Show Page 6 November 16 1995 'f'EATUKES A good experience for foreign students is better than large numbers by Sundi Decker staff writer Jmc Johnson director of the LSI S (English is a seiond language) program at the College of Eastern I'lah admits that there are lew if an negatin' things about the English as a Second Language students the college works with "It has nc er been our administration’s goal to have a huge number of foreign students because we want them all to have good experience while the) are here” Johnson said implying that by incorporating a smaller number of such students CEU could better give them the individual attention and support that they need She also added that they are given a greater opportunity to integrate with American students when they are a distinct minority on campus There is some preconceived notion that most or all of the foreign students attending CEl1 arc Japanese Although Japanese students make up (he highest percentage of foreign st udent s Johnson mentioned that other students notice them more because unlike European students those of Japanese heritage arc distinct She also said that many of CEU’s Ameriean-Japancs- c studentsare mistaken for ESL students giving others an overall impression that students with an oriental background dominate The reasons that we do get a high percentage of Japanese students roots simply from the faet that there is more interest in Japan for their students to attend American schools llS colleges and universities have experienced an influx of Japanese ESL students asCEU has The most important factor for Japanese interest is centered in economy The yen is so high compared to the American dollar that w hen money is converted over Japanese students come out ahead Those students can actually come to school here cheaper than they can in their own country English is taught front seventh grade on in Japan giving its youth the chance to learn il thoroughly thus making it easy for them to come to American society American celebrities from Utah that have toured llte Japan area have left the impression that Utah is a great place to live Surprisingly the Japanese view Utah as a safe place to reside and are drawn here hy the idea that living in Utah will offer them security as compared to places like New York and California Johnson added CEU has 34 ESL students currently They come from Japan France Hong Kong Russia Nepal Denmark Canada and Kuwait In past years Korean students have also filled a large percentage and last year eight students from Denmark attended CEU She said that the ESL program sees I ewer European students because of lees charged bv recruitment organizations These organizations complete the paper work and enrollment procedures then charge fees like SIO(KM) for their services Johnson savs that European students could casilv make the arrangements on their own They would merely have to send to American colleges for applications fill them mu and send them back in to be accepted One problem ESL students coming to (Til encounter is that there is no beginning level English as a second language class olfered ('EU’s ESI classes start at an intermediate level and require that incoming students pass t he TOEELuest of English asa foreign language) scoring a minimum of 400 to be admitted The test is something akin to the ACT or SAT and takes around four hours to complete To be admitted into regular classes and not take ESL foreign students must score 500 on the test Most students however take one to three quaners of ESL A beginning level of the course is not offered because it would require more stalling she added Johnson in describing the ESL classes and the difference between them and regular English classes explained that ESL works as a transitional device for those students The priihlem students have when they've learned English in their country (is that) when they come here it sounds like a different English than they learned" Most learned English from teachers that had the same accents as they do Coming to America and picking up on everyday English is difficult even though foreign students often know grammar rules heller than Americans The ESL classes focuses on academic preparation in readying the new students for regular English classes It is an adjustment course that deals with American idioms and slang as well as distinguishing American writing techniques such as essay formats A lot of students have a hard time getting used to speech that is slurred by lazy American tongues and such harriers arcelimi-nate- d in ESL classes Despite communication problems tlte ESL students adjust quickly They have numerous opportunities to integrate with American students on campus ESL students share housing with American roommates and a course is offered called intereullural communications that requires ESL two-cred- it English as a Second Language instructor Jane Johnson spends countless hours helping the 34 students on campus adapt to the language culture and classes Photo by Paul Lancaster and regular students to meet a couple times a week and converse with one another Ilie program is successful and many students repeat the experience Johnson added "American students often have a stereotype notion about what an international student is like and until they have them as roommates or have one on one conversations with them (hey don't realize how similar to them foreign students really arc" Although culturally different these individuals have the same concerns and struggles with (he world that American students have The largest problem ESL students face in Price is public transportation Many students get their licenses and buy cars but those that don't or can't arc often stranded during holidays and breaks without transportation ESL students nearly always complete two years at CEU and then transfer to a university to obtain a four year degree Retention rate among them is very high and many students come to CEU because of recommendations from cousins friends or others who arc former students of CEU Foreign students have been attending CEU since 1947 Yet an ESL program was not created until about seven years ago It was initially organized by Brad King Johnson became involved when she was working with King at the lime She took over the program and now directs il She holds a bachelor's degree in geology and history from Southern Utah University and is certified in secondary education Site completed a Brigham Young Uni- - versity course called TESL (leaching English as a foreign language) on a college level Without really being aware of it Johnson was drawn into working with international students and is their counselor teacher mother anti friend for all the international students on campus "It is very rewarding They arc very kind and they keep in touch with me when they leave" she said Visual evidence of binding friendships with lier students decorate herdesk and the walls Japanese paper fans and other memorabilia surround her in an unspoken tribute The ESL program is a universal example of cultural awareness and accepWhen nationalities combine tance and individuals join in intereullural friendships the results arc everlasting I Make It Second Nature A new state-wid- e On November I 1995 Utah law enforcement began a new strategy to increase safely restraint usage in the stale Col Richard Greenwood Utah I lighway Patrol stales This is (lie first time all the state's law enforcement agencies are participating in a safety restraint usageenforeemenl campaign We arc pleased" he continued "to have federal and private grants to pay overtime officers to specifically enforce the slate's safety restraint laws" The fourteen month campaign has the support of (lie Chiefs of Police Association President Roy City Police Chief Junior llammon said in a recent conference "We see senseless tragedies all the lime when a life was : safety restraint campaign lost which would have been spared if only a seat belt were used" "Make It Second Nature" is more than an enforcement campaign Its goal is to educate and increase awareness so individuals will choose to voluntarily make safety restraint useahahit Public Information and Education officers will promote safety restraint use in their own communities Special events and promotions will occur throughout the state during the campaign A special feature of "Make It Second Nature" is the emphasis placed on child safety seals Child safely scats are complicated and over 70 percent are used improperly This misuse places the child in jeopardy All Public Informa- - tion and Education officers have been trained in the proper installation and use of child sufely scats They will train theotheroniccrs in thcirdistricts These trained officers will try to spot misuse and advise parentson the correct way to use their child safety restraint devices lire law in Utah stales a child under two years of age must be in a child safety seat and children up to the age of eight must he in a child safety seal or a safety restraint Hie law also stales everyone over the age of eight should be in a safely restraint Utah's law enforcement officers will be happy in answer any questions you may have about the law or the proper way to use your vehicle's safety restraints |