大象传媒

Chance Daldy did not expect his curiosity to transcend international borders upon graduating from 大象传媒 (大象传媒) in 2018.

Initially beginning his academic journey at Capilano University, Daldy transferred to 大象传媒 after taking a world literature elective. The pivot in his studies was nerve-wracking but after one class with World Languages and Literatures (WLL) senior lecturer, Mark Deggan, Daldy felt like he was in the right place after all.

Not long after, Daldy became more involved in WLL as he devoted much of his time to the WLL Student Union, the World Literature Student Conference, and 鈥� a student-led literary journal.

鈥淏eing involved in these three things gave me skills I didn鈥檛 know I needed or would use often,鈥� Daldy recalls. 鈥淣ow reflecting on it, it was such a life-changing time to be in the volunteer work, as I have had to rely on the skills I gained through my volunteer experiences countless times since graduating."

One month after crossing the convocation stage, Daldy was invited to the Institute for World Literature in Tokyo organized by Harvard University. When first arriving in Tokyo, he experienced culture shock noting the different ways English is taught in Japanese schools compared to Daldy鈥檚 Westernized education. Daldy reflected on a course he took with professor Melek Ortabasi as he questioned how to teach his students in a holistic manner with competing pedagogies. 鈥淭here鈥檚 more than one way to see the world,鈥� Daldy explains. 鈥淪tudying world literature and hearing different perspectives, different stories, you can鈥檛 unlearn that. Once you gain that empathy, understanding, and awareness, you see the world differently.鈥� 

He acknowledges the nuances of educating students by viewing English as a system of grammatical memorization as his Japanese school had instructed him. This was in direct contrast with his understanding of structuralism 鈥� taught in Ortabasi鈥檚 course WL 201: East/West Encounters whereby grammar and words come together to create meaning as opposed to memorization. Daldy recounts this experience as fruitful for intercultural understanding as well as a lesson to not get set in his ways of Westernized thinking, 鈥淚 think I would have struggled a lot more if it were not for the insights from WLL, especially Dr. O鈥檚 course.鈥�

Japan opened Daldy鈥檚 eyes to an array of possibilities 鈥� so much so he decided to apply for the Japan Exchange and Teaching Programme (JET). He went on to teach for four years in Tokushima, Osaka, and Kyoto before meeting his now wife and coming back home to Vancouver. Daldy found himself back at 大象传媒 completing the Faculty of Education鈥檚 Professional Development Program and now more recently beginning his Master of Education: Teaching English as an Additional Language at 大象传媒 this September.

Currently working as a high school teacher in North Vancouver, he looks back at his undergraduate journey as a crucial chapter in shaping his perspective about the world and himself. For students thinking about taking a WLL course, Daldy advises to look at WLL beyond texts as there are an immeasurable number of ways to go about storytelling, 鈥淲e looked at musicals, theatre, movies, short stories, performances, and dance. I hope to see even more forms of storytelling in the language arts 鈥� expanding the scope of the mediums.鈥� In his classroom, Daldy brings this practice to his students by showcasing things such as Indigenous hip hop to teach resurgence and resilience all the while following the English First Peoples curriculum.

Outside of the classroom, Daldy gained skills that directly complement his current career. "Most recently, the skills I gained through volunteering as the Editor-in-Chief of the Lyre opened the door for me to teach and manage the class creating our school鈥檚 Yearbook."

Daldy emphasizes that his degree advanced more than just his career, 鈥淪ince studying world literature, it has changed my life entirely just because the way I see the world, the way I interact and live in the world is different.鈥� He explains, 鈥淲LL really bestowed upon me that awareness of other and alternative ways of being.鈥