News – Page 12 – International | The University of Alabama

Intercultural Experience Showcase

April 25th, 2018
in English Language Institute International Main

On Tuesday, April 24, UA students from the Capstone International Program’s 202: Introduction to Global Studies – Experiential Learning class presented videos highlighting their experiences with international students studying in UA’s English Language Institute (ELI).

As part of the CIP 202 course, UA students participated weekly in ELI courses, with course topics ranging from Current Events to Top 40 American Music. In the courses, UA students developed their intercultural competence, the ability to communicate effectively and appropriately with people of other cultures, while working with students from 17 countries spanning five continents.

The objective of Frannie James, who designed the course, was that “all students who have taken CIP 202 will be forever curious about difference – will forever celebrate their lifelong experiences of difference. They will have the cultural self-awareness, the culture-general knowledge, the curiosity, the motivation, the empathy, and the cognitive flexibility to build and sustain relationships across cultures – socially, academically, and professionally.”

The ELI students also benefit from the interaction with UA students. The ELI students share their cultural knowledge and expertise while learning more about U.S. culture and university life.

The CIP 202: Introduction to Global Studies – Experiential Learning is an introductory course for The University of Alabama’s Global Studies Certificate. It sets the stage so that a student can approach all endeavors with an international perspective.

ELI Scholarship Winner

April 24th, 2018
in English Language Institute

Congratulations to this session’s ELI Tuition Scholarship winner: Nimian from Nicaragua!

Every session the ELI awards tuition scholarships to current full-time students. The students must attend 80% of their ELI classes and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all ELI classes. Students must also write a short essay explaining why they want the scholarship.

If you are a current ELI student and want to apply for a scholarship for next session, you can find the application on the ELI Forms page.

AAIE Conference Held at UA

April 17th, 2018
in Capstone International Services International Main

In mid April, the University of Alabama hosted the 2018 Alabama Association of International Educators (AAIE) annual conference. This organization is the Alabama chapter of Association of International Educators (NAFSA), and holds at its core a mission to promote international educational and cultural exchange through the support of students and scholars who choose to study in the state of Alabama and of Alabamians who seek education abroad.

Approximately 120 professional staff from international education offices across Alabama attended. Presentation topics covered a range of topics including using technology in the office and creating culturally inclusive programs for students from different countries. The University of Alabama’s staff presented on eight different topics . Participants also enjoyed a keynote speech by Mr. Mark Jackson, Honorary Consul General of Japan, who stressed the importance of diverse cultural knowledge and travel.

More information about AAIE, its mission, and events can be found at http://aaieorg.blogspot.com/.

Spring Study Abroad Fair

February 22nd, 2018
in International Main

On Monday, February 19, the UA Education Abroad office hosted the Spring 2018 Study Abroad Fair at the Robert E. Witt Activity Center on the UA campus. The fair was an opportunity for students to talk with UA faculty, staff, and affiliated study abroad program providers about the options they have to study abroad as a UA student.

More than 250 students attended the event, twice as many as attended last year. Students were able to earn a Greek point and spin to win prizes for attending the event. Information about how to use financial aid and scholarships to study abroad was also presented.

Students can still apply to study abroad for the upcoming summer and fall terms, as well as Spring 2019. For more information, students can attend one of Education Abroad’s “Study Abroad 101” sessions held daily at 2 pm in 135 B.B. Comer Hall. Students can apply to study abroad on the Education Abroad website at www.studyabroad.ua.edu.

Colombian student experiences Crimson Tide culture through English Language Institute

February 20th, 2018
in English Language Institute International Main

Caroline Japal

By Shahriyar Emami | 01/24/2018 10:02pm | From The Crimson White

Santiago Mejia Villegas, a native Colombian, was first exposed to American football, a rare sport in Colombia, during his time on the Alabama campus.“It is impossible to live in the campus during the football season and not getting involved in the Crimson Tide! I had the chance to go to a couple of games in the stadium as well as to the welcoming parade and live that amazing moment like a new fan of Alabama,” he said. “I have made a few friends with whom have been in some cities nearby or in some bars and restaurants here in Tuscaloosa,” he said.

Villegas’ first language is Spanish, and he’s in Tuscaloosa to study English and business through the University of Alabama’s English Language Institute (ELI).

“English is one of the most widely spoken and written languages in the world,” Emily Brown, an English Language Institute instructor at The University of Alabama said. “One of our overall goals is to try and prepare our students for academic study in an American university setting by providing them with the cultural knowledge and awareness they will need to thrive both academically and socially.”

Villegas graduated with a bachelor’s degree in economics and continued his postgraduate studies in marketing and finance in Colombia.

“Living here in Alabama but mostly in the UA campus has been an incredible opportunity …
There are so many differences between the way we live in [my] country and the way we live here because we are temporarily a student and we have to face some situations like get used to the food, to stay at the dorm because we don’t have a car or friends to go out with… but at the end everything has become in a new valuable experience,” Villegas said.

During his time at the University, Villegas has been active in the ELI, other international student groups and community church events. This past year, Villegas attended a Thanksgiving event hosted by a local church group where he said he learned cultural pieces he couldn’t have learned in a classroom.

“There it was wonderful people and delicious food and it became in a very good opportunity to know and understand the origin of the holiday and its meaning for the American culture. It was also a place where we found good and friendly people who afterwards has helped us in some casual questions like where to find a barber shop close the campus or stuff like that,” Villegas said.

