Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Case study: Westminster College and Colorado Free University




I went to Westminster College and got a Bachelor's Degree in International Studies. The college is in Fulton, Missouri. It is a very small town, but there are six universities in the area so there are lots of young people and hundreds of bars.


I liked this school for many reasons. I enjoyed the historical atmosphere and the old buildings - each had an interesting story. Also, most classes were small so I got to know all of my professors very well. My French professor sometimes cancelled class and we would go to her house to cook dinner, drink wine and practice our French. The social life at Westminster was very active. Most students lived on campus so my friends were always close. I joined a fraternity and lived in the "Beta House" with about 30 of my "brothers" until my last year when I got my own apartment near the campus.


My part-time job was giving tours of the Churchill Memorial - a museum for Winston Churchill. It was great meeting many tourists from all over the world!




After graduation, I moved to Denver, Colorado and started working. I missed school so started taking classes at the Colorado Free University. Unfortunately, it isn't "free", but it was very cheap. I took a German class and a beer-making class. The cool thing about this school is that they offer many kinds of strange and wonderful courses and anybody can teach there. If you have a skill you want to share, you can start you own classes and if people sign up, you get paid!


Have a look at the websites for these schools and answer one of the questions below.
1. What information was interesting for you?
2. What would you like to know more about?
3. Do you know of schools like these here in Japan?

23 comments:

  1. 1. I think the most interesting information for me is that the French teacher in Westminster College sometimes cancelled class and let students go to her house to cook dinner, etc. I also want such a teacher to teach me. And I am also interested in the stories of the old buildings in Westminster College.

    ko(female)

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  2. 2. What would you like to know more about?

    I checked the website of Colorado Free University, but I'd like to know if graduating from Colorado Free University, there are any differences between graduating from general universities? And shall we learn anything we want to learn at that university? such like cooking, design etc...

    Enji

    ReplyDelete
  3. 1. What information was interesting for you?

    All information about Colorado Free University was interesting for me,especially the part anybody can theach there.

    Shoko

    ReplyDelete
  4. (I forgot to put my name last time! The third posting was mine.)

    1. What information was interesting for you?
    The most interesting about Colorado Free University is anybody can teach there. I didn't know there are such kinds of schools. It is also interesting for me that the school was descended from free speech movement.

    Fumiko

    ReplyDelete
  5. 1,What information was interesting for you?
    It was very interesting for me that anyone can teach whatever they like at Colorado Free University.

    Yukari

    ReplyDelete
  6. 1. What information was interesting for you?
    The information of Colorado Free University was really interesting for me. I think it is so unique and creative. I wish we could have that kind of University in Japan so that everyone can continue learning new things without paying a lot.

    Ayumi

    ReplyDelete
  7. 1. What information was interesting for you?

    "a German class and a beer-making class",it sounds so cool! Especially I'm very interested in a beer-making class. It's very good to know the original cultures of different country from our own.

    Mamina Kanezashi

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  8. 1.

    I'm interested in a beer-making class,too. We can learn and enjoy at the same time.
    I heard that we can learn how to make wine in university of Yamanashi,although only for 20 years old or over!

    Megumi

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  9. 1.

    Colorado Free University is very interesting because there are so many kinds of courses. For example arts, beauty, photography, The Self & Personal Development, travel etc. If there were a school like this in Japan, I would like to go as my hobby and maybe I would teach easy Turkish there.

    Rena

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  10. 3. Do you know of schools like these here in Japan?

    Hoso university(the Open University of Japan---http://www.ouj.ac.jp/) is famous in Japan.
    By watching video program produced by OUJ, on TV or on the website, you can take classes and get degree even at home.
    Shiori

    ReplyDelete
  11. The most interesting thins is that there is a ghost hunting class in Colorado free university.
    I think, if English teachers in Japan give this class in Halloween season as a class of larning Amreican culture, many students can enjoy the class and some of them can have interest in English.

    Kaori

    ReplyDelete
  12. 2.
    It was interesting to look through the website of a college in the United States. I found the student calendar interesting, as many events (club meetings and social activities) were listed up.
    I would like to know if the university actually had anything to do with Winston Churchill, or why the Churchill Memorial exists on the campus.

    Remi

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  13. 1.
    Colorad Free University is very interesting and attractive!
    I was surprised because I didn't think there are so many classes there. Especially, season special event, for example Halloween, is the most interesting for me.

    Miri

    ReplyDelete
  14. 1. What information was interesting for you?
    I had a look the website of the Colorado Free University and found Halloween events! It is very interesting and attractive for me.
    I hope Japanese proffessors do more interesting classes...

    Yuna

    ReplyDelete
  15. 1. What information was interesting for you?
    It was so interesting for me that there were on-line classes in Colorado Free University. I thought that I wished I could have started a Japanese class if I had the skill to teach it.

    Maki

    ReplyDelete
  16. 1. What information was interesting for you?

    In the website of Colorado Free University, the information of classes is interesting for me, because it has a lot of interesting classes!
    I found "Wine Tasting" class, it is very interesting for me.
    Drinking in class sounds and tastes very good, isn't it?

    Jumpei

    ReplyDelete
  17. 1

    It was interesting for me that in the web site of the Westminister college, there were a lot of pictures of the college and the dormitory.

    Misato Fujii

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  18. I checked the website for Westminster College, where I can find an interesting event.
    "Campus Classic Overnight Visit Program" caught my eyes, this event looks so fun and unique!
    At TUFS, for example, it's not allowed to stay overnight in the campus or domitory, even we student.(I know some undergraduate student can live at the domitory, but not for normal student.) That's why I found this program at Westminster College very interesting.
    If I would have a chance, I would deffinetely join this activities.

    Yoshimi

    ReplyDelete
  19. 1.
    The Colorado Free University seemed like a very interesting school with many unique classes. On the website, I found a ghosthunting class which teaches the basics of ghosts and paranormal activites and I think it would be an intriguing experience to study something like this.

    ReplyDelete
  20. 1. What information was interesting for you?

    I was intrested in the Westminster College's atmosphere. According to Website's information, this college allows students to live their school life freely and gives them oppotunities to get more excited.
    I think this liberal atmosphere is the strong point of this college, most of students in this college perhaps try to find what they want to do, broaden their outlook on life by themselves.


    Kou GOSHIMA

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  21. 1. As everyone said, classes of Colorado Free University are really interesting! Especially Wine Classes attract me. How fun is learning about good wine (and drinking wine) in class instead of taking a boring class! Also, I’m glad to know that there are some Japanese language classes.

    Sachiho

    ReplyDelete
  22. 1. What information was interesting for you?

    French professor in Westminster College is very nice ! I think for studying foreign language, student should have experience of local culture and good motivation. If I would take such a class, could keep high motivation!

    Tomoko Nakmaura

    ReplyDelete