mentoring scheme will be for PAL leaders to offer support and assistance in these areas to the CGP students. The purpose of PAL is both to enhance the academic experience and also to offer informal support with the personal challenges of studying and living in the UK.

How is PAL organised?
Each PAL Leader is assigned a small number of CGP students and will arrange to meet once a week for a one-hour session.

What happens in a PAL session?
CGP students choose what they want to cover in a session, according to what they feel they need support with or are interested in discussing; this will usually be English language-related queries or assistance with their cultural projects. Whilst PAL is an excellent context to practise oral language skills and reinforce understanding of key concepts, the focus is not exclusively academic. PAL is about learning in all forms, including the wider experience of University life.

Sessions are informal and are not a supplement to teaching. The main focus of the sessions is on sharing ideas at a peer-to-peer level.

What are the benefits?
For PAL Leaders:

  • developing leadership, teamwork, interpersonal and organisational skills
  • personal satisfaction of supporting others
  • York Award recognition
  • excellent experience for employability, especially for those thinking of teaching English in the future
  • quality-assured, highly interactive training in small-group facilitation techniques.

Paid mentors and volunteer buddies

Throughout the year we recruit both student mentors and student buddies to work with us on our courses. The main recruitment periods are in January for work in the spring and early summer for positions in August. Both of these opportunities are great ways to increase your intercultural competency, gain international experience without leaving the campus and look great on your CV!

What is a student buddy?

The role of a buddy is to help our visiting students integrate into university life and life in York. This is a volunteer role which can be done in a number of ways, such as:

  • inviting our students to university events
  • introducing our students to your friends
  • meeting up with our students in the city centre
  • attending International Conversation Afternoon with our students
  • attending group lunches and other social events organised by CGP
  • meeting up with our students on campus for lunch and coffee
  • going on trips organised by CGP together
  • trying to see each other on a regular basis.

An ideal candidate for this role is someone who is sociable, enjoys meeting new people, and learning about new cultures. You need to be available to meet your buddy at least once a week as a minimum requirement.

Important: working with us as a successful student buddy will strengthen your application for International Study Centres or other Study Abroad opportunities. Discover more about the advantages of studying abroad.

What is a mentor?

A mentor is a paid part-time role where you are required to provide social and classroom support to our short course students. Providing social support would be your main role and this may include helping students to book trips to other cities in the UK, providing advice on living in York, organising social events, assisting students to integrate into the general UoY student body, among others. You may also be asked to assist students to prepare and rehearse for their final presentations.

An ideal candidate for this role is someone who has excellent social skills and a warm, welcoming and supportive manner. Furthermore, a mentor should be able to adapt their communication style to different cultural contexts and be aware of the difficulties that visiting students might face when studying in a foreign country.

Mentors are required to be available for the duration of the course and to have some degree of flexibility with their availability. A mentor will generally be required to complete their required number of hours between Monday to Friday. Working with us as a student buddy first is a great way to strengthen your mentor application.

Student Social Coordinators 

We look for part-time student social coordinators at various periods throughout the year. 

Student Social Coordinators job description

  • To organise a weekly social event for our CGP students
  • To create weekly and monthly social calendars
  • To attend International Conversation Afternoon on a weekly basis
  • To run a weekly help desk, helping students with their travel arrangements and other questions related to living and studying in York
  • To carry out tours of the campus with CGP students
  • To do airport pick-ups and departures

For more information on any opportunity, contact cgpshortcourses-group@york.ac.uk

Centre for Global Programmes
Derwent College,
University of York,
Heslington,
York,
YO10 5DD

Tel: +44 (0) 1904 322846

cgpshortcourses-group@york.ac.uk