Message From IB Program Committee

Many of you may not be familiar with the IB and may hesitate to enroll in the IB Teacher Certificate Program because you feel you lack the relevant experience or knowledge. However, I believe that both those of you with IB experience and those without IB experience will greatly benefit from enrolling in our program. Those without IB experience may especially have a lot to gain from learning about the philosophy and teaching methods of IB education. Students who have completed our program go on to work in IB schools as well as non-IB schools in Japan. Our graduates also go on to work in corporations in the private sector.

The IB curriculum emphasizes inquiry-based learning, inter-disciplinary learning, service learning and development of the whole person, as is represented by the IB Learner Profile. Since many aspects of the IB curriculum align with the characteristics of ICU’s liberal arts education, undergraduate students at ICU will likely recognize the value of the approach. For those students entering the graduate school from outside of ICU, I think you will find it beneficial to learn about the IB curriculum while also being a part of our liberal arts campus community.

Our IB teaching certification program emphasizes the global scope and perspective of IB education. Our courses are offered in both English and Japanese. We expect our students to be able to communicate and teach in English in their future workplace and in professional activities. Our program does not target specific subject areas. Instead we focus on the philosophy and teaching methods of IB education so that students can integrate this knowledge with their own knowledge and experience in teaching in their specific subject areas. A teaching practicum is also required so that students can deepen their understanding by learning from first-hand observation and experience in an IB World School.

Finally, one of the strongest points of our program is the diversity of our students, in terms of language, cultural, and educational background. Our classes provide students with a stimulating and meaningful site for learning through engaging in dialogue with classmates. If you are interested in our program, please apply to the graduate school or if you are already an undergraduate at ICU, please enroll in the course, Introduction to IB Programmes, which is a graduate level course open to all 3rd and 4th year students.

IB Teacher Certification Program

Director, Akiko Fujii