Students trek across globe to learn
Campus Times
December 5, 1997
by Rob Strauss
Editorial Assistant
Mexico, China, Japan, Ecuador. All of these countries seem like far
away lands but students at the University of La Verne can actually have
the chance to study there and learn first-hand about their cultures.
One of the highlights of the Study Abroad program is Brethren Colleges
Abroad (BCA). Each of the schools that are a part of BCA offer different
things for different students on four different continents. There are certain
requirements to be accepted to study at each campus though.
Cheltenham, England
Along with the campus in Athens, Greece it is one of the most popular
campuses for ULV students to go to. This is primarily because it does not
require knowledge of another language.
According to Dr. Al Clark, director of Study Abroad, Cheltenham is strong
in teacher education, art, several behavioral science areas and history.
"It's strong in several areas in which we have strengths in as
well," said Dr. Clark.
Athens, Greece
This is the other popular choice for University of La Verne students.
The courses are primarily directed toward Behavioral Science and Business
majors.
Quito, Ecuador
Ecuador requires fluency in the Spanish language. To be fluent in the
language students need to take two years of college study. There is a chance
for students to get training in the language in Ecuador though if they are
not fully fluent.
This campus is primarily for students who are studying the language.
Barcelona, Spain
To study in Spain, students need to have absolute fluency in the Spanish
language. This includes the regular training that is provided at all of
the non-speaking campuses that are apart of BCA.
"It is true that in every one of the language programs they do
provide intensive language training for anywhere from 3 weeks to a month
or two," said Dr. Clark.
Norma Alvarez, a senior who speaks fluent Spanish, studied in Barcelona
for a semester. She said she experienced culture shock when she went.
"What I did have a problem with was they speak another language
called Catalan," said Alvarez. "Catalan is basically a mixture
of Spanish and French."
Alvarez said the problem was mostly outside of the classroom and she
did not have a problem understanding the lectures in the classroom.
Strasbourg and Nancy, France
Students need to be fluent in French to attend these schools as part
of the BCA program. They recently have started allowing students of less
than full fluency provided they take an intermediate class in the language.
Marburg, Germany
To be accepted, students need to be fluent in German but there is an
option for students who have only one year of study in the language to go
and do an extra intensive course along with the regular intensive.
"For only $280 extra you get four weeks' room and board and teaching,"
said Dr. Clark.
Sapporo, Japan, and Dalian, China
Unlike many of the other schools in Europe and Central America, they
do not require fluency in the language.
"The students who go to Japan and China are basically going to
learn Japanese and Chinese," said Dr. Clark.
Dr. Clark said he recently got approval for the foreign language requirement
to count automatically for students who go to Japan and China.
The academic calendar for the first semester is similar to the U.S.
The second semester is different though for China. It runs from March through
July.
Xalapa, Mexico
This campus requires full fluency. For students who are not ready to
be in a classroom situation, they can start off in Cuernavaca, Mexico which
is a language training program. After getting the proper training the students
can then attend classes in Xalapa.
As with Ecuador, the BCA program on this campus is directed toward language
students.
Cochin, India
The language of instruction at the Cochin University of Science and
Technology is English. The program is only available in the fall semester
which runs from September through December. The schools primary focus is
in science and languages.
Other schools
While there are many schools offered through the Brethren Colleges Abroad
(BCA) program, that is not all the Study Abroad Program has to offer, said
Dr. Clark. Students can choose to go other places.
"If they go elsewhere in many cases they will lose all their financial
aid, the courses may or may not transfer and they, in most cases, will have
to take a leave of absence to go," said Dr. Clark.
One of the advantages for students studying abroad is that they can
get their International and Intercultural experience requirement fulfilled.
According to Dr. Clark, while there are a lot of classes offered at
the other universities, students should not take major classes.
"The important thing throughout is to take general ed and to get
them approved," said Dr. Clark.
Alvarez, on the other hand, said people go to France or Spain cannot
take general ed.
"I'm a Spanish major," said Alvarez. "Everything you
take in Spanish counts toward your major."
The general requirements to go abroad are that students need to have
a 3.0 grade point average though Dr. Clark said under special circumstances
they will allow people with under a 3.0 average to go abroad. Students also
need to have a junior standing but they will sometimes allow students who
are of sophomore and post-senior standing, and have a good reason, to go
abroad.
