Italian food, wine or movies
have flooded the world with exquisite quality and excitement that has touched
the lives of people around the globe. With its similarity to French,
Spanish, and Portuguese, the Italian language shares a place with all of
the other Romance Languages. I Malatesta Italian Language and Cultural
Centre offers its clients the opportunity to explore the language and all
of the other aspects of the Italian culture.
I Malatesta Italian Language and Cultural Centre (I Malatesta) offers all of the ingredients to acquainting their students with all aspects of the Italian culture. They are a member of International Association of Language Centres (I.A.L.C.). I.A.L.C. includes selected language schools all over the world who provide a friendly atmosphere, high-quality teaching and serious pedagogical supervision. I Malatesta's main center is located in the city of Rimini, Italy. The city, favored by a particularly mild climate in all seasons of the year, provides a rich historical heritage that dates back to Roman times and beyond. Not only is it an important seaside resort, it is surrounded by a beautiful countryside where many of the artistic treasures are waiting to be discovered. Dr. Bruno Fabbri (BF), Director of I Malatesta Italian Language and Cultural Centre, provided International Connections Consulting with an indepth view of what their clients might expect. ICC: "What is your role at I Malatesta?" BF: "I have been the director of the school since 1976. Regarding my background, I have a university degree in Economic-Sciences and Tourism and I've been a teacher at the high school "Instituto Tecnico per il Turismo." ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend I Malatesta? What makes I Malatesta unique?" BF: "Students choose I Malatesta for its professionalism, reputation, friendly, and welcoming atmosphere." ICC: "Explain the language learning concept." BF: "We offer different kinds of programs:
*General Course
*Italian for Working Purposes
These types of courses provide students with an all round insight into the Italian Language. We offer also a social and recreational program. Every Monday students are informed of the Centres activities and events taking place in Rimini during the week. The School organizes excursions to places of historical and artistic interest as well as parties on the beach, night cruises and pleasant evenings at restaurants and discos." ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? Language Proficency?" BF: "In general, we accept students aged 14 and above. Students are allocated to the appropriate level after a brief placement test (written and oral)." ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student?" BF: "We welcome students who are enthusiastic and willing to learn. Students may apply by E-Mail or fax, providing a deposit alongside two photos and personal information. Confirmation will be sent out once this has arrived." ICC: "Explain your teaching Methodology." BF: "The objective of the teaching syllabus is to stimulate rapid progress in the practical use of modern Italian, and classes are based on the continuous and direct use of the language under the guidance of the teacher, who provides suitable examples, explains specific points, corrects and encourages, making the learning and practice of structures and vocabulary a pleasant and rewarding experience." ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistantships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria?" BF: "Throughout the year, the school offers scholarships to the Italian Consulates and the Centres of Italian Language and Culture. There are Italian Consulates all round the world. Occasionally, the school offers other assistantships of 20-30% discount on all courses." ICC: "We would like to thank Dr. Bruno Fabbri for the interview." I Malatesta has a summer program in the Tremiti Islands that gives their students a taste of paradise. Located in the blue waters of the Mediterranean sea, between the sea and the sky, emerges the Tremiti Islands which are made up of San Nicola, San Domino and Capraia. The school is housed in a 3 star hotel, Hotel San Domino. Many of the classes take place in the garden of the hotel due to fabulous climate and Mediterranean sun. All of the courses and facilities are similar to their main location in Rimini Italy as far as quality, course content, and structure. International Connections
Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Dr. Bruno Fabbri,
Director of I Malatesta, for providing all of the material for the
article. If you would like more information or to enroll, please
contact International Connections Consulting.
Cathy Tesi
Heres what one of their former students had to say. I would like to recommend I Malatesta ,an Italian language school for listing on your Web Site. I attended the school for 2 weeks in May of 1996. Attendees hail from all over the world, offering one exposure to a variety of cultures. It was truly one the best vacations that I had ever taken. With only two weeks of instruction, 4 hrs/day; 5 days/wk, I was able to return to college after a 20-year absence and pick up the language where I left off, earning an 'A' for the course as well! Professor Bruno Fabbri, the owner/director of the school employs excellent teachers and shows genuine concern for the quality of instruction and overall experience of his students. The city of Rimini offers a less commercial atmosphere than many of the larger Italian cities. Prices are more moderate, beaches are clean and safe, and the food is excellent. I have every intention of returning in 2000. For more information please contact International Connections Consulting.(ICC).
