English
- Faculty Profile - Dave Osborne
Dave Osborne
English department faculty and International Student Advisor
620-327-8133
daveo@hesston.edu
A.A., Hesston College, 1966
B.S., Emporia State University, 1970
M.Ed., Wichita State University, 1984
I really like the uniqueness of the Hesston College environment: a small school located in a small town but with students from many different U.S. states and many different countries. I feel connected to the larger world while enjoying the advantages of life in a small community.
How did you choose your English?
I have always enjoyed writing and reading. The teachers who inspired me most were my high school and college English teachers. My inspiration to consider a career in teaching was my mother, an elementary teacher for many years. I had an opportunity to teach English as a Second Language immediately after I graduated from Hesston College, and I was convinced I wanted to teach English.
What are your favorite courses to teach? What do you like about them?
Because I work as the Director of International Admissions and the International Student Advisor, I teach only two courses each semester. While I know that most students do not enjoy studying grammar, I am genuinely interested in their developing strong basic skills so that they gain confidence in their ability to control and manage written English.
I like to use Newsweek magazine in my College Writing course. The magazine gives us examples to analyze and critique, but also it reminds us of the issues of the world around us.
How does your background and educational experience shape your teaching at Hesston?
I have lived and worked overseas for more than 11 years (Jordan, Palestine, Egypt, Japan, and India). I have taught English in a wide variety of settings and with a wide variety of students. I understand something of what it's like to live in a second-language environment. I hope those experiences have helped me see things through the students' eyes.
What do you most want to know about prospective students?
Knowing the student's English ability and background is always helpful. I know there are tests such as the TOEFL which measure those abilities, but I have also learned that the student's commitment and discipline determine significantly to the student's progress, often in ways not predicted by just the test score. I will always value the information provided byf English proficiency tests, but I view those scores as only part of the picture of what I would like to know about the student.
How do you connect with students in the program?
I am always interested in what's going on in the student's life beyond the classroom. My different roles here at Hesston give me that opportunity. I go shopping with them, eat in ethnic restaurants with them, and support them in their efforts to adapt to living and studying here at Hesston. I expect my students to work hard in their studies but also to take time to relax and enjoy what's available to them here on campus and in our area.
What do prospective students need to know about Hesston's learning environment?
They need to know they will have to work hard if they want to be successful. Students are always surprised with the amount of reading and studying asked of them. They also need to know they can get support and assistance whenever needed. They need to know that, if their primary focus is on their studies, Hesston is a good environment for them. We don't have public transportation or a lot of accessible entertainment options, so students need to be prepared to adjust to life at a small campus and in a small town.
Where do alumni go and what do they do after Hesston?
Most of our international students transfer to four-year schools. Some of them return home to find employment, but more than 70% of them continue studies here in the U.S. They transfer to many different schools all across the U.S.
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