Fall is in Full Swing

 

 

The 2013 – 2014 school year is off to a great start! 

We have already had our first cultural field trip, and it was to an American family’s home. We played yard games and ate good food!  Thank you Mr. Bicknese (instructor) for a fun time had by all!

 

As we begin this school year, I want to introduce you to several new exciting things about our program:

1) Our program name has changed to the Intensive English Program (IEP).  Within the U.S., this is now a more common name for our type of program. 

2) The Intensive English Program is now housed under the Center for International Education.

3) Our Intensive English Program webpage has been revamped, and now has a user-friendly interface to find the information you need: http://www.uiu.edu/international/esl/index.html

4) The Intensive English Program now has a comprehensive three levels: beginner, intermediate, and advanced.  The intermediate level was added.  Each level takes one semester to complete.

5) Two new instructors have joined our team, and their names’ are Kevin Moon and Irina Varzavand.  Pictures soon to come on the website!

We look forward to another great year!

Sarah Bjork

Director, Intensive English Program

bjorks@uiu.edu

Spring 2013 Service-Learning Opportunities: Good Samaritan Society

This past Spring 2013 semester at Upper Iowa University’s ESL Institute has included some excellent opportunities for ESL students to be involved in service-learning in our community! Each year, students have the chance to collaborate with a few different groups in Fayette County, extending their hands in service and their learning beyond the classroom. In fact, these service-learning experiences go hand-in-hand with their American Culture curriculum and are included in the semester’s field trip schedule.

This semester’s 3 service-learning opportunities each gave ESL students the chance to share their cultures with community members of all ages through different avenues. Outings to the Good Samaritan Society in West Union, Iowa; Oelwein High School in Oelwein, Iowa; and North Fayette Middle School in Fayette, Iowa comprised this well-rounded service-learning itinerary.

The students’ first service-learning opportunity occurred in mid-March at the Good Samaritan Society (GSS). To give a bit of background information, the GSS is a residential home that primarily serves and cares for the elderly. The project for the afternoon comprised of students sharing stories from their cultures with GSS residents, followed by a sampling of cultural food. This visit to GSS was in conjunction with the center’s Community Coffee event where residents, staff, and local community members are invited to gather together to enjoy a special program with different featured guests each month. For the past few years, students enrolled in the UIU ESL Institute have been March’s featured guests.

Prior to their afternoon here, as part of their American Culture classes, students went to the UIU library to search for children’s books that told classic stories from their native cultures. This past semester, 8 different countries were represented by our ESL student body, and each of them was able to be well represented by the books the students found in the broad children’s collection here. Students then practiced English conversational and oral reading skills before preparing to read these stories aloud one-on-one to GSS residents during their visit.

ESL student Chenle (Bill) from China reading to a Good Samaritan Society resident

Students wrapped up their time at GSS with some light refreshments they’d brought to share with the residents they’d read to. The night before, 3 French ESL students prepared crepes with the help of the UIU cafeteria. Heated and coupled with delicious toppings, some students served crepes and tea to the residents while others continued building relationships with those they’d gotten to know that afternoon. Upon departure, the GSS staff and community volunteers also present at this event thanked the students for their service with chocolate chip cookies!

ESL students Johnathan from Martinique (left) and Romain from France (right) preparing crepes

ESL students expressed that they all had unique experiences interacting with the residents. In fact, some of them even stated they’d like to come back for another visit in the future! In addition, many of them had never visited an American care center before and learned about the differences between elderly care in their home countries and the US. Grateful for this opportunity of service and reciprocal learning, it was clear that both the ESL students and those at the GSS had a positive and enjoyable afternoon sharing stories, cultures, and even a snack.

ESL student Lucie from France getting to know a Good Samaritan Society resident

Next, check out the second and third service-learning opportunities of the semester ESL students had at Oelwein High School and North Fayette Middle School!

First Spring Field Trips

ESL students and staff at John Deere Tractor Works

Even as snow covers the ground and cool temperatures linger in the northeast Iowa air, the spring semester at Upper Iowa University is in full swing. Though it may not feel like spring, warmer weather will be here soon; however, ESL students don't have to wait for the snow to melt in order to enjoy the first field trips of the semester!

So far, ESL students have enjoyed 2 different outings this spring. The first occurred in late January during the second week of classes. The group took a short drive to West Union, a small town about 15 minutes north of Fayette, for a fun, casual afternoon of bowling. West Union has a nice bowling alley, and, during their visit, the group had it all to themselves. The bowling alley staff was very accommodating and even offered to open up early just for them; they were very welcoming and helpful to all the students and provided them with a very enjoyable visit!

Some of the ESL students had been bowling before either in their home countries or in the US; others had never held a bowling ball before. This allowed each student to have his or her own unique experience! The group of 22 students, 2 International Ambassadors, the ESL Program Coordinator, and an ESL instructor divided into six teams for some healthy competition, and each took their time playing two games apiece.

Many of the students expressed how much they enjoyed the trip upon arriving back at UIU and seemed grateful that they were able to have both an educational and fun cultural experience while still having enough time in the day to relax with friends and do homework. Having many local travel destinations in the northeast Iowa area at their disposal is definitely a perk to living and studying at UIU. Having opportunities to experience some of them while learning about American culture is also just one of the many benefits students have while enrolled in the ESL Program!
 
Two weeks later, the second trip of the semester took the students to John Deere Tractor Works in Waterloo, a city about 1 hour southwest of Fayette. John Deere is one of the biggest companies housed in Waterloo and is an important component of northeast Iowa's economy. At their assembly plant (Tractor Works), the group was able to see the production of tractors and other John Deere products that are used around the world. Through an informational film, the students learned about the company's history and influence, along with the kinds of machines and tools they produce. This was a great introduction to what they were about to see next!

The group then divided up onto three separate trolley carts pulled by smaller John Deere utility tractors for a tour ride around a portion of the production floor, narrated by a very knowledgeable long-time employee who now works as a tour guide. A couple of the many components of the tour included seeing parts of the tractor frames spray painted their famous "John Deere green" by computer-guided robots and learning about the difference between the tractors John Deere manufactures for North American use compared to those they design for European use. At the end of the tour, the students had a chance to browse the company gift shop filled with various John Deere logo-ed merchandise and pick up a souvenir to remember their experience.

Some of the ESL students and International Ambassadors that joined them both expressed how much they enjoyed this trip as well. They liked the format of the film and tour, along with the opportunity to see a working production plant in "real life" compared to what they'd seen on television and online. They also were grateful for the chance to have a better understanding of a company that is so widely known and regularly visible around their current home in Iowa and the Midwest!

Within the next couple weeks, ESL students will have two more opportunities to experience new facets of American culture through field trips just like these. Want to know where they went and what they did? Check back soon for more updates!