UCLA Extension-Toyo University Collaborate on International Education Initiatives


LOS ANGELES, CA--(Marketwired - Jul 21, 2015) - UCLA Extension announces the Toyo University-UCLA Extension Center for Global Education collaboration. The partnership allows the schools to offer Business English Communication (BEC) to professionals in Tokyo, Japan.

"This collaboration highlights the expertise of both Toyo University and UCLA Extension," says Wayne Smutz, Dean of Continuing Education and UCLA Extension. "Quality content is our strength and we offer this knowledge and experience to participants."

BEC offers courses to professionals who wish to strengthen communication skills, ranging from presentations, negotiations, team leadership, correspondence and other important skills for greater business success. Courses meet for three hours a week for 9 weeks for a total of 27 hours of instruction. Both schools anticipate international professionals will find these dynamic cross-cultural courses effective. Also, the curriculum incorporates online learning components with Canvas, a platform for connecting all digital tools for teaching and learning.

Located in downtown Tokyo, the Toyo University-UCLA Extension Center for Global Education addresses the initiative set forth by the Japanese Ministry of Education to promote international education and English language studies. Toyo University is part of the Top Global 37 universities in Japan advancing this initiative. The American Language Center at UCLA Extension, which manages the program, has been offering English as a Second Language Programs (ESL) in Japan for nearly a decade.

David Tedone, a UCLA Extension Distinguished Instructor, leads the BEC in Japan. His combination of in-depth business knowledge and familiarity of Japanese culture makes him uniquely qualified for the task. Additionally, applied linguistics professor emeritus Donna Brinton who worked for more than 25 years at University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) as a lecturer and coordinator of UCLA's ESL courses and as associate director of UCLA's Center for World Languages, is a guest lecturer in the customized Faculty Development Program hosted by Toyo University starting later this summer.

Future plans include offering English courses for middle school and high school teachers at the Toyo University-UCLA Extension Center for Global Education.

For more information about the Toyo University-UCLA Extension Center for Global Education, please contact the American Language Center at 310-825-9068, or email: pcolabucci@uclaextension.edu.

About UCLA Extension
UCLA Extension is the continuing education division of the University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA). We offer courses evenings and weekends in Westwood and Downtown LA, plus online classes available around the globe. Courses range from business, arts, engineering and IT to entertainment studies, public policy, public health, humanities, ESL and more. Explore at uclaextension.edu.

Contact Information:

Contact:
Amy Prenner
(310) 709-1101

UCLA Extension Dean Wayne Smutz