1. Nestled in the heart of the Midwest,
southern Illinois is a unique and welcoming
location for professional development. At
the convergence of American culture, the
southern Illinois region provides an excellent
sample of the meeting of American culture
and business practices. Within a two-
hour radius is St. Louis, western Kentucky,
and southern Indiana. Within a four-hour
radius are the cities of Indianapolis, Indiana;
Nashville, Tennessee; Memphis, Tennessee;
Louisville, Kentucky; Urbana-Champaign,
Illinois; and Springfield, Illinois. Within a six-
hour radius are the cities of Chicago, Illinois;
Kansas City, Missouri; Iowa City, Iowa;
Cincinnati, Ohio; and Lexington, Kentucky.
B L
A
C E
KAREN M. MARTIN
Manager, Business Language and Culture Exchange
Economic and Regional Development
Dunn-Richmond Center - Mail Code 6891
Southern Illinois University
1740 Innovation Drive
Carbondale, IL 62903
kmmartin@siu.edu
618/453-3342
618/453-5040 (fax)
econdev.siu.edu/our-programs/blace.html
BLACE is distinctive in its offering of a
wide selection of experiences for the
business professional.
Business Language and
Culture Exchange

2. Southern Illinois University’s Office of
Economic and Regional Development and
the Center for English as a Second
Language created the BUSINESS
LANGUAGE AND CULTURE EXCHANGE
(BLACE) to provide a customizable
program of English instruction and
business interaction/education for
professionals from around
the world.
OUR GUESTS LIVE AND STUDY
in beautiful southern Illinois, learning
or improving language skills, exchanging
business insights with local business
leaders and educators, and experiencing
American culture from small town to
big city.
SOUTHERN ILLINOIS is an ideal location
to meet the professional, linguistic and
cultural needs of global businesses.
Anchored by a major U.S. research
university in the heart of the American
Midwest, the region offers exquisite
natural beauty, an educated and diverse
population, a wide variety of businesses,
and friendly people who are
willing to teach as well
as learn from
foreign guests.
WE TAILOR
ENGLISH CLASSES
to your professional needs AND
level of English proficiency. We select
lectures and university experiences
according to your topic(s) of interest. We
can set up business visits and field trips to
be included in a package tailored to your
requirements in a program that lasts from
one to eight weeks on campus.
PROGRAM ELEMENTS
• English for business purposes
• Listening skills
• Accent reduction
• Grammar
• Case studies
• Effective presentations
• Using media
• Small business
start-up workshops
• Facilitating discussions
• Etiquette
• Intercultural communication
• SIU faculty lectures
• Local business engagements
• Field trips
• Business roundtables