University and Junior College Programs
The scope and sequence of major learning experiences are the same for the university students who arrive in spring and for the junior college students who are on campus in fall. Both groups complete 15-week semesters that combine classroom learning with frequent community contact and two major trips, one to each coast of the U.S.
The curriculum integrates the students’ firsthand observations and experiences in the U.S. with classroom learning activities. The Conversation course develops students’ fluency, listening comprehension, and pronunciation for social interactions and other everyday situations. They learn the practical vocabulary needed for their shopping, small talk, discussions of relevant issues, and field trips to local schools, churches, businesses, and retirement homes. Reading classes focus on skills needed for improving efficiency in comprehending a variety of texts in English. The activity known as “book club” promotes extensive reading for enjoyment and personal enlightenment.
It aso provides an opportunity for small group discussion of stories the students have selected themselves. Writing classes require short compositions, journals, letters, and some creative writing. Students compile portfolios that include their assignments related to their observations and experiences in the U.S. American Studies includes three components: literature, culture, and society. In this course, students study U.S. culture in relation to their own culture as part of their adjustment process. They also receive background information to prepare for their East Coast Tour of Boston and Washington and their tour of Seattle.
