Author: Anna Ondieki

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Midterm Wellness Tip: Visit On-Campus Healthcare Facilities

4. Visit on-campus healthcare facilities

Did you know you have wellness resources readily available to you just for being a Mason student? Here’s a few to check out: 

Counseling and Psychological Services (CAPS) 

CAPS provides free and confidential short-term mental health services for enrolled students.  If your needs require a different level of care, CAPS will work with you to transition care to community or off-campus providers. If you are interested in connecting with a provider in the community for long-term counseling, please visit the Find a Community Provider page for their database of community provider options and other options for connecting with a therapist.  

In order to begin services with CAPS, please come to their office located in Student Union Building 1 (SUB 1), Suite 3129. If you are unable to come to their office, you can call them at 703-993-2380. 

Student Health Services 

Student Health Services provides accessible and affordable health care services for all currently enrolled Mason students in a caring and confidential environment. From diagnosis and treatment of illness and injury, to immunizations and prescriptions, Student Health Services is here for you. If Student Health is closed, call 703-993-2831 and follow phone prompts to speak with the after-hours nurse advice service for medical concerns. 

** There is no charge to be seen by one of their healthcare providers. There are fees for lab tests, immunizations, medications, supplies, physical exams, procedures, and some services. 

Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) 

The Student Support and Advocacy Center (SSAC) offers an empowering environment for all Mason students to seek support services and to explore healthy life choices. They offer educational programming, one-on-one consultations, and resources in the areas of sexual and interpersonal violence, financial well-being, substance use, and collegiate recovery. The SSAC also assists students encountering barriers to personal success. You can request support or make a referral here.  

TimelyCare 

Mason students now have FREE access to TimelyCare – a virtual mental health and well-being platform crafted specifically for college students! 

With TimelyCare, Mason students have access to a multitude of virtual mental health and well-being resources that are free and available 24/7. Find out more about the resources available online at Timelycare.com/gmu or download the app in Google Play or the App Store.  

Midterm Morale Boost Graphic
Join Us for the Midterm Morale Boost 

Are you in need of a boost in the midst of your busy midterm season? Join us on Thursday, March 9 in the Thompson Hall Lobby on the Fairfax Campus for our Spring 2023 CEHD Midterm Morale Boost! From 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, enjoy free snacks and activities like succulent planting and aromatherapy! 

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Midterm Wellness Tip: Create Balance & Routine

Create Balance & Routine

 

You may have heard the quote “we all have the same 24 hours in the day.” But when assignment deadlines, personal commitments, and other life responsibilities roll around, it’s easy to feel like you don’t know where those hours went! Establishing a routine filled with balance may help you take charge of your 24 hours. Read below for time management strategies that can help you create a routine that balances all the competing areas of your life while also leaving time for YOU! 

Tackle Small Tasks to Start 

When you have several projects and exams to study for, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed. Resist the urge to procrastinate by starting with shorter items. Crossing off a task from your to-do list will give you motivation to get started on those larger projects! 

Give Yourself Breaks 

It may seem counterintuitive to stop working when you have so much to do. But taking breaks can actually help increase your productivity when you are trying to get work done. One way to make the most of your work time is to schedule breaks using The Pomodoro Technique, which involves setting up a timer to have short bursts of uninterrupted working time followed by a scheduled break. However you choose to do it, make sure you are giving yourself time to breathe while knocking out that to-do list! 

Schedule Time to Do Something You Love 

When creating your routine, make sure you leave time for the things you love. While your main goal right now is probably to earn that degree, it is worth noting that you are a dynamic person – your identity as a college student isn’t your whole personality. It is vital for your wellness to focus on what lights you up – and that may require scheduling time in your busy day to do so. So, if you know you get a boost of energy after spending time with friends, don’t feel guilty for scheduling a hang out!  

Interested in learning more time management techniques? View this blog post by Purdue.  

Midterm Morale Boost Graphic
Join Us for the Midterm Morale Boost 

Are you in need of a boost in the midst of your busy midterm season? Join us on Thursday, March 9 in the Thompson Hall Lobby on the Fairfax Campus for our Spring 2023 CEHD Midterm Morale Boost! From 10:00 am – 12:00 pm, enjoy free snacks and activities like succulent planting and aromatherapy! 