Officially authorized by
the Italian Ministry of Education, Dilit International House has been teaching
Italian as a foreign language since 1974. It is part of International House,
the well established world-wide
Ms. Tasha Lewis, President of International Connections Consulting (ICC), had the pleasure of meeting with the Direttrice, Tiziana Di Dedda (TD), at the Americas Workshop in Miami, Florida this past February and was able to learn more about Dilit for ICC's clients. ICC: "What is your role at dilit International House? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide)." TD: "I have been the Administrative Director of the school at Dilit since 1974 and in the organization International House since 1972." ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend dilit International House? What makes dilit International House unique?" TD: "Our excellent reputation, the teaching method: communicative approach, high quality of all services and individual care, international atmosphere with students from all over the world, rich cultural and social program. Nice and very centrally located premises with self study center (open from 8.30 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. - free access), snack-bar, sun terraces, garden." ICC: "Explain some of the programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer?" TD: "We offer: Intensive courses of 30/ 20 or 15 hours per week all year round, from beginner to advanced level (from level 1 to level 9). Courses start every four weeks - the minimum attendance is 2 weeks. Optional courses are: Business Italian, Italian cooking and wines, Photography, Italian cinema, Roman Archaelogy, History of Art. School Year - 32 weeks" ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? Language proficiency?" TD: "Individual students have to have a minimum age of 16. Minimum age 14 is for students in a group with a group leader. All students who wish to study at our school, are welcome, from beginner to advanced level." ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student?" TD: "Our students are from over 55 different countries in the world, from 16 to 70 (and over) years, all types of professions (from students to Ambassadors) and every person who wants to study seriously, is welcome." ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology." TD: "We adopt a fully communicative approach which is up-dated all the time. Language is never presented out of context; and grammar, phonology, lexis and all other features of actual language use in everyday situations are analyzed. A wide variety of up-to-date authentic material is used. Amongst the principal techniques and procedures employed in class are: communicative tasks, group work and dramatization. The accent is on activity rather than on passive receptivity." ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistanceships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? dance scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria?" TD: "No." ICC: "We would like to thank Ms. Tiziana Di Dedda for the interview." In their spare time, all
of the students have free access to the language laboratory and the self
study center at any time, and for as long as they like, between 9.00 a.m.
and 8.00 p.m. Mondays to Fridays. The language laboratory is of the audio-active-comparative
type, and specially designed tapes help the students improve their pronunciation
and consolidate their grammar. The self study center houses up-to-date
listening facilities and associated study material, various other kinds
of study material of the
The aim of the social program is to ensure that students have every opportunity to practice the language they are learning and at the same time make friends and have fun. There is a snack bar on the premises serving drinks and snacks at low prices. It is a quiet place where students can relax and make friends. A lot of students have lunch there after their classes in the morning or before going to classes in the afternoon. The school organizes a full and varied program of social activities for the students (e.g. films, excursions, concerts, operas, guided tours, parties, etc...) The teaching staff runs the activities making sure that any language or difficulties are taken care of. A calendar of social events is given to each student on entry to the school. All activities except dinners, excursions, operas and concerts are included in the enrollment fee. Students can choose from various topics: Roman Archaeology, Photography, Italian Cinema, Italian Cooking and Wines, History of Italian Opera, History of Art. All these courses have a substantial practical component. The classes are held twice a week and last 3 hours. Each course lasts 4 weeks. Business Italian classes deal specifically with business situations and the language and communication skills required for doing business in Italian. They are held three times a week and last 2 hours. The program lasts 4 weeks. Every week, outside normal class time, seminars (included in the enrollment fee) are held on the following subjects: - LiteratureExaminations are organized throughout the year for the following qualifications: - DILIT-IH IntermediateThe CILS is a government recognized certification system consisting of 4 levels of language competence - run by the Università per Stranieri di Siena. Examinations are held in Rome twice a year, in June and December. To attain an adequate language competence to pass these examinations students should follow the General Italian Courses. However, students need practice with specific examination procedures and this is the purpose of this program. The classes are held twice a week and last 2 hours. The program lasts 5 weeks (the 5 weeks preceding exam dates). International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Ms. Tizana Di Dedda, Directtrice at Dilit International House, for providing the information for this article. If you would like to enroll or more information regarding the school, please contact International Connections Consulting.
