by Juliee Crocker | Programs in English as a Second Language
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The Programs in English as a Second Language (PIESL) team hosted three customized programs this summer: the Fulbright English for Graduate Studies Program, and two groups of Japanese high school students from Senshu University Matsudo Senior High School and The High School of University of Hyogo.
In addition to these special programs, PIESL lecturers also continued to teach students in their regular ten-week summer Intensive English Program, making for a very busy summer in 2019.
For the second consecutive year, Nebraska’s PIESL staff hosted the U.S. Department of State’s prestigious Fulbright English for Graduate Studies Program. Under the leadership of PIESL Director Chris Dunsmore and support from Associate Vice Chancellor for Global Affairs Josh Davis, the program welcomed 31 scholars from 22 countries for a four-week program to familiarize themselves with U.S. culture and higher education. Since the conclusion of the program at the beginning of August, the Fulbright scholars have each taken their place at their respective universities across the U.S.
During their stay at UNL, the Fellows took intensive graduate writing and speech courses taught by Emily Herrick, Tim Janda and Jane Miller. In addition, Nebraska faculty experts presented sessions on topics such as cultural awareness, U.S. social issues, the legal system and academic integrity. Civic engagement projects and trips to the Nelson Atkins Museum of Art in Kansas City, Omaha’s Henry Doorly Zoo, the Nebraska History Museum, the State Capitol and a Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game also introduced students to the local culture. The University hopes to continue hosting Fulbright scholars in the future.
In late July, PIESL also welcomed 20 students from Senshu University Matsudo Senior High School from Tokyo, Japan to campus. The program is an annual ten-day English language and culture program that has been going on for more than 25 years. Led by PIESL lecturers Stephen and Stacie Swinehart, the group attended English classes in the morning, followed by field trips in the afternoon. Expeditions included visits to the State Capitol and Nebraska History Museum, as well as a Lincoln Saltdogs baseball game and trip to Pioneers Park.
This short-term program employs University and local high school students in Lincoln to act as language and cultural tutors during the Japanese students’ stay. In addition to field trips, the Senshu group visited their sister school, Lincoln Southwest High School, where they were greeted by the marching band. The sister school visit also included a tour of the school and cultural exchange of Japanese games, calligraphy, crafts and origami. Senshu students gained further cultural exposure in the local community with a homestay visit over the first weekend, where volunteer families showed them the Lincoln Farmer’s Market, took them shopping at nearby malls, and visited Nebraska state parks together.
The last group hosted by PIESL this summer was part of a new partnership with The High School of University of Hyogo. 15 students visited Lincoln in early August as part of the inaugural immersive language and cultural program. Similar to the Senshu schedule, students practice English in morning workshops, and experienced various aspects of American culture in the afternoons through local excursions with volunteer students and weekend family homestays. The Hyogo group was led by Natalie Baskin with assistance from Takako Smith.
PIESL is grateful for the support of the local Lincoln community and UNL’s volunteer students and staff. The office is very much looking forward to hosting both the Senshu and Hyogo groups again next summer.
For more information about PIESL programs or to inquire about creating a customized program for your school, visit the PIESL website.