“Change is the result of all true learning.” Leo Buscaglia.

At LCC International University’s MA Graduation ceremony on Friday, August 9, three MA TESOL graduates walked across the stage and received a beautiful, pink, embossed diploma, essentially, a nice piece of paper. Why is this a big deal?

It is a big deal because two years ago, these same students stepped into the main door of the LCC academic building, walked into a classroom, and met their instructors and classmates for the first time. At that point, their journey of a graduate degree began.

Over the next two years, they read seminal works in applied linguistics. They outlined current research articles in language acquisition. They took tests on phonetics and phonology. They created websites showcasing their own creative curriculum. They debated teaching methodologies. They created language assessments; they did research in their own classrooms. And finally, they designed, conducted, and defended their own research in TESOL.

Ultimately, education is transformational. Over these two years of their “deep dive” into language teaching and language learning, these English teachers have been transformed. When they walked across that graduation stage, they thought differently, they read critically, and they wrote academically. Their craft of teaching was transformed. Their colleagues noticed the difference.

“Studying at LCC has been a wonderful opportunity for me!  I've not only improved as a teacher, but the experience and interaction with amazing faculty have also contributed to my personal growth. My colleagues wonder what happened to me, what changed me so much,” write a 2024 graduate.

Graduation is much more than receiving an institutionally issues diploma, it is ultimately about changed minds, transformed thinking, and personal growth. Congratulations to our graduates.

And we welcome our new students to start their journey of transformation!

Author: Robin Gingerich, Ph.D., MA TESOL Program Director at LCC International University.