International Connections
Consulting talked with the Marketing Assistant, Giambattista Pace for Scuola
Leonardo da Vinci about the school and what makes it a unique program.
For starters, Scuola Leonardo has campuses in three of the most famous
historical world centers-- Florence, Rome, and Siena. All of these
Italian cities are unique in their own right with regards to food, wine,
art, culture, and landscape. In Italy, "everything can change within
a few miles...." This option allows the students to take courses
in the three cities within in one program term. And because the school
is open all year round, and students can be enrolled anywhere from two
weeks to a year, makes it all the better in terms of trotting about Italy.
Since the schools' founding in 1977, the school has prided itself on its teaching staff which is comprised of only the best university graduates in Italy who are specially trained to teach Italian to foreign students. Also, the school is very proud of the fact that they offer their students the possibility to take the Italian Certificates "Firenze" (basic, intermediate, advanced levels) under the supervision of the Accademia Italiana di Lingua (Academy of Italian Language). In the classrooms, Italian is the only language spoken. The school believes that this method promotes a standard for verbal communication from the very beginning, and inevitably enhances the students' confidence. Scuola Leonardo accepts students who are at least 16 years of age and who are very interested in Italian culture and have a strong desire to learn the Italian language. The average age of a Scuola Leonardo student is 25. Of all the courses offered at Scuola Leonardo, the Intensive Plus, among the language courses, is the most sought after. It's popularity can be attributed to the fact that during the six hours per day spent on Italian language a student can combine the group course in the morning and the private lessons in the afternoon. "The real PLUS is that the students choose the subjects in the afternoon classes." Among the cultural courses, the Cooking and Wine courses are the most popular. Scuola Leonardo, in all of its three campuses, affords students with a unique opportunity to learn the language, travel throughout Italy, embrace the culture and learn the art of preparing fine Italian cuisine. Sounds like a winner to me! We would like to thank Mr. Giambattista Pace, Marketing Assistant for providing us with the information for the article. If you would like more information about Scuola Leonardo da Vinci's programs, please contact International Connections Consulting.
No matter what your background or professional experience, learning a foreign language can open up a whole new world of "culture and adventure."
Whether you need it for a promotion, to get into college or just for fun, you can't go wrong with following a course in another language. One important question is "where is the best place to learn a foreign language?" The answer of course is in the home/native country. The don Quijote Spanish Language Schools would be an obvious choice. don Quijote (dQ),established in 1986, is one of the largest schools for Spanish in Spain (7 schools in Spain: Barcelona, Granada, Madrid, Salamanca, Puerto de La Cruz (Tenerife), Sevilla and Valencia, one in Peru: Cusco, one partner school in Malaga and 9 partner schools in Latin America). They have their own promotional offices in 3 countries (Netherlands, UK and two in Spain - one for the US market and another for the rest of the world). Their "philosophy is that, making closer/personal contact easier for students coming from our major markets (USA and Europe), we can provide first-hand information on essential matters...and on the small personal details desired...to prospective students and parents and in this way, better agent support."
From short holiday courses of two-weeks to super-intensive language training; from refresher courses for teachers of Spanish to long-term study programs, dQ offers an extensive range of courses. A student can study from 1 week to 9 months with 4 to 6 hours of classes per day, including a break following each two hours of class time. All don Quijote professors are native speakers and have studied Spanish Philology at the university, plus are selected based on their qualifications and previous experience. dQ encourages and supports their professors to take a foreign language course abroad in order to give them a better understanding of how their students feel at don Quijote. In addition, the teachers have to regularly follow practical training and refresher courses. Most importantly, the staff is selected based on their ability to listen, their friendliness, enthusiasm and patience, last if not least their love of teaching.
