Central Michigan Life

Issue date: 2/27/08 Section: News

Media Credit: unknown China freshman Junting Liu, right, reads short stories to Mount Pleasant resident Ocie Martin on Tuesday at Tendercare Health Center, 1524 Portabella Trail, for part of a level two reading and writing class through the English Language Institute. [Click to enlarge]

Media Credit: unknown Korea freshman Hye Young Lee, left, and China freshman Chao Tian sit down with Mount Pleasant residents on Tuesday at Tendercare Health Center. [Click to enlarge]

Weidman resident Bonnie Neeley said she had never seen a Chinese or Vietnamese person in her life before Tuesday.

"I've never been to China, but I've always wanted to go see how beautiful it is," Neeley told a few of the students reading to her.

Nine international students participating in the English as a Second Language program at CMU gave Neeley a new life experience Tuesday morning during their visit to Tendercare Health Centers, 1524 Portabella Trail.

English Learning Institute instructor Margaret Mieske started the program last summer as a volunteer project to do once per semester with international students.

"As a class we try to get them out, usually as an assignment, to volunteer and then to write about their experience," Mieske said. "Some go to the animal shelter or the soup kitchen."

Mieske said the project gives students a time to practice their reading skills and learn about the community and American culture. The reading lesson is beneficial to the students and gives Tendercare residents company to enjoy.

"These kids are away from home, and it's hard," she said. "They miss their family, their grandparents, so it's a nice experience for students, but also for residents to have some visitors."

International students at CMU are required to take a placement test for their English skills, dividing them into four different levels. Once they have completed all four levels, students are able to take on a normal courseload at CMU.

Most international students have a background in English before attending CMU, Mieske said, placing them into a higher level.

Saudi Arabia freshman Mohammed Almuhaisan is one of those students.

"They seem to like it," Almuhaisan said. "Some not so much."

Mieske said as part of the class, students tell each other traditional stories from their cultures. China freshman Chao Tian shared some of those stories with one Tendercare resident.

"I was done with the stories and this one lady wanted me to keep reading more," Tian said. "I ended up just telling her mine."

Residents gathered in groups to listen to the short stories students had brought to read.

Neeley said she enjoyed the stories that were read.

"There were these two guys fighting for this fish (in the story) and well, they're just crazy," she said.

After students finished reading, some residents asked for another story or about the students' backgrounds and home.

One group of residents began asking for recipes. Mieske said it was an idea for next time.

Mieske said she enjoys seeing how touched the students and residents are after the program.

"I'm so overwhelmed by students doing something like this," she said. "It brings joys to other people. Some students are emotional after their time here (at Tendercare) and I always have students who want to come back again."


news@cm-life.com

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