American Language and Culture Institute keeps international students distant

The American Language and Culture Institute in the 0-2 building hinders international students attempting to improve their English skills.

The program is an intensive language program that is offered by the LBCC International Student Program. The program’s purpose is into helping foreign students enhance their English skills including listening, speaking, reading and writing in preparation for taking academic classes for their majors.

About four years ago, the international student office and the language classes were located in more reasonable rooms. Though the office was the in bungalow next to the Auditorium and the classes were in the bungalow next to the new T building, they provided a friendlier environment, engaging more international students’ involvement with the school’s activities.

Now the classes have been moved to a more modern place, the O-2 building, but it has a few drawbacks that need to be addressed.

Most international students said they favor the language program since it helps them build a firm foundation to move on with their academic careers. However, the isolation from the rest of the campus slows their progress in their English learning.

The isolation means they have might not be able to enjoy a full flavor of college experience: discovering themselves and getting to know people from different backgrounds. A 20-minute walk from the O-2 building discourages them from being connected with the international student office in the basement of the E building when they have any concerns about the academic or immigration related issues since the office is located on the other end of the campus.

Most importantly, they lose many wonderful opportunities to practice their English with native English speakers. The situation breaks the learning outcomes of the language program that the international student program promises with their prospective students.

Because of being isolated, most students do not even know of the existence of the language program. The distant location hinders new students as they look for their classrooms.

Once an international student got lost and asked a random student on the campus to direct him to his class. The student actually told the language student to walk back to the main campus instead of continuing to walk past Veteran’s Stadium and look for the scholarship office.

LBCC should not scatter the locations with their primary connection on campus. The classrooms and the office should be near each other.

International students come here with high and clear educational goals earning nearly a million dollar of revenue to the college per year, so do not force them to go back home and talk bad about their experiences in America.