While there are many people involved in the ELI program, Villegas said he believes not enough people know about it or are even aware of what they do in the program. He said he finds it easier to talk to people in the program because they speak multiple languages.

“We designed [the program] specifically for non-native speakers who live in the Tuscaloosa area and want to improve their language skills,” Brown said.

Brown said the program provides learners with the confidence they need in the English language to pursue opportunities they might not otherwise get the chance to pursue, whether that be personally, professionally, academically or socially.

“For native speakers who don’t quite understand, I tell them [ELI] is similar to when maybe they learned Spanish or French in high school or college. It’s different, however, because our classrooms often include students who speak a variety of different languages,” Brown said.

“Everything about the culture here is different and interesting in some ways, but definitely the friendly character of the people in Alabama is something I will never forget,” Villegas said.

ELI Scholarship Winners

January 18th, 2018
in English Language Institute

Congratulations to this session’s ELI Tuition Scholarship winners: Cristina from Spain and Nimian from Nicaragua!

Every session the ELI awards tuition scholarships to current full-time students. The students must attend 80% of their ELI classes and have a minimum GPA of 3.0 in all ELI classes. Students must also write a short essay explaining why they want the scholarship.

If you are a current ELI student and want to apply for a scholarship for next session, you can find the application on the ELI Forms page.

ELI Students Watch the National Championship

January 18th, 2018
in English Language Institute

ELI students watched and cheered The University of Alabama’s American football team on to victory January 8, 2018. The football team won their 17^th National Championship by beating The University of Georgia 26-23 in overtime. The exciting game was televised on the movie screen in the Ferguson Student Center. Some of the students had watched Alabama football games before coming to Tuscaloosa so that they could participate in this important part of the university’s culture. Roll Tide!

Summer 2018 Faculty Led General App Open

January 17th, 2018
in Education Abroad

Summer 2018 UA Faculty-Led General Application

This is the General Application for UA’s Summer 2018 Faculty-Led study abroad programs. Once your specific program is ready to accept applications, the UA Education Abroad office will move your application to the program that you have expressed interest in via the Questionnaire in this general application. If you are interested in more than one faculty-led program, we will move your application to your first choice of programs. You will then need to start a second application for your second choice of programs (if you so desire).

If you have any questions or wish to schedule an appointment with a study abroad advisor, please contact the Education Abroad office at 205-348-5256 or studyabroad@ua.edu or come by 135 B.B. Comer Hall and make an appointment.

15th annual Capstone International Photo Contest (Fall 2017)

January 17th, 2018
in Education Abroad

Education Abroad is excited to announce our 15th annual Capstone International Photo Contest.

We know many of you captured some great shots while you studied abroad as a UA student. We want to see them!Photos will be classified into one of four categories:

Landscape – buildings and/or natural scenery of a city, site, or area
Local Color – highlights the people and culture of places visited
UA Spirit – UA students showing their school pride while abroad
Crimson Captured (International students only) – the UA campus or Tuscaloosa area as seen through the eyes of UA international students.

With your submission, please include your name, the category in which you are entering the photo, title of the photo, location the photo was taken, and the name of your study abroad program. Each contestant is allowed to submit no more than 4 photos total. Make sure all photos are high resolution. Winner in each category will receive scholarship prizes!

Photos must be high-resolution and be submitted via email to UAphotocontest@gmail.com. The deadline for entry is Thursday, October 26, 2017 at 11 p.m. By submitting a photograph(s) you guarantee that you are the original and sole creator of the submitted photograph(s) and that you own all rights to the photograph(s). Furthermore, you grant Education Abroad and Capstone International the right to use the photograph(s).

Voting Process
Entries for each category will be voted on by the UA student body the week of November 6-10 on the second floor of the Ferguson Center AND through the UA Education Abroad Facebook page.

Prizes
Winners will be announced during International Education Week the week of November 13-17. The 1st and 2nd place winners of each category will receive a scholarship prize that will be credited to the student’s account at UA. All finalists will receive an award certificate.

Rules and Requirements

You must be a current UA student to enter.
Photos must be submitted via email to UAphotocontest@gmail.com
Maximum of four total entries per student.
No inappropriate, lewd, disrespectful, or offensive submissions.
Repeat submissions will not be considered.
Images should not be digitally enhanced.
Submissions must include your name, the category in which you are entering each photo, title of the photo, location the photo was taken, and the name of your program.

Check out last years winners on our Facebook: 2016 Photo Contest Winners!

Proyecta 100,000

January 9th, 2018
in English Language Institute

For three consecutive years (2015, 2016, & 2017), The University of Alabama (UA) English Language Institute (ELI) has been selected to host Mexican learners to study English as a Second Language for four weeks in the fall as part of the “Training Program for Students – Proyecta 100,000.” Each year the Mexican students have been impressed by the beautiful university campus, the diversity of students at the ELI, and the professional English instructors. In the articles in Spanish linked below, three Proyecta students describe their positive learning experiences at The University of Alabama.

“The University of Alabama” by Ulises Escobar Roman

“Roll Tide” by Karla Janet Hernandez Ortiz

“Broaden Our Horizons” by Dr. Ana Maria Guerrero Orozco

Proyecta Students at the ELI Welcome Activity

Proyecta students with some ELI friends at the certificate ceremony

Archives: News

Archives: News

Education Abroad is excited to announce our 15th annual Capstone International Photo Contest.

We know many of you captured some great shots while you studied abroad as a UA student. We want to see them!Photos will be classified into one of four categories: