An integrated English language and cultural immersion program was developed for 13 Taiwanese students preparing for an MBA in project management at Brenau University. The program focused on improving English skills through 3 hours of classroom study per day combined with community outreach activities. Students participated in service projects, tutored local children, interviewed senior citizens, and helped refurbish homes damaged by Hurricane Katrina to learn English while experiencing American culture firsthand. The goal was to prepare students with sufficient English ability to begin their MBA coursework in January 2009 through an intensive 5 month study period.

1. An integrated approach to teaching English Strategies used for a cohort of Taiwanese students to prepare them to study for their MBA in Project Management Gregory Chase Brenau University March 19, 2009

2. Students and Program 13 Students from Taiwan came to study for their MBA: 4 Women and 9 Men (One man brought his family along) Native Language – Mandarin Chinese Program started August 1, 2008 – will finish December 15, 2009 Concentration on English study for first 5 months Level of English range: basic beginner to very advanced

4. Study Goal: Not just classroom learning Classroom learning combined with outreach into the community through service learning Make the community aware of their presence and educate them about Taiwan and its customs and traditions

5. English Classroom Study 3 – hours per day, five days a week in the morning Included other non-mandarin speakers in the class – Korean, Thai, South American, and African

6. University Welcome Barbecue for students to introduce them to faculty, staff, and other international students of university

7. University Outings Gold Rush – Gold Mine Movie Night Mule Camp - Booth Community Maintenance

8. Taiwan Introduction Presentation To class To business faculty To senior center To entire university To community

9. Reading Circle Old Man and the Sea by Ernest Hemingway Created small groups and discussed book over four weeks with faculty member To express more difficult concepts and ideas in English – deeper meaning

10. Boys and Girls Club A place for children from 6-14 years of age to go after school from 2:00 – 7:00 pm to do activities or get help with homework Taiwan students went in afternoon to help students with homework – mostly math

11. History Center Project Interviewed Senior Citizens and learned their life history Selected a small group of the most interesting and did follow-up interview During follow-up interview created audio and visual record of their personal history to be used for a display at the local history center

12. Spring Break Trip Trip to New Orleans to refurbish houses destroyed by hurricane “Katrina” Learn unique culture of New Orleans through Jazz music in evenings

13. Chinese Language Students Worked with beginning undergraduate students learning Chinese – tutored once a week on individual basis Came to class to listen to presentations

14. University Campus Activities Sporting Events Plays/theater Concerts

15. Outings with Faculty and Staff Dinners Beauty Parlor Asian Food Store

16. Preparing for MBA Review of Business - Courses Did review of basic business classes in English that they previously did in Chinese Learn terms and material in English they already know in Chinese Get them use to studying in English

17. Preparing for MBA Business Communications Class: First class taken in MBA program – Fall 2008 Only MBA class taken at time Stresses writing and presentation skills Video taped presentations for students to review

18. MBA Study Started full time MBA study in January of 2009 12 of 13 students had reached a sufficient level of English to begin study One student taking additional English lessons and will join MBA at later date

19. Lessons Learned Housing – not all together

20. Questions?