August 20, 2009
Demonstrating its commitment to academic excellence and global
education, St. John’s University’s Intensive
English Program (IEP) welcomed 15 new students from Nanfang
College of Sun Yat-sen University in Guangzhou, China to its summer
program on July 12. The students participated in four weeks of
intensive English as a second language classes on St. John’s Queens
campus to improve their reading, writing, listening and speaking
skills.
For
many of the Nanfang students, it was not only their first
experience studying at an American university, but also their first
visit to the United States. “I want to improve my oral English
skills and at the same time, I want to learn more about the United
States to enrich my experience abroad,” said Jiayun Ye, a sophomore
majoring in Chinese literature. Ying Ying Su, an English major,
remarked, “The IEP summer semester has been a lot of fun. The
teachers always keep the topics very exciting. The teachers always
keep smiling and encourage us to speak out and express our
ideas.”
The relationship between the IEP and Nanfang College stemmed from
the efforts of
Herbert Pierson, Ed.D., Chair of St. John’s Department of
Languages and Literatures. In 2008, when lecturing at Nanfang
College on English language difficulties for Chinese speakers, Dr.
Pierson met with Prof. Zequan Lin, the Dean of Language Studies and
had the opportunity to encourage Nanfang students to experience
academic life in the United States with a summer semester at St.
John’s.
St. John’s IEP offers a comprehensive program of English as a
second language (ESL) non-credit, full-time, part-time and
independent study classes to matriculated and non-matriculated
students. The IEP enrolls students from many nations, with a
typical class consisting of students from diverse backgrounds,
languages and cultures. Jiayi Zhang, a Nanfang sophomore majoring
in Chinese literature remarked, “There are students in my English
classes from different countries and different cultures. I speak
English with students of different nationalities every day and I
enjoy speaking English."
IEP classes are open to both traditional and non-traditional
students. In addition to international students and student groups,
visiting faculty, business people and clergy participate in the
program.
While the majority of IEP students are non-matriculated,
approximately 65-70% of these non-matriculated students eventually
apply to one of the University’s academic programs. The IEP
experience has been reported to be an important factor in the
students’ decision to continue at St. John’s. “Studying in the IEP
not only improves students’ English language skills, but it
introduces them to the University’s academic environment and gives
many of them the confidence to consider matriculation,” notes
Sheila Hakner, Ed.D., Director of the IEP.
The IEP has also hosted a number of other visiting university
groups from countries including Korea, Japan, and Taiwan. Angela
Cutolo, Ed. D., Assistant Director of the IEP, remarked, “Not only
do international students return home with a greater proficiency in
English language skills, they also develop a greater appreciation
and understanding of American culture. Like their American
counterparts studying abroad, they realize that living abroad will
help them develop an international expertise, a valuable asset in
today’s world of global interdependence.”
To learn more about St. John’s Intensive English Program please
visit the IEP web
page or contact Tiecher Adams at (718) 990-6845.