College of Education and Human Development
Students in One-Credit Course "Intro to Soccer" Reflect Mason's Global Diversity
February 14, 2013
Introduction to Soccer (PHED 102) is one of dozens of fun and fitness courses available each semester from the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism.
The one-credit courses (sometimes two-credit) are a great way to fill out a schedule, learn a new sport or skill, get outside, or just get fit. Take a look at all of the available courses, including Intermediate Golf, Intermediate Karate, Introduction to Cricket, and Introduction to Fly Fishing, among many others. The courses are open to students, staff, and other members of the university community.
The article and video below, about the Introduction to Soccer (PHED 102) course, was written and produced by Paul King and originally appeared on Mason News. It's a wonderful description of Mason's global focus and connections.
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Soccer: The Global Connection
The languages fly around the pitch like so many shots on goal: Farsi, Spanish, French, even English occasionally. Shrill voices shout “Allez! Allez!” and “Vamos! Vamos!” Clearly, “Let’s go!” is uttered with the same urgency in any language on the soccer field.
Welcome to Introduction to Soccer (PHED 102), a one-credit course offered by George Mason University’s School of Recreation, Health and Tourism that teaches students the basic elements of soccer, including dribbling, kicking, passing and various strategy tactics.
Soccer is the world’s most popular sport played by more than 250 million people in more than 200 countries, and this course reflects the sport’s universal appeal.
In the course, George Mason students not only learn about diversity, they experience it firsthand. As an inclusive learning environment with nearly 33,000 students, Mason has a student body that represents more than 130 nationalities.
“They all speak the same language in terms of their passion for soccer. They have different backgrounds, but their love for soccer is the same,” says course instructor Guillermo Tolaba, who hails from Argentina. “They share that love for soccer and how they treat soccer in their hometown.”
“We’re all from different cultures and different countries, but since we are in the U.S. and we all speak English, it doesn’t really matter,” says student Sung Lee, a finance major. “It’s kind of fun; there are different accents and it’s kind of fun to meet a variety of people.”
“It’s always fun to meet new people and to get to experience new cultures,” says Ali Alnajdi, a sophomore marketing major. “Expand your horizons.”
The six-week Introduction to Soccer course will be held during the spring 2013 semester beginning in March. There are still spots available in the course.
About CEHD
George Mason University's College of Education and Human Development (CEHD) includes two schools, the Graduate School of Education, which is the largest in Virginia, and the School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism. CEHD offers a comprehensive range of degrees, courses, licensures, and professional development programs on campus, online, and on site. The college is distinguished by faculty who encourage new ways of thinking and pioneering research supported by more than $75 million in funding over the past five years.
For additional information:
- CEHD Communications: cehdnews@gmu.edu
- School of Recreation, Health, and Tourism: rht.gmu.edu
- Physical Activity for Lifetime Wellness program: rht.gmu.edu/programs/palw/courses/
Follow CEHD on Facebook at www.facebook.com/MasonCEHD or Twitter at @MasonCEHD.