By Ann Chen
Try to recall the many summer vacations you’ve had. How did you spend your time? Did you make good use of it? Or did you just wake up everyday in the afternoon and tell yourself that “tomorrow is going to be different,” but the next day you just ended up doing nothing again and lying in bed all day? I’m sure many of us have this experience. This summer, you can make it different, and chances are you may turn a new page in your life. Join the “ALC.” With “American Language & Culture” as its full name, the ALC is an English-learning program at Stanford University. But don’t jump to the conclusion that this is just another ESL program. The ALC is a program designed by VIA (Volunteers in Asia), a private, non-profit organization dedicated to increasing understanding between the United States and Asia since 1963. Its Stanford projects offer a wide range of short-term, international study programs. These programs enhance cross-cultural understanding through the exchange of people. The ALC program is jointly offered by the Stanford University Linguistics Department and VIA. It was first established in 1977 at the request of some Japanese universities, and in 1990 NTU began to participate as well. Each year its founder Dr. Clark Dwight comes and introduces the program to students. During the program, you’re enrolled as an official Stanford student. You live in the dorm, and your roommate is from another country, which means you’ll be using English almost all day. You get an ID card, and you have access to a wide range of facilities: the library, the computer centers, or the athletic facilities, such as the gym or the tennis court. And this is why the program is 10 to 15 percent more expensive than other summer programs, because you are a Stanford Student. One of the most significant differences of this program is its design of the courses. Usually if you join a summer program, you don’t really have to study; on the contrary, you get to have fun from the first day. However, in the ALC, having fun may be a luxury. Daily morning classes start at nine; two courses are offered, Effective Communication and Current Issues. The classes are tiny, usually no more than 12 students; you’re asked to be interactive and responsive, and don’t think about skipping class! During class, you are not only asked to speak a lot, but also you have to come up with a topic for a research paper. In fact, the most important part of this program is that each student will be required to write an 8-page research paper on one aspect of American culture; otherwise, you may not get the credits. There’s homework every day, and it’s normal to spend more than four hours on it. Speaking of credits, the Stanford summer program is a credit program; by the end you get three credits and our school accepts them. However, the premise is that you have to work hard on the paper, and you should perform well in class. In addition to writing a research project, students will have to make three presentations on specific issues; that means each week you’ll have to think of something to say for 5-10 minutes. The teachers will show you the techniques needed in a formal presentation. Some teachers ask students to make visual aids, and some even videotape your presentation, which is really scary. Think you can just relax after the morning classes finish? Wrong! Unlike other summer programs that allow students to waste their time after class, in the ALC there’s no way you can fool around. Afternoons and evenings are built around various activities. Each week there’s a lecture by the sociology department. You get to explore contemporary issues in American society, such as social stratification and the digital divide. In the evenings, there will be panel discussions; students are assigned to give feedback, either to interview people or to go to the library and do some research. Field trips are another interesting and probably the most relaxing part of the ALC. In addition to students from Japan and Taiwan, each year eight Stanford students volunteer to be the hosts, and they live with the Asian students in the dormitory. They arrange various out-of-class activities for members, such as visiting Silicon Valley companies, going to ethnic areas, and doing voluntary work at community shelters. In short, you have the opportunity to explore many aspects of American society. On weekends, the hosts might take you to some of the places they usually go, and you get to know more about the daily lives of American students. Overall, the assignments are tough and intense, and the library is probably where you’re going to spend most of your time. This is not an easy program. For some people, this might be a perfect way to spend a vacation, but if your purpose is to fool around and shop, perhaps you should consider something else. For more information, go to the Center for International Academic Exchanges on campus, or you can visit www.VIAprograms.org. a
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May 2024
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