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Language students showcase research

Students from around the globe present projects on local culture
February 28, 2012
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By Sarah Volstad


Students in the upper levels of the Intensive English Language Program have been working all term on a series of poster presentations on Canadian cultural customs and local attractions.

The project is part of the annual school fair held recently at the Language Institute, part of Concordia’s School of Extended Learning.

“This activity helps students discover the campus and culture while learning English and developing academic research and presentation skills,” says Kevin Stanley, an instructor at Concordia’s Language Institute.

Students from the Language Institute at Concordia’s School of Extended Learning present to their teachers and peers their posters that feature Canadian customs and attractions. | Photos by Concordia University
Students from the Language Institute at Concordia’s School of Extended Learning present to their teachers and peers their posters that feature Canadian customs and attractions.

Each of the 12 classes in the upper levels of the program were assigned a different topic. This year’s themes ranged from Canadian holidays to explorations of Montreal community organizations. Working in small groups, students prepared posters and decorated their classrooms.

The Intensive English Language Program offers eight levels of courses mainly to international students who need to improve their language skills before they can take credited courses at the university. This term, approximately 450 students are taking classes in anticipation of enrolling at Concordia.

One of the students, Hossein Adeli, a 25-year-old Iranian, has been granted admission to Concordia’s building engineering program on the condition that he improves his English before classes begin in the fall. His class was assigned the “Montreal neighbourhoods” theme for their projects. Adeli and his partner chose to explore the Plateau Mont-Royal area for their presentation.

“I am enjoying the English program, but mostly I am enjoying Montreal,” says Adeli, who arrived in Canada two months ago. “In Iran, it is strict. In Canada, there is freedom, and this gives me positive energy.”

Across the hall, Nadira Mohter and her teammates, working on the theme of the Canadian Arctic, presented their research into the effects of climate change in northern Canada. She hopes her project will raise awareness about this environmental issue.

| Photo by Concordia University
Photos by Concordia University

Mohter, originally from China, plans to study at the John Molson School of Business. In the meantime, she is improving her English skills.

“I believe that it is so important to be multilingual, especially in the business world,” says Mohter. At 21, she is well on her way. She speaks Chinese fluently, as well as her native language Uyghur, which she says resembles Uzbek or Turkish languages. Since her arrival in Montreal a few months ago, she has also picked up some French.

Stanley says he is pleased with the projects his Level Five class presented, before adding that the job of language instructors like himself extends beyond grading students on their academic performance. They also have to help the new arrivals deal with culture shock and getting accutomed with the North American academic environment.

“We think of ourselves more like coaches than teachers,” he explains. “Students even come to me with personal problems, like help reading phone bills.”

Though the fair was open to the public, most of the visitors were faculty and students from the Language Institute. Stanley says the event provides a good opportunity for the students to get to know one another, as well as develop a better understanding of local and Canadian culture.

Journalism student Sarah Volstad is an intern with Concordia’s University Communications Services.

Related link:
•    Language Insititute



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