GLOBAL COLLEGE
Doors to the World
Nazareth's English Language Institute welcomes students from across the globe
by Joanie Eppinga
Graduate of the English Language Institute Mustafa Alhabib '20 matriculated into Nazareth's nursing program this fall.
鈥淲e need to open our doors to the rest of the world,鈥 says Nevan Fisher, associate vice president for global programs.
He鈥檚 talking about the purpose underlying the English Language Institute鈥檚 new initiative to invite students from other countries, particularly the Pacific Rim, to Nazareth. The ELI (formerly the American Language Institute) offers several different programs for international students, including short-term immersion programs, training for businesspeople, and summer programs. Fisher says the goal is to retain 65% of students who study at the ELI for matriculation at Nazareth.
鈥淚f we become a more diverse body,鈥 says Fisher, 鈥渢hen we do our students a great service. A more complex culture here will prepare students better for their careers, wherever they have them.鈥
In pursuit of that goal, the first thing Nazareth did was to hire Hongzhuan 鈥淪am鈥 Song, who had successfully expanded an English language school at another college, as director of the ELI.
Since arriving at Nazareth, Song has traveled to China many times to build partnerships and spread the word about Naz. 鈥淎lthough it鈥檚 a very good school, many people in China don鈥檛 know about Nazareth,鈥 says Song. 鈥淚 tell people, 鈥楩or your students to get the best education they deserve, they need a solid liberal arts education鈥.鈥
Fisher says the ELI now makes a point of blending its programs with the liberal arts fabric of the College so that ELI students have an experience similar to that of other students at Naz. 鈥淪tudent affairs, activities, housing鈥攏ow it鈥檚 all integrated in every conceivable way,鈥 says Fisher.
One ELI student who has appreciated that integration is Mustafa Alhabib '20, a nursing student from Saudi Arabia. When he arrived at Naz, Alhabib says, he quickly made friends with both American students and other international students. 鈥淣ow,鈥 he says, 鈥淣azareth is my home.鈥
That feeling is what Fisher strives for. 鈥淭o help students acclimate,鈥 he says, 鈥渨e work with the entire Rochester community and with Nazareth faculty to plug them into family home stays for holidays like Thanksgiving and Christmas. This gives ELI students a taste of family life in the United States and increases their feeling of engagement in the community.鈥
Another strategy the ELI uses to integrate students into American life is called Conversation Partner. A native English speaker and a foreign student are paired to spend an hour in conversation each week. 鈥淏oth people benefit,鈥 says Fisher, 鈥渁nd not just linguistically.鈥 Ideally, Fisher observes, relationships develop, and U.S. students make friends with people from all over the world.
How else does Nazareth benefit from having international students on campus?
鈥淭hese students add experience and perspective to the classroom,鈥 says Fisher. 鈥淭hey change how faculty deliver instruction, and they change the interaction in the classroom.鈥 As a result, he notes, Nazareth students tend to see things in more global terms.
In addition, the campus benefits financially by welcoming students from emerging economies. 鈥淭hey鈥檙e paying full price,鈥 says Song, 鈥渨ith no tuition reduction.鈥 Fisher adds that those funds help Nazareth to stay strong in an increasingly competitive liberal arts environment.
According to Song, having more foreign students at Naz is a win-win. 鈥淭hey provide a different angle on culture,鈥 he says. 鈥淎nd they boost the morale of the campus!鈥
Joanie Eppinga is a writer and editor in Spokane, Washington.