UH Hilo Press Release
UHH Home > News and Events > UH Hilo Press Releases
Date: Monday, July 7, 2003
Contact: Todd Shumway, (808) 974-7664
For Immediate Release
New Intensive English Communications course offered
International students celebrate United Nations Day at the University of Hawai`i at Hilo.
The University of Hawaii at Hilo continues to demonstrate its commitment to international education by introducing a new program for students who want to study English on the Big Island. The Intensive English Communications (IEC) program gives international students another option for studying English while enjoying the Big Island’s unique environment.
The IEC program is part of UH Hilo’s College of Continuing Education and Community Service (CCECS) and is designed for students who are interested in studying English and enjoying the environmental and cultural benefits of the Big Island without entering into a four-year degree program. Previously, the University offered English as a Second Language (ESL) classes only to students who were enrolled as full-time students in a degree program. IEC students will study academic English, including classes in reading, writing, grammar, and listening/speaking, in addition to American and Hawaiian culture, conversation, and pronunciation. Classes will include field trips where students can use their English in real-life settings such as the Hilo Farmers’ Market and an elementary school. Students will also have the option of participating in weekend adventure trips to places like Hapuna Beach, Kilauea Volcano, Mauna Kea Visitors’ Center, and South Point.
“IEC program classes are small and have been designed for students with beginning to intermediate level English skills,” explained IEC Coordinator Todd Shumway. “These are students who have some command of conversational English and can do limited reading and writing but are well below the ability level required to enter a U.S. college.”
The IEC will serve students of all ages and from a variety of countries.
“Typically, students who choose to study English in a non-credit ESL program represent a wide variety of ages and backgrounds and often have different goals than traditional degree-seeking college students,” Shumway said. “While some of the students in the IEC program are those who may later choose to enter a degree program, others are between careers, on leave from their companies, or just pursuing a lifelong dream of studying English in Hawai`i.”
According to CCECS Dean Margaret Haig, a growing international student body continues to be important to the long-term development of the University despite the difficulties faced by students trying to study in the U.S. due to increased immigration restrictions.
“International students add to the diversity that makes this campus such a good place to study,” Haig said. “They not only learn valuable information about Hawai`i and the United States to take back to their home countries, but they share their own culture and experiences with local students. The IEC students, often older than traditional college students, will bring a unique enthusiasm to their study which benefits the entire campus.”
Students in the UH Hilo ESL programs are usually from Japan, Korea, and Taiwan as well as the South Pacific and other countries in Southeast Asia, Latin America, and Europe. Currently many of these students are pursuing degrees in the UH Hilo English Language Institute (ELI).
The IEC program is a full semester (17 weeks) program with students taking 20 hours a week of English and culture classes. All classes will be held on the UH Hilo campus. For students interested in a shorter program, a half semester (8 weeks) program is available beginning at the same time as the full semester program. The fall 2003 semester IEC program begins on August 25. The spring 2004 semester IEC program begins on January 12.
For additional information, please call (808) 974-7664 or (808) 933-3212 or visit the IEC Web site at http://www.uhh.hawaii.edu/~eli/iec.php.
Disclaimer: The University of Hawaii at Hilo is not responsible for the contents, links and/or materials presented in any web site listed above that is not of the "uhh.hawaii.edu" domain. All comments, complaints and grievances should be filed with the author, host and/or owner of said site.