Enhancing secondary to tertiary pathways: The ANU EngageAsia 2-day immersion workshop model

What role can tertiary institutions play in encouraging secondary students to continue with their language and culture studies at the tertiary level? This study will explore the impact of a targeted 2-Day Immersion Workshop model in developing successful transitional pathways. The inaugural ANU Japanese Secondary Workshop was held at Australia National University (ANU) in December 2011, attracting 162 student participants and 20 teachers from regional New South Wales (NSW) and the Australian Capital Territory (ACT). This initiative proved so successful that the renamed EngageAsia Workshop has become an annual ANU College of Asia and the Pacific event. The aim is to provide secondary students (Year 10 and 11) from outside the ACT with the opportunity to experience Asia-Pacific studies at the ANU. Offered for Japanese and Chinese language students, the 2-day intensive workshop provides focused language instruction and lectures from experts about the target Asian culture. This EngageAsia workshop model allows students to 'get inside' university life and to experience something of what it would be like to attend and study at university. In addition to the classes, participants stay overnight at an ANU student residence and interact not only with high school students from other schools but also with current ANU students and thus return home with knowledge of how we approach teaching and learning in the university environment.