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Greetings from Lewis & Clark! As the Director of the ISALC, I am fortunate to have a position that I love. This is because I have the opportunity to work with an exceptional faculty and student body. It is fascinating for me to meet students from around the world, and to teach courses that help meet their linguistic and socio-cultural objectives. I am proud of our intensive English program because we have developed a detailed and relevant curriculum that assists students in preparing for future academic work. We introduce them to our library and computer labs, help them practice with different research tools, and give them many opportunities to practice all of their language skills; in addition, we always try to support their efforts to become integrated into the campus community. I greatly enjoy working with our Friendship Family Coordinator, for example, in bringing together students and families in the Portland area. Even though international students who are studying English have full access to all campus facilities, it is certainly interesting to get to know people in the community as well. The families who participate also gain so much by learning about the cultures of the world and appreciate it when the students share their perspectives and customs.
I teach one or two courses each semester. Some of my favorites are Media, Business English and Social Studies. In Media, for example, we use newspapers, television, the radio and other channels of communication to introduce the language and culture of the U.S. It is an exciting and meaningful way to be informed about current events and to improve English skills. In Business English, we attempt to work with the concepts and language that we all use everyday when we read the newspaper, hear about the national & global economies, or go shopping and interact with people in today's world. Through Social Studies, we review some of the history and geography of the U.S. We take the time to trace the roots of this nation and to investigate some of the natural and geographical wonders that exist. Many students decide to change or make vacation plans to travel to some of the locations that we have studied about!
Lewis & Clark College is located in a very safe and beautiful part of Portland, Oregon. Through extra-curricular activities such as field trips to the mountains or coast, visits to local businesses, and other activities that support our courses, we introduce students to our city and state. It is always a pleasure to welcome new students, returning students, and alumni from around the world to our campus. If you would like more information about our programs, please contact us. We look forward to hearing from you!