この春、旭川市立大学のジェフリー・カー准教授の授業とゼミでは、オーストラリア・シドニーのマッコーリー大学が実施する受賞歴のあるPACEインターンシップ・プログラムから、5名のオンライン・インターンを受け入れます。オンラインでのインターンシップ・プログラムは今年で4年目を迎え、これまでで最大の受け入れ人数となります。

過去4年間のインターンたちは、中国、韓国、香港、シンガポール、オーストラリア、アメリカ、パキスタン、バングラデシュといった多様な文化的背景を持ち寄り、さまざまな視点を共有してくれました。彼らは、EFL（外国語としての英語）による協働ライティング・プロジェクトやCLILゼミを支援し、少人数の学生グループに対してフィードバックや異文化間コミュニケーションのサポートを提供しています。

さらに、今年のインターンは、第二言語としての英語学習を支援するためにカスタマイズされたAIチャットボットの活用トレーニングを行う、試験的な新プログラムにも参加します。どうぞ温かく迎えてください！

This spring, Associate Professor Geoffrey Carr’s classes and seminar at Asahikawa City University will host five online interns from the award-winning PACE internship program at Macquarie University in Sydney, Australia. Now entering its fourth year, this online internship program welcomes its largest cohort of interns to date.

Over the past four years, our interns have brought with them a rich array of cultural perspectives, representing backgrounds from China, Korea, Hong Kong, Singapore, Australia, the United States, Pakistan, and Bangladesh. Through their work, they support collaborative EFL writing projects, assist in CLIL seminars, and provide personalized feedback and cross-cultural coaching in small-group sessions with students.

This year, the PACE interns will also take part in a pilot program aimed at training students to use AI chatbots designed specifically for second language writing support and feedback. We hope you’ll join us in warmly welcoming them!

Meet our Spring 2025 Interns!

自己紹介ビデオ Video Introductions

Macquarie University Intern Adriana Pandazopoulos

My name is Adriana Pandazopoulos (I promise my last name isn’t as scary to pronounce as it may seem!), and I am in my fifth year at Macquarie University. I am currently undertaking a double degree, studying a Bachelor of Commerce with a major in Marketing alongside a Bachelor Of International Studies with a major in Spanish and Latin American Studies. I live in Western Sydney, and it takes me about 20 minutes to get to university via Metro!

Initially, I was only interested in doing a single degree (Bachelor Of Commerce), until I realised how much I missed learning about different cultures and engaging with a new language. Growing up half Greek and Colombian and having done French during high school, it felt crazy for me not to study a language or immerse myself in something foreign. After doing a lot of thinking, I decided to apply for a double degree and add on a Bachelor of International Studies within my second year at uni.

The decision to combine my passion for marketing with international studies has honestly been a great choice as both degrees have paired so well together. I have been able to expand my knowledge of intercultural communication and have learned to appreciate that there is so much more to communication than just speaking a language; it involves understanding, empathy, and the ability to connect with others on a personal level.

In 2023 I was lucky enough to combine both my passions whilst undertaking an internship at a vegan Japanese cooking school! I interned as a digital marketer and gained lots of hands-on experience through filming cooking class content, managing social media accounts, and writing Japanese food blogs! The highlight for me was learning so much about Japanese culture – especially the amazing food! I am a big foodie at heart, so being surrounded by authentic Japanese cuisine made me so happy! Exploring various cuisines is honestly one of my favourite ways to immerse myself in different cultures. I can’t wait for the day that I get to visit Japan and submerge myself in everything that it has to offer!

Looking ahead, I hope to continue combining my love for marketing with my passion for culture and languages. Ideally, I’d love to work in an international setting particularly within the beauty or sports industry, whether that’s through digital marketing, brand strategy, or content creation. Until then, you will probably continue to find me exploring new cafes and being comforted by a Chai Latte.

I can’t wait to meet you all soon! 🙂

 

 

Macquarie University Intern Bella Smith

My name is Bella Smith and I was born in Sydney, Australia. When I was 8 years old I moved 2 hours south of Sydney to an area called the Southern Highlands.

It is much colder and quieter, and there are a lot of farms and national parks. I moved back to Sydney in 2022 to start studying at Macquarie University. I currently live between Sydney and the Southern Highlands, often going home to my parents’ house during my semester breaks and holidays. I am currently in my fourth year of completing a double degree, in which I study a Bachelor of Linguistics and Language Sciences, as well as a Bachelor of International Studies with a specialisation in German Studies.

In my studies, I focus a lot on intercultural exchange and communication and I am always learning about new cultures and how to overcome cultural and language barriers. I am very passionate about languages and language learning which has been especially encouraged by my studies in linguistics. The diversity of language in the pursuit of creating meaning and connection is something I am constantly fascinated by. In my future career, I am interested in pursuing language editing for a newspaper, online publication, or academic journal. In addition to studying German language and culture in university, I have also studied French and Italian in primary and high school. Studying linguistics has made me more interested in grammar forms as I continue to learn about the English language in more depth. I am also very passionate about reading and literature, and I am always looking for new and exciting books to read to challenge myself.

I have travelled a decent amount in my life so far, but I have not had the opportunity to travel abroad since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic. I have travelled to Vietnam, Zimbabwe, Botswana, South Korea, and Italy! Each place that I have travelled has offered unique and eye-opening cultural experiences, introducing me to new art, music, cuisine, and more. I also got to practice my hobby of photography as there are so many beautiful places and things to see. In Botswana I spent 2 weeks with a sister school participating in classes and activities that facilitated a significant degree of intercultural exchange, and ever since, I have been interested in learning more about other people and their experiences.