Having an up to date and modern facility allows the students to relax and focus on learning the language. All of the schools are centrally located in their respective cities to give the students an opportunity to observe and to take part in the local Spanish lifestyle. There is a main room in each school where the client can watch TV or do homework outside of class hours plus each location has self-study facilities such as computers with training programs, word games, videos, and numerous books. On hand are school secretaries who can assist the students with all of their questions pertaining to the school or anything that would enhance the clients learning or vacation experience. The don Quijote staff at each school also includes Study Advisors and Cultural Adjustment Counselors. Her personal background is all related to teaching languages to those that need them. Carmen Cantariño is the Director for the USA market in don Quijote. She has shared with International Connections Consulting (ICC) some of the many reasons why students would choose don Quijote for their future Spanish learning needs. ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend (dQ)? What makes dQ unique?" dQ: "The dQ curriculum is
founded on the idea that, to really learn a language you have to learn
to communicate in that language from the first moment. It is like when
you want to learn how to swim ... you do not start with theoretical classes
... you just jump into the swimming pool and go
It is faster and gives you
better results. A language is more than just grammar and a collection of
words. It is the means of communication between people, which is why you
can never really learn a language from a book, and why don Quijote puts
the accent on communication. Essential knowledge can
dQ is unique for several
reasons: (a) We offer a money-back guarantee (b) We have our own promotional
offices and our own schools, thus "we can guarantee delivery of what we
promise", and (c) We are the largest school for Spanish for foreigners
(7 schools in Spain, one in Peru, one partner school in Malaga and 9 partner
schools in Latin America), (d) We attract over 7000 students from more
than 60 different countries ( e) We offer a wider variety of courses than
any other school (basic/beginner to D.E.L.E.
ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology." dQ: "The dQ teaching Methodology is best understood by considering the contrast between "learning the language vs. studying it". We feel that the language is "alive" and cannot be "dissected" like a laboratory frog. By starting with the basics of personal identification, the vocabulary and phrases stick in the mind because they are relevant. By keeping it personal, the students have more fun and their attention and interest is captured because, while they are meeting new people, making new friends they are exchanging personal details at the same time. When a communications problem
arises...when the student cannot put what he/she wants to say in the proper
words or tense...the professor pauses and introduces formal grammar, tenses,
etc...helping the student complete their communication and, in that way,
the "academic" part is almost invisibly
The language-learning concept is the "Communicative Method" which enhances the learning experience and the student´s ability to gain rapid mastery by incorporating all the "formal" learning/study elements into topics relevant to the individual student and to the group. Since all classes have a maximum size of 8 students, the class time is very active and the students are involved vs. being passive. Additionally, we offer one hour a day of supplementary courses after class to encourage students to explore different aspects of the culture and society in which they are studying. We offer additional formal courses related to business, the travel industry and other professional interests. Also, a very important part
of the process is that the student is introduced to Spain´s (and/or
Peru) rich culture, the fiestas, the countless `tapas´ bars and cafés,
strolling through town and getting into
ICC: "What are your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance?" dQ: "Student selection criteria can be summed up in two words..."interest" and "desire". Our regular courses are open to people of 18 years of age or older. Language proficiency IS NOT a selection criteria. We have students with "O" knowledge and professors of Spanish who come to study teaching methodology. However, we determine the make-up of the group according to students´ abilities. The first day of the course begins with an oral and written test. We work with four levels: beginner, intermediate, advanced and superior. " ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider in a student?" dQ: "We accept all types of students...we especially enjoy having seniors and professionals whose experience enlivens the class. The younger students often "enliven" the older by including them in the out-of-class activities." ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, etc..?" dQ: "Students can obtain a scholarship by writing an essay in our vote-for-me contest located in our web site. Too, we do offer scholarships to Spanish professors through IEC/Lake Tahoe Community College and are working on future agreements with American associations to introduce a future scholarship program for both students and teachers. ICC: "What new programs/events/locations might be added in the near future?" dQ: "don Quijote is growing
rapidly. Next year we will introduce a new school in Valencia. A terrific
destination in the East of Spain: beaches, culture, a fantastic climate
and a rich gastronomy are guaranteed. Also we have a new building in Barcelona
(5 floors), with 65 spacious classrooms
Next, our own dQ residence in Barcelona will open its door in 2.002. Located in the same building as our new school and with its own entrance: 25 rooms, 24 hours security guard service, fully equipped kitchen, dining room, living room and a 840 m sun terrace on the roof! Too, our courses on line will be ready in December 2001 and should become a great way for those students that can't travel to begin their Spanish instruction."