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Spring 2023 Career Fairs

Spring 2023 Career Fairs

Are you interested in learning what career opportunities await you after graduation? Looking to make connections with potential employers in your field? Take a moment to scroll through the several Career Fairs taking place at Mason this Spring, some specifically for CEHD students! 

Spring 2023 Career Fair

Mason’s Spring Career Fair is Wednesday, February 22 & Thursday, February 23, and this is your opportunity to meet with employers, connect with alumni, find opportunities, and plan for the future! More than 200 employers will be taking over the entire lower level of the Johnson Center for two days in search of Mason talent to fill full-time positions, part-time jobs, and internships. To help you get ready, University Career Services is hosting two days of Resume Clinic and a Prepare for the Fair Workshop before the big event. Get all the details here!

2023 Education Recruitment Day

Education Recruitment Day will be in Dewberry Hall at the Johnson Center on Wednesday, March 8. There are already 72 employers planning to be on-campus for the day to connect with CEHD students. If you are interested in teaching, counseling, social work, speech language pathology, occupational therapy, or related fields, do not miss this hiring event from 9:00 – 11:30 am. Mark your calendar and put in your leave request from work that day. Employers will be conducting interviews in the afternoon with jobseekers identified at the fair in the morning, so it is possible to have a job offer by the end of the day!

2023 Career Jam
Career Jam Flyer

Are you a Sports, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), Kinesiology or Communication student looking for potential career or internship opportunities? Stop by the 2023 Career Jam on Tuesday, March 7 from 3 to 6 pm in Dewberry Hall! This is the perfect occasion to find potential internship and job opportunities with top employers in our industries. This event is designed to help you network, explore opportunities within the field, and get a chance to meet with employers who are looking to hire you. You don’t want to miss it! 

Please use this link to RSVP by February 28 at 5 pm. We hope to see you there! 

This event is in collaboration with the School of Sports, Recreation, and Tourism Management (SRTM), the School of Kinesiology (SOK), the Department of Communication, and the College of Visual and Performing Arts. 

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Summer 2023 CEHD Study Abroad Opportunities

Summer 2023 CEHD Study Abroad Opportunities

Are you interested in experiencing different cultures while completing your degree requirements? Consider studying abroad! Faculty from the College of Education and Human Development are leading engaging study abroad opportunities for Summer 2023. Keep reading for information about two of our upcoming trips to Finland and to Germany and France. Be sure to apply by the deadline of March 10, 2023!

Finland – Finnish Education System, Physical Activity, and Sport Culture: Mason-led, Summer 2023

Watch this video by Dr. Risto Marttinen & Dr. Daniel Ferguson to learn more!

Program Overview

Students will travel first from the U.S.A. to Helsinki. There, Mason students board a train to Jyväskylä which is home to the top research university in Finland for sports, physical activity, and physical education. The University of Jyväskylä has offered summer school courses for undergraduate students from around the world for several years. Each summer there are 5 intensive one-week sessions of courses. The specific courses, focusing on human sciences and education are of most interest to students in Kinesiology, the School of Education, and specifically teacher candidates.

Mason students will first take their first course titled “Education in Finland” which highlights one of the best education programs in the world. The second course is “Physical Activity, Sport, Health and Health Promotion: International Perspectives” and takes a global perspective to sports culture. After classes, the university organizes trips with other international students to the lake to enjoy a relaxing sauna, quiz nights with students, as well as excursions to local sporting events. The trip also includes a visit to Helsinki, the 2nd northernmost capital city in the world.

Program Highlights

  • Learn about one of the best education systems in the world focused on equity
  • Explore sporting culture and health through a global lens
  • Interact with students from around the world while learning in a top-rated research university

Learn More & Apply

Germany and France – European Model of Sport: Mason-led, Summer 2023

Program Overview

The European Model of Sport is a study abroad program that takes students on a seminar through Europe, giving them a unique firsthand experience in international sports. The course is designed to introduce students to the European model of sport management, marketing, and sport law; and to provide students with an understanding of the changing context for sport in a global society. Participants will attend lectures from European sport executives, conduct student workshops, participate in organized class discussions as well as activities, and tour sport facilities. The seminar covers two countries: Italy and Greece.  You will be traveling with group from Guilford College (NC) and Troy University (AL), of similar size and academic interest.

