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A global student body enriches the lives of all on campus.
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Winter 2007
International students enrich and are enriched by St. Norbert College
Jana Dettlaff, Ph.D., ESL Instructor
When students first arrive at St. Norbert College, many are surprised by the number of international students on campus. Some of those students participate in the College’s English as a Second Language (ESL) Institute.
As part of the Center for International Education, the ESL Institute runs an intensive program of academic English for foreign students, many of whom intend to pursue their academic careers in the United States. The program provides 20 hours a week of instruction all year long. As part of that program, I teach four classes every day, based on individual language skills (writing, reading, speaking and listening) and covering three levels of language proficiency (elementary, intermediate and advanced).
My six colleagues and I, together with volunteer tutors, friendship families, conversation partners and other supporters, currently serve 48 students from all over the world. Seeing the students grow on several levels is enlightening and fulfilling.
Students leave their homes and travel thousands of miles to join the St. Norbert community for several months to several years, allowing them to grow immensely on a personal level. At the same time, especially in class, I constantly see them grow linguistically and academically: from little steps like recognizing the phonetic difference between “lock” and “rock” to giant leaps like creating a 10-page research paper on global warming.
I revel in watching my students integrate new cultural experiences into their lives. Hearing “Jana, long time, no see!” always brings a smile to my face.
All this fits seamlessly into the framework of the St. Norbert College community. Our ESL students frequently comment in a very positive way on the beautiful campus with friendly community members, close-knit teacher/student connections, a strong academic platform and a plethora of social and instructional events. St. Norbert indeed provides a unique experience, enriching the lives of students and faculty in a way that not just any college can.
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