Connecting the world through ELI's culture cafe

Move over, Starbucks! Coffee isn’t the only stimulant being consumed on campus. Since January 2006, ELI’s Culture Cafe has offered the university community a new menu of cross-cultural communication with their lunch.

Students from Latin America shared information about their culture with the campus community in May. Shown here is Mariela Cabreja of the Dominican Republic (left).

Through the bi-monthly programs housed in the Trabant University Center Food Court, ELI students have had an opportunity to showcase their countries, customs and cultures to UD students and faculty, hoping to make a cultural connection while practicing English. Students from China, Korea, Latin America, Saudi Arabia and Taiwan have set up colorful international displays at lunch time, inviting members of the campus community to grab a cup of coffee, sit down and chat a while about foreign countries.

“It has been a great success,” said Mary Beth Worrilow, initiator of the event. “Offering our students a public venue in which to share their cultures is a wonderful opportunity for them to practice conversational English while providing American students a window on the world.”

News and pictures of the Culture Cafe can be found at www.udel.edu/eli/culturecafe.