Representatives of top international sport organizations will present a wide range of issues during the program. Topics will include the structure and characteristics of European sports, marketing and management in European sports, sports law, professional soccer, handball, etc.

Program Highlights

  • Ten-day tour of 2 European countries
  • Partnered with Troy University
  • Cultural interpretations and their impact on European sport management principles

Learn More & Apply

A Note From The Global Education Office

When you join Mason Nation, you’re already a part of an international community. Our students come from dozens of countries, and faculty members have research partners worldwide.

Opportunities for international study and service abound in every department and program, and the Global Education Office presents several introductory and information programs throughout the school year. 

We’ll help you find the right fit, explore financial aid sources, research visa requirements, and arrange for housing. Our experts will be there for every step of the process.

Get started by filling out a profile. We’ll help you take it from there.

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TESOL Acronyms With Dr. Shin

TESOL Acronyms with Dr. Shin

ELL, EL, LEP, ESOL, TESOL, ESL, EFL, EAL, EIL. . . keeping up with the latest terms in education can feel like learning a new language! Dr. Joan Shin, Professor of Education at Mason and Director of Mason’s Global Online Teacher Education Center (GOTEC), has published a video to help students understand some of these commonly used acronyms. Watch this video by Dr. Shin or continue reading to learn more about what each of these terms really means and how to distinguish between them!

What does ELL stand for?

ELL –  English Language Learner is the term that I hear people using the most often these days – especially my students, who are all preparing to become ESOL teachers. This is a good way to describe our students who are learning English as a second or additional language. However, it isn’t the most current way to refer to them!

What is the most current way to refer to students who are learning English as a second or additional language?

EL – English Learner is the most updated term to use! This is what is being used now by the US Department of Education and you will start to see this more often. When we are talking or writing about our students who are learning English as a second or additional language, we want to try to use this term now.

Are there any other terms that refer to students who are learning English as a second or additional language?

LEP – Limited English Proficient is the old way to refer to our students who are learning English in our schools. This term is not currently used, as we don’t want to describe our students as “limited.” I only mention it because you may still see this on school documents or old articles. Always try to use EL – English Learner to refer to our students!

What are the terms that refer to teaching EL students?

ESOL –  English to Speakers of Other Languages is a popular term because it doesn’t exclude students who are multilingual – maybe they’re learning English as a third or fourth language. This is a common term in schools, and is also used in our program!

Are there any other terms that refer to teaching EL students?

TESOL – Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages is a term used to describe our field of study – you might be studying how to teach ESOL. You might also see TESOL to refer to a teacher association, in which case it stands for Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages and TESOL International Association is a great place to learn more about how to teach your English Learners. 

What is the difference between ESL and EFL?

ESL – English as a Second Language is used in the context where English is commonly spoken, like here in the United States, so we usually think about students studying it as a second language.

EFL – English as a Foreign Language is when English is being taught in a context where English is not commonly spoken. For example, in South Korea or Brazil oftentimes we describe students as learning English as a Foreign Language.

When you see these two terms in articles or in information about programs, now you know the difference – it depends on where you are learning English! 

Are there any other terms I should know?

EAL – English as an Additional Language is often used nowadays instead of ESL – English as a Second Language. As previously mentioned, we have many students who are studying English, but it’s not their second language. Students who come from countries where people are multilingual might prefer to be described as learning English as an Additional Language.

EIL – English as an International Language might be used in place of EFL – English as a Foreign Language. This distinction emphasizes the status of English as a global language. People are learning English all over the world in order to communicate as a kind of as a “lingua franca.” It is this recognition that it isn’t necessarily a foreign language for people around the world – they’re learning this as an international language.

I’m interested in learning more about Mason’s TESOL and Foreign Language Education Programs. Where should I start?

Learn more about Mason’s Academic Programs related to Teaching English for Speakers of Other Languages Here.

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