Newswise — Until Feb. 18, a group of 18 students from Chinju National University of Education in South Korea will be studying and observing the American education system at The University of Findlay. The students are paired with 16 UF student ambassadors from the College of Education during their stay. They participate in structured education activities together, as well as unstructured, social activities to educate the Korean students about not only the educational system in the U.S. but also about culture and society. The exchange is a new cooperative program between The University of Findlay and Chinju, and Chris Sippel, coordinator of international education, says that this first program is, hopefully, the steppingstone to a long-term relationship between the universities.
“This is the first evolution of the program ... our relationship with Chinju is a new one, but one we want to promote and develop on many levels,” said Sippel. “The emphasis and goal is to find ways for our students to go to Chinju and South Korea and continue the exchange.” Jung-Sook Kim, Ph.D., professor in the department of English education and director in the Office of International Affairs in Chinju, accompanied her students to UF and is optimistic about the program’s impact. “This program didn’t exist before — it is very unique. Chris (Sippel) put a lot of effort into designing these programs, which really satisfy my students,” said Kim. While in Findlay, the students are participating in an English language enrichment program, and they observe elementary classes in three schools within Findlay’s school district. Chinju has arranged nine categories for specific observation in the American elementary classroom, including the interaction between teachers and students, attitudes elementary teachers should display, how to create a positive classroom environment and even how desks are arranged. Kim said her students are amazed by the way the classrooms they have observed are freer than those in South Korea, yet they are still controlled. “I think a lesson our visiting students are learning is that children are children everywhere,” said Sippel. “All children have the same sense of curiosity and wonder that is endearing and really universal.” Sippel and Kim agree that academic exchanges such as this one are imperative to cultural development on college campuses worldwide. “I think it shows our two institutions ... can come together and create strong programs to mutually benefit our students and the Korean students, who are both in need of this culturally,” said Sippel. “With programs like this, we can prepare the students to become successful members of the world.” The University of Findlay has had a focus on international education since 1975, when then-Findlay College introduced the Intensive English Language Institute for international students. Since then, UF’s international student population has grown to approximately 15 percent of the student body, which totals approximately 4,100 part-time and full-time students.
Findlay has established an especially close relationship with Japan through the Kake Program. The international exchange program began in 2003. Each summer, students, faculty and staff from the University travel to Japan, where they are immersed in the culture. Each fall, UF reciprocates the hospitality of the Japanese by hosting a group from Japan in Findlay, where they experience American education, as well as American customs.
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