ICC: "We would like to thank Carmen Cantariño for the interview." dQ offers their students
a choice between living with a host family or a student flat...and, in
Granada, students can live in the don Quijote residence. The flats contain
a living room with a television, a fully
Upon arrival, students are
given don Quijote Student Cards which entitle them to discounts in various
restaurants, book shops, cafes and athletic facilities, gyms and swimming
pools. Additionally, there are various activities and excursions offered
throughout the week. Activities such as traditional Spanish singing and
dancing lessons are included at no cost and there are various one-day weekend
excursions offered visiting such sites as; from the Salamanca school...Segovia
and its famous aqueduct, the walled
International Connections
Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Carmen Cantariño
for supplying all of the information for this article. If you would like
more information regarding any of the courses offered by don Quijote, please
contact International Connections Consulting.
(ICC).
The name "Cordon Bleu" [meaning Blue Ribbon] is rich with history and heritage. It has been synonymous with excellence since the 16th century, when King Henry III created the "L'Ordre des Chevaliers du Saint Esprit" [The Order of the Holy Spirit] in 1578. At the time, it was the most exclusive order in France. Because the members, royalty included, were awarded with the Cross of the Holy Spirit, which hung from a blue ribbon, they were called "Cordon Bleus". The sumptuous banquets accompanying their award ceremonies became legendary.
By the 18th century, the
term "Cordon Bleu" was applied to anyone who excelled in a particular field,
particularly in the culinary arts. At the end of the 19th century, Marthe
Distel, a French journalist, founded a weekly culinary publication entitled
"La Cuisiniere Cordon Bleu". The weekly magazine "La Cuisiniere Cordon
Bleu" was published and over the next seventy years became the basis and
reference for what is now perhaps one of the largest recipe collections
in the world. Many famous chefs contributed to it and taught the art of
cooking through recipes they wrote. Stemming from the magazine's popularity,
Marthe Distel organized free classes where subscribers saw the Chef at
work and practiced under his trained eye. At the same time, she continued
to publish the recipes taught in those classes in future issues
Following the success of the publication, Le Cordon Bleu officially opened its doors as a culinary school in Paris in 1895. The first Cordon Bleu cooking class was held on January 14, 1896, in the Palais Royal. From the beginning, Madame Distel made it a practice to invite celebrated Chefs of the time to teach at Le Cordon Bleu. These included Chef Barthelemy, Chef Charles Poulain, Chefs des Cuisines de I'Automobile-Club de France, Chef Auguste Colombe, Chef Charles Driessens, and the most famous of all, Chef Henri-Paul Pellaprat. The cooking classes were an immediate success. The reputation of the school
spread rapidly worldwide with the first Russian student admitted in 1897
and the first Japanese in 1905. Chef Pellaprat, disciple and friend of
Auguste Escoffier taught for 40 years at Le Cordon Bleu, where he wrote
his masterpieces, L'Art Culinaire and La Cuisine Familiale et Pratique,
which are considered to be modern classics to this day. Le Cordon Bleu
grew and evolved over the following decades into the leading international
culinary institution attracting students from all over the world. In 1933,
one of Chef Pellaprat's students, Rosemary Hume, established L'Ecole du
Petit Cordon
After Marthe Distel's death in the late 1930's, the Paris school was taken over and relocated by Elizabeth Brassart, who reigned as the Grande Dame of Le Cordon Bleu, welcoming 2 generations of cooks from many different countries and revising the curriculum. After the liberation of Paris in 1945, Le Cordon Bleu was accredited by the Pentagon for the professional training of young GI's after their tour of duty. As a former member of the OSS, Julia Child qualified and in 1948 enrolled at Le Cordon Bleu. She earned her toque in 1950 and proceeded to revolutionize the teaching of French cooking in the United States. Twenty years after the opening
of the London school, the success of the school was confirmed by its participation
in preparing the Coronation luncheon for Queen Elizabeth II. For over a
century, Le Cordon Bleu has grown to become a leading authority on culinary
techniques, training and development. In 1984, Andre J. Cointreau
acquired Le Cordon Bleu, strengthened the curriculum, recruited the finest
Chefs of France and relocated the Paris school. He acquired the London
school and opened another school in Tokyo and culinary centers in Ottawa
and Sydney. Le Cordon Bleu continues a rapid expansion
Mr. Lindon Price, Australian Marketing Director at Le Cordon Bleu (LCB), was able to give Ms. Tasha Lewis, President of International Connections Consulting (ICC), the inside track on what makes their school the success that it is at the Americas Workshop 2001 in Miami, Florida USA. ICC: "What is your role at Le Cordon Bleu? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide). " LCB:
