International Students to Study American Culture at Centenary College

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For the 19^th year, Centenary College is running an intensive Summer Culture and Language Program for international students to learn American culture and the English language.  This program is open to international college students and recent high school graduates intending to continue on to college studies.

From July 1 through August 8, 2013, 81 students are attending Centenary College from universities in China, Japan and Korea.  Fifty-two of the summer students will remain at Centenary for the 2013-2014 academic year.  Some students will be attending from longtime Centenary sister university partners, such as Dongduk Women’s University and Ewha Womans University, both in Seoul, Korea, and Ningbo University in Ningbo, China. Others are from new partners Korea University and Myongi University in Seoul. 

“The number of students participating in this program is the highest that it has been in recent years,” said Dr. Joseph P. Linskey, dean of the School of International Studies at Centenary College. “We use very innovative methods to engage the students and infuse them with enthusiasm about the subject matter.  This program is one that is very well-respected overseas and continues to thrive because of student satisfaction.”

In order to provide these students with the best support, Centenary intercultural resident directors and assistants assigned to work with these students are required to participate in a seven day intensive orientation to the program and Asian cultures. 

Staff and student life training will be coordinated by Hye-Jin Lee, administrative manager of International Student Affairs and director of the Summer Culture and Language Program, who is a 2005 graduate of Centenary College. Lee came to Centenary College through the Summer Culture and Language Program when she was a student at Hoseo University, and later went on to complete her graduate degree in International Studies at Ewha Womans University in Korea.

As part of this program, students will learn about the Hackettstown community and surrounding areas, as well as participate in cultural and educational trips to Washington, D.C., Boston, New York City and Philadelphia, where they will have the opportunity to see an America’s pastime in the form of a Phillies baseball game. 

On the academic side, they will participate in an English pronunciation enrichment program, and take a four-credit Advanced English as a Second Language reading and writing class. They will also take a four-credit American Culture class that will provide them with an understanding of America today and cultural life on American college campuses. 

This year, some students with exceptional English skills will participate in a new literature and writing course.