My family recently travelled to Japan (without me) and came back with some fascinating and inspiring stories to tell. This has only made me want to see Japan more! After I finish my degrees and graduate, I would love to travel again and visit Japan as I have been promised that there is a lot of amazing culture to engage with and learn from. I am really excited to learn more about Japan and Japanese culture as I go on this journey with you all!

 

 

Macquarie University Intern Jessica Buckley

I’m a third year student studying the Bachelor of Arts with a dual major in International Relations and French and Francophone Culture. I love all things languages and culture!

I live in North Queensland, Australia, and study online through Macquarie, so I’ve definitely mastered the online learning space. I live on the edge of my city, surrounded by nature, and I love it!

This is my view every day and I love it!!!

I’m fascinated by languages and how they change so rapidly in daily life yet also take generations to evolve. Alongside learning and practicing new languages, I love to teach and help people achieve their language goals! It’s wonderful to see someone achieve a level of language instruction they thought was never going to be possible.

Next year, I’m planning to enroll in my Master of Translation and Interpreting studies to further my cultural and language understanding of the world. I believe the ability to communicate with as many people as possible is an amazing thing.

I am looking forward to helping you all achieve your English language goals this year, and maybe I can learn some Japanese at the same time!

Macquarie University Intern Madeline O’Brien

Hi!

My name is Madeline O’Brien, but you can also call me Maddy. I’m a third-year student at Macquarie University, and I’m studying a Bachelor of International Studies specialising in Japanese. I’m 21 years old and have lived in Sydney my whole life. I’m excited to meet you all!

I chose to specialise in Japanese Studies because I wanted to learn more of the Japanese language, and about the culture and history of Japan.

My interest in Japan began with discovering its pop culture! For instance, I love playing video games, and many of my favourite game series are from Japan. I’m an especially big fan of mystery, RPG, story-driven, and rhythm games!

I also really like watching anime, and these shows were my first introduction to Japan. I borrowed so many anime series and manga from my local library during primary school, and I instantly became hooked. I’ve been obsessed ever since! My favourite genres are fantasy, shojo, romance, sports, and idol anime. What are your favourites?

 

 

 

I had the opportunity to go on exchange to Japan for two weeks in year 10 to our sister school in Toyota, Aichi Prefecture, and I absolutely loved it. I got to stay with an incredibly kind host family, got to try new and delicious food and had an amazing time!

I was able to visit so many places while I was there too! I went to Kyoto, Tokyo, Hiroshima, Nagoya and Toyota. I can’t wait to visit Japan again!

Do you have any places you recommend visiting?

I’m learning a foreign language too, so I can relate to the challenges you may be facing learning English. I just want to say, don’t be afraid of making mistakes! Learning a language can be challenging, and mistakes can help you learn!

During our time together, my goal is to help improve your English skills and teach you new things. I’m here to help you, so don’t be afraid to ask any questions you may have about English and culture! Also, I hope I can improve my Japanese and learn more about your culture too, so let’s try our best and learn together!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Macquarie University Intern Sean Yu

My name is Sean Yu, and I’m from Sydney, Australia. I’m in my fifth year of studying Japanese at Macquarie University. Throughout my studies, I’ve concentrated on Japanese literature, along with aspects of culture and contemporary social issues.

 

<<<First day in Japan

 

I chose Japanese studies as my major because I’m deeply fascinated by various aspects of Japanese culture, such as its rich history, unique lifestyle, and vibrant entertainment industry. I believe that to truly understand these elements, it’s essential to learn the Japanese language, as the two are so closely intertwined. This degree has not only deepened my appreciation for Japanese culture but has also broadened my perspective on other languages, including English, and introduced me to a variety of cultural viewpoints. The knowledge I’ve gained has sparked a growing interest in exploring different cultures, and I’m eager to apply these intercultural skills and insights to my future career.

 

 

Doraemon museum>>

 

In high school, I always dreamed of travelling to Japan to experience its culture, school life, and amazing food. Unfortunately, the exchange program was cancelled because there weren’t enough students signed up. However, last September, I finally got the chance to go to Tokyo through an exchange program offered by my university, where I studied Japanese for about six months. It was my first time visiting Japan, and the experience was incredible. I met people from all over the world who were also taking part in similar programs.

 

<<<Disney Sea

 

 

During my six-month exchange program, I visited many places, including Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Nara, Nagoya, Nikko, and then back to Tokyo to catch my flight back to Sydney. I mostly stayed in Tokyo until my final exam was over. My three favourite places I visited were Kamakura, with its beautiful Tsurugaoka Hachimangu Shrine and the famous Enoshima Electric Railway that runs next to the ocean (which you often see in photos online). Hakone, where I enjoyed the stunning lake scenery, despite the chilly winds that day, and the breathtaking view of Mount Fuji from the cable car, along with the famous Korotamago on top of the mountain.

Hakone – Torii of peace >>>

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiyomizu-Dera, I was lucky that the day I visited Kiyomizu-Dera, it was snowing, which made it feel like I had stepped into a snow-covered kingdom. It was an unforgettable experience, and I can’t wait to return to Japan to explore more places like Hokkaido for skiing and Aomori for its sweet apples, among many other amazing spots.