"I have been with Le Cordon Bleu for one year as their Australian Marketing
Director. Prior to that appointment I was responsible for marketing the
Government of South Australia's schools and vocational education courses
in the Asia Pacific region. I was in that position for 10 years. My responsibility
with
ICC: " Explain some of the programs that you offer? What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Le Cordon Bleu? What makes Le Cordon Bleu unique? " LCB:
"The culinary courses are offered in Sydney whilst the bachelor and masters
programs are offered in Adelaide. I also have responsibility to market
the Paris, London and Ottawa cuisine courses in the Asia Pacific region.
Le Cordon Bleu was established in 1895. We have been involved in culinary
and hospitality
ICC: "How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? " LCB:
" The learning experience is enhanced through practical hands on demonstrations,
backed up with the requirement of our students to undertake paid work placements
in industry, including an industry/student based research project. Our
students can choose which country they wish to undertake their internships.
Our students are in high demand as they are immediately productive when
they start work. Our students have the experience of applying what they
have learned in the classroom in the
ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency? " LCB:
"Students, after 12 years of education, with above average grades are considered.
These students can complete their Bachelor and Master degrees in as little
as 3.5 years. We also award credit in recognition of academic qualifications
and relevant work experience. This means that students can complete their
degrees in a much shorter period of time. Students need to have English
language proficiency at the level of 5.5 IELTS or 530 TOFEL. From time
to time we do offer scholarships mainly for
ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student? " LCB:
"Our courses are very demanding academically, and allow students to "fast
track" their education. Consequently we are looking for above average grade
students. Students who hold a Certificate or Diploma in Culinary
or Hospitality can usually shorten their Le Cordon Bleu bachelor's degree
to 1.5 or even 1 year, with aid work placement. Students are attracted
to this aspect of our bachelor's degree
ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology. " LCB: "Our teaching methodology is competency based, with a strong emphasis on practice and industry/work experience. Students have to demonstrate by practice that they have acquired a particular skill. For us and the student it is not good enough to have only mastered the theory. " ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistantships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria? " LCB: "Our students do have the capacity to defray their tuition fees or living expenses in Australia through 9-12 months of industry placement. Students work full time and receive full pay. The industry placement is part of the course and it is our responsibility to find our students their work placements. ICC: " We would like to thank Mr. Lindon Price for the interview. " International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Lindon Price, Director of Marketing at Le Cordon Bleu Australia for providing all of the information for this article. If you would like to enroll or receive more information, please contact International Connections Consulting. Jillian Chang - Taiwan
In order to succeed in our
global economy, today's graduates need to obtain a quality education that
includes practical real world experience. Situated in the heart of Paris,
the International Business School of Paris (IBSP) is totally
immersed in the realities of company's needs on an international
level. IBSP is a Technologcicultural Management School that
benefits a strong international economic influence.
During the Americas Workshop 2001 in Miami, Florida, International Connections Consulting's President had the opportunity to get a glimpse of what students would learn at the International Business School of Paris. ICC: " What is your role at IBSP? How long have you been at the school? " SU: "My name is Stephanie Uguen and my role is International Department Manager of International Business School of Paris. I have been at the school for 2 years. " ICC: " What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend IBSP? What makes IBSP unique? " SU: "At I.B.S.P., students are prepared to confront a career in business and travelling abroad in the best conditiore aware of academic and professional demands, teachers ensure total correspondence between teaching methods and demands of companies. At the end of their courses,
all the students from I.B.S.P. are both able and willing to use three languages
in a wide number of professional situations. They can negotiate, sell,
manage, communicate in English, German, Spanish, Italian and can work efficiently
in the midst of the multicultural group. "
SPEECH by Teddy Poncelet, Chairman "It is a fast moving world."
