1/25/07

SIUE School of Business, Department of Foreign Languages and Literature Partner to Enrich Classroom Experience

 (EDWARDSVILLE, Ill.) The School of Business at Southern Illinois University Edwardsville has joined with SIUE’s Department of Foreign Languages and Literature to improve the classroom experiences of both SIUE students and students studying at SIUE from abroad.

The partnership, which was started in the fall of 2005, is called “Building Bridges: Linking International Business Students and Students of International Cultures” and is part of the grant program for Excellence in Undergraduate Education.

 In the years since the program’s founding by Dr.  Belinda Carstens-Wickham and Dr. Radcliffe Edmunds, international business students have helped foreign language students master conversational and written skills as well as understand the culture and most current trends in their native countries.

“Having international business students in the classroom helps motivate our students and make them truly interested in foreign languages and cultures,” said Dr. Debbie Mann, associate professor of French. “The courses are more active than ever. Last week, for example, our students learned how to text-message in French. Something so simple makes it so real for our students. ”

The program benefits more than just American students. International business student Jean Ollagnier, who is studying at SIUE from France said, “The program is very nice. It allows us to learn more American culture and vocabulary. Most importantly, we get to meet more students.” Other international business students say their favorite part is helping SIUE students gain confidence in their speaking skills.

Dr. Douglas Simms, assistant professor of German, said, “This relationship between the Office of International Programs and the Foreign Language and Literature Department helps take the foreignness and abstractness away from studying another language.”

Another benefit of the program is that many of these international business students would be unable to work if not for this grant program. Typical student visas do not allow students studying from abroad to work off campus.

Currently, those involved in the project are reapplying for the grant. If accepted, however, it will be last year that the program is eligible for funding. Because of the program’s success, however, the project’s directors are actively seeking alternative means of funding for the future.

The Office of International programs is currently hosting 19 exchange students representing Germany, France, The Netherlands, Japan and Mexico. These students will work and study at SIUE through the spring semester.