Special programs

In 2005, the English Language Institute continued to serve a variety of academic departments on campus by training graduate students from around the world as teaching assistants. Throughout the year, the Institute also welcomed several groups of students, teachers and professionals—from Bahrain, Colombia, Japan, Jordan, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, South Korea, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen.

International Teaching Assistants Training Program
ELI prepared 90 international graduate students from 26 countries to be teaching assistants in more than two dozen academic departments at the University of Delaware. A two-week program in January and a four-week program in August familiarized the enthusiastic newcomers with good teaching practices in higher education in the United States, while developing their English speaking ability and intelligibility. Teaching in the programs, which were coordinated by ELI associate director Joe Matterer, were Dave Cassling, Leslie Criston, Ken Hyde, Sandy Nickel, Kathy Vodvarka and Olive Yazid.

Colfuturo
Through the auspices of the Fundación Para el Futuro de Colombia (Colfuturo), 17 Colombian professionals studied at ELI for various lengths of time throughout the year. This is the tenth consecutive ear that the foundation has sent Colombian nationals to the Institute.

Colombian students under the LASPAU and Colfuturo programs with other friends at Niagara Falls

LASPAU
Six professionals from Colombia sponsored by LASPAU, Academic and Professional Programs for the Americas (formerly known as Latin American Scholarship Program of American Universities) studied at ELI throughout the year starting with the March session. After finishing their English language preparation, they were admitted to graduate school at the following universities: Alabama, Arkansas, Columbia, South Florida, Tulane and Virginia Polytechnic.

Teachers from Incheon, South Korea

English teachers from Incheon, South Korea, with homestay families after their graduation ceremonies in January

In January, ELI hosted 20 teachers, the fourth group from the Incheon City Office of Education Teacher Training Program. During their fourweek program, they completed a series of workshops by ELI faculty Walt Babich, Deb Detzel, Barbara Gillette, Lisa Grimsley, Janice Lefebvre, Joe Matterer and Scott Stevens. They also visited local public and private schools and attended ELI listening/speaking classes. The Incheon teachers studied American culture and toured New York City, Washington, DC, and Philadelphia with academic coordinator Deb Detzel.

Students from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in February

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, South Korea
Hankuk University of Foreign Studies sent two groups of students to ELI in 2005, one in the January/February session and the other during July and August. In addition to their full participation in the academic program and orientation activities, the avid travelers also planned their own trips to Niagara Falls, Boston and the Delaware beaches. Each of the groups experienced a different extreme of U.S. east coast weather. The 16 winter session students visited New York during a blizzard that dumped 12 inches (30 cm) of snow on the city. The 18 summer students, led by Ms. Soungkyung Oh, arrived in early July and soon learned how hot Delaware can be. Sarah Petersen, who coordinated both groups, was impressed with the students’ courtesy and responsibility as well as their academic caliber.

Chonnam National University, South Korea
A total of 13 engineering students from Chonnam National University in Kwang-ju, South Korea, studied at ELI for seven weeks during two different sessions, in January and February and in July and August.

Algerian teachers
Thirteen English language teachers from private schools in Algeria traveled to ELI in March and April for a series of workshops on English language teaching. (See the feature story -- "Third Group of Algerian Educators.")

Teachers from Jordan and Morocco

	Teachers from Jordan

Twenty-eight teachers and teacher-trainers from Jordan and Morocco attended workshops in language teaching pedagogy at ELI in July and August. (See the cover story -- "ELI wins record grant.")

Amideast
Three professionals from the Ministry of Oil in Yemen and ten undergraduate students from Bahrain, Morocco, Oman, Palestine, Syria, Tunisia and Yemen studied at ELI beginning in March under a program administered by America-Mideast Educational and Training Services, Inc.. The undergraduates, who studied at ELI under the Department of State’s Partnership for Learning Undergraduate Studies Program, will earn bachelor’s degrees after two more years of study at Ashland University, Chatham College, Dickinson College, Roger Williams University and the University of North Alabama. (See the story on Fatima El Ammouri.)

Kobe Shoin Women’s University

Students from Kobe Shoin Women's University at the Newark Senior Center

In July, following a 15-year tradition, 27 Kobe Shoin Women’s University students, escorted by Shoin professors Takao Gunji and Katrina Watts and staff member Emi Nagatomi, arrived in Newark for a one-month intensive English language and culture study program. By visiting Washington, DC, Philadelphia and New York City with their academic program coordinator, Janet Louise, they were able to compare American city life with that of Japan. Locally, they shared current events with seniors at the Newark Senior Center and taught Japanese culture to young students at UD’s Early Learning Center.

Russian high school students
Nine students from Linguistic Gymnasium 91 in Ufa, Russia, joined ELI classes for four weeks in August, in the sixth year of a program organized by their escort, Ms. Inna Fenina.

Students from Osaka College of Foreign Languages

Osaka College of Foreign Languages
During the month of July, 15 students from Osaka College of Foreign Languages in Japan came to explore the United States and improve their English. Liz Robinson, a summer faculty member, coordinated extracurricular activities for the students. While in Delaware, they toured historical Philadelphia, visiting the Liberty Bell and the Reading Terminal Market. They also visited New York City and attended a Yankees baseball game, which many called their favorite part of the trip. Overall, they had a wonderful time exploring the cities of the Northeast and making friends in Delaware.

Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology

	Students from Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology

At 3 am on July 3rd, 13 excited Taiwanese travelers caught their first glimpse of their temporary American home—the Christiana Towers dormitory. The next month was a whirlwind of classes and activities for 11 students from the Overseas Chinese Institute of Technology (OCIT) accompanied by their escort, Dr. Sam Lin, and his son. Dr. Lin is chair of the department of applied foreign languages at OCIT and received his doctorate from the University of Delware in 2003. Lin brought the first group of students from OCIT (formerly the Overseas Chinese Commerce College) to ELI in 2000. This year’s group dove into their studies and joined in cultural activities, coordinated by teacher Kathy Hankins, with wide-eyed wonder. The one regret many students expressed was that they couldn’t stay longer with all their new friends.

Seinan Gakuin University
On July 31, 19 exhausted students huddled around the baggage claim at the Philadelphia International Airport. After more than 20 hours of travel, these students were ready for a comfortable bed with their American homestay families. All first, second or third year students at the Seinan Gakuin University in Fukuoka, Japan, this exceptional group took classes and had a month full of cultural activities coordinated by summer faculty member Erin Wilson. One of the highlights was a community service event at the non-profit Newark Day Nursery, where they exchanged culture and crafts with a number of very excited American children.

Law and International Relations majors from Seinan Gakuin University at the Delaware Supreme Court in September

In September, ELI offered a second special program to a group of 11 law and international diplomacy students from Seinan Gakuin University. The thre- week program in Law and Legal English was coordinated by Chris Wolfe, ELI’s legal studies coordinator. The students lived with American host families, took regular ELI classes in the mornings and had classes in Law and Legal English taught by Wolfe in the afternoons. They also joined a university course in business law also taught by Wolfe. In addition, participants attended a criminal trial in the Delaware Superior Court and an appellate oral argument in the Delaware Supreme Court. In Washington, DC, they toured the U.S. Supreme Court, the White House and Smithsonian museums.

Students from Saudi Arabia
In November, eight students from Saudi Arabia arrived in Newark to begin intensive English studies at ELI. Funded through the Saudi Arabian Ministry of Education, these scholars plan on pursuing graduate degrees in a wide variety of disciplines after completing their ELI courses.