SU: International Marketing Higher Education European Degrees Public Relations and Communication Higher Education European Degrees Management Higher Education European Degrees IBSP programs are more than just a classroom experience. Its means that being immersed yourself in an international atmosphere, participating in an environment. Where the classes, the students and the school are globally recognized. The School was established on the principle that to do business on a global scale, men and women must be able to speak the languages, understand the customs, and know the intricacies of international business management. To accomplish that, IBSP teaches a tri-partite curriculum and offers the European Degree as its primary degree. This European Degree program was developed in response to the need for an advanced program that would enable graduates to further internationalize their knowledge of business practices and business environments. For more than 5 years, IBSP's reputation for excellence has stood the test of time in the world's most important organizations. The School continues to lead the way in providing the very best in international management education. ICC: " What is your criteria for evaluating for acceptance? Age? Language proficiency? " SU: " The studies are undergraduate studies (two or three years after the French Baccalaureat). Age of students : 20-25 years old or more aged if the student has a good level. The courses are in English or in French. It depends on the courses and on the student. " ICC: " What type of student do you accept? " SU: "I accept student with motivation, a good CV, a good level in English (TOEFL min. 500 points). ICC: "We would like to thank Ms. Stephanie Uguen for the interview " International Connections
Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Ms. Stephanie
Uguen, International Department Manager of International Business School
of Paris for providing all of the information for this article.
If you would like more information or to enroll, please contact
International
Through the years the Hotel
and Motel industry has been growing at an incredible pace leading to an
endless array of opportunities for people interested in this for a profession.
Obtaining practical experience that meets or exceeds industry standards
has been paramount to reaching a level of success in this field.
ICC's President, Tasha Lewis, had the pleasure of meeting with Ms. Sherris Goodwin, Director of Hospitality Management Training Institute (HMTI), while attending the Americas Workshop 2001 in Miami, Florida USA. ICC: " What is your role at Hospitality Management Training Institute (HMTI)? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide). " HMTI: "My role at HMTI, Inc. is Director. As Director I'm responsible for all personnel and operations of the school. The activities and responsibilities of the Director are designed to support the mission and goals of the school and to successfully educate and assist placing HMTI, Inc. graduates in local, national and international work place environments. I founded the Institute in 1991 for the purpose of serving the growing and changing needs of the community. Demand for trained, professional personnel in the hospitality industry led me to utilize my background and education to found a private post-secondary school to meet these needs in the community. Having owned hotels and restaurants, my background allowed me to create programs and employ a widely experienced and highly educated staff to serve the student and the community by providing certified, trained graduates for employment in the hospitality industry. " ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Hospitality Management Training Institute? What makes Hospitality Management Training Institute unique? " HMTI:
"HMTI is unique for many reasons. Our goal is to provide excellence
in training for the best professional employees for the field of Hospitality
in a minimum amount of time. The classes are
ICC: "Explain some of the programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? " HMTI: "We offer a one-year General Manager program that provides the leadership skills, managerial background, and professionalism necessary for entry-level management positions in hotels, restaurants and motels. There is also a nine-month Manager program that combines theoretical and practical training to best prepare the student for continued career leadership within the hospitality industry. Another program is a six-month Hospitality Management program that is designed to provide the student with the knowledge and skill for an entry-level position leading to management jobs in hotel, restaurants or other service industries. The international certifications from the American Hotel/Motel Association are recognized in 122 countries of the world as the highest career designation for hotel employees. The school offers lifetime placement referrals for graduates in good standing and has a 94% placement rate, nationally and internationally. ICC: " What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency? " HMTI: "Prospective
students must achieve a passing score on the Admission Test (CPAT) or exhibit
the ability to benefit from the school's educational and job placement
services. HMTI, Inc. may arrange
ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student? " HMTI:
"The type of student that we accept is one that is motivated and willing
to put their academic training into a professional career. The school
has designed a job placement/internship assistance program for the student.
