Host families help international students adjust to United States
Spring International Language Center provides intensive English and cross-cultural education
Taniah Tudor
Issue date: 4/30/08 Section: News
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SILC Director Leyah Bergman-Lanier said one of the wonderful things about Fayetteville is its willingness to embrace diversity.
The SILC is a 25-hour-a-week intensive English language program specifically designed to prepare students to enter U.S. colleges and universities, assist professionals who desire to strengthen their English language skills and teach anyone who seeks to improve their English communication skills, according to an information flyer provided by the center.
Bergman-Lanier founded the SILC 16 years ago.
"It started with just eight students from six countries," she said.
The mission of the SILC is to provide an intensive English and cross-cultural education to international students, according to the flyer.
"My perspective is you can't separate language and culture," Bergman-Lanier said. "Worldview is bound in language."
The program has students going to places all the time that give them an idea of how Americans do things, she said.
Jimmy Bowie, coordinator for student services at the SILC, said students visit places like the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the homeless shelter and participate in events such as the recent cleanup of Mullins Creek.
"Volunteerism is a very strong value in the U.S.," Bergman-Lanier said. "The idea is for us to not only share our culture, but also for them to give their culture back to the community."
Some students come to the center just for the program, she said, while others have been conditionally admitted to the UA and must fulfill their English proficiency requirements before they can attend.
The program has six levels, with each session lasting nine weeks. If students enter at the beginning level, it can take anywhere from one to one and a half years for them to be ready for school, Bergman-Lanier said.
During that time, many of the students stay with host families as part of the cross-cultural experience.
Viewing Comments 1 - 10 of 10
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posted 5/31/08 @ 5:33 PM CST
My daughter dated this past year an international student from Germany. He had some language issues initially but overall an incredibly nice young man. (Continued…)
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Sylvie Meis
posted 7/17/08 @ 2:02 PM CST
Very cool. Foreign exchange is such an eye opening experience for both the students and the hosting families. Both sides end up with a fresh perspective on the world, with a new sympathy for other people. (Continued…)
Qasir
posted 7/22/08 @ 5:26 AM CST
i am searching host families in germany.
Hoy
posted 8/05/08 @ 8:16 AM CST
Hey,
we are a family(parents with 3 kids from 14 - 22, leaving near Celle (near Hannover) and we are interested to host a boy or a girl from the USA. (Continued…)
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posted 1/26/09 @ 9:38 AM CST
We also know three families who have hosted kids from overseas. They all expressed that it was a great experience. Two of those families still keep in contact with those kids. (Continued…)
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posted 1/26/09 @ 9:40 AM CST
With our current economic situation I was wondering if international exchange is going to face some difficult times. Let's hope not. I think it gives kids overseas a better understanding that our families are very similar to theirs. (Continued…)
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posted 2/19/09 @ 11:15 PM CST
We've known several families who have hosted. Nearly all experienced great times with it. It's something my wife and I will consider in a few years. (Continued…)
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posted 2/20/09 @ 12:37 AM CST
i'm living in arlington tx. have been here in US as an intl student for three years...wud love to meet any host families, if any around arlington tx
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posted 4/28/09 @ 1:05 AM CST
The international student exchange program has been terrific. We met an exchange student last year and several friends who hosted. A great thing to do. (Continued…)
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