To achieve maximum success, an ideal student should be curious, open-
ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology. " HMTI: "Teaching Philosophy/Methodology The Staff and Faculty of HMTI, Inc. serve the adult student as if s/he were a guest in a hotel. The college endeavors to provide a stimulating, safe and creative learning environment. The students are given theory that includes an overall picture of how the hospitality industry is run. Internships then allow practical, hands-on experience that give the student the opportunity to see theory put to work. The focus of the programs is in preparation for employment. The adult student pays tuition to learn from widely-experienced, professional instructors. Our motto, borrowed from the Ritz-Carlton Hotels is: "We are ladies and gentlemen serving ladies and gentlemen." HMTI, Inc. provides a non-competitive learning environment for its student body. Grades and scores are NEVER POSTED or discussed with other students. The school objective is to
teach the adult learner the concepts and functions of the industry from
management and employee perspectives. This involves conceptual learning
as well as practical training.
There are no open book tests.
Questions on tests are previewed and discussed in the classroom prior to
examination. All instructors follow these guidelines. The goal
is for the student to learn the concepts of
ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistantships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria? " HMTI: "The school accepts most major credit cards including MasterCard, VISA, Diner's Club, Carte Blanche and JCB. Financing may be available for qualified students. " ICC: "We would like to thank Ms. Sherris Goodwin for the interview. " International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Ms. Sherris Goodwin, Director of Hospitality Management Training Institute for providing all of the information for the article. If you would like to enroll or more information, please contact International Connections Consulting (ICC) COLEGIO DELIBES IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN MAKES LEARNING SPANISH A FLEXIBLE EXPERIENCE Flexibility is the key word today fast pace learning environment. The value of time and money makes this an important element when deciding where a student should invest both. At Colegio Delibes in Salamanca, Spain, learning is not only flexible but a real value for your money.
Colegio Delibes focuses on giving their students an above average program that emphasizes personalized service and flexible study plans. Situated to the mid-west of Spain, in the province of Castilla just two hours by road from the capital Madrid and only thirty minutes from the border of Portugal. Here we have a City of art, culture and excitement. A city blessed with a unique historical heritage spanning many centuries leaving a legacy of beautiful churches, monuments, cloisters and palaces. Plaza Mayor, built in Baroque architecture style of late 18th century, one of the most beautiful in Spain is a meeting and social gathering place for over 35 thousand students from all over the world. Our school is at five minute's walk from Plaza Mayor and is a modern teaching centre that has a library, a video room , internet room and a common room with coffee and refreshment machines and has fourteen classrooms especially adapted to learn Castilian. However, in order to obtain the best results, it is not enough just to have the best resources. The students must submerge themselves into Spanish life twenty four hours a day, speaking in Spanish, thinking in Spanish, even breathing in Spanish!! International Connections Consulting (ICC) was given an opportunity to get some further insights into the programs offered by Colegio Delibes (CD). ICC: " What is your role Colegio Delibes? How long have you been at the school? (any other ackground information that you wish to provide). " CD: " My name is Miguel Angel Benito Sánchez and I am Director, co-owner and co-founder of OLEGIO DELIBES, one of the finest private Colleges in Spain (Salamanca) responsible for the educational part of the school as well as for the accommodation of our students and other commercial activities of the organization. As co-owner, and co-founder it is obvious that I am in the College from the very beginning, e.a. from opening of the College in October 1997. I graduated from the University of Salamanca (Spanish and French Filology) I started my career as educator / director in another college in Salamanca and spent 6 years with them. One of the reasons for founding my own college was a desire to offer students a different type of services (personalized) and education of Spanish language at the highest possible quality and standard. " ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Colegio Delibes? What makes Colegio Delibes unique? " CD: "The most compelling reason for a student to attend Colegio Delibes is a high standard and quality of our courses and personalized service given to them, by our employees. Answers within 24 hours to their questions and detailed explanation prior their arrival. Nearly every student is being received on arrival by myself and my associate, which means we welcome the students personally, explain to them our study programme and activities and allocate them in their appropriate level of the course and classroom and are available for them nearly 24 hours a day during their stay with us. All possible problems occurred are being solved immediately to the students satisfaction. In short; we implement what we promise in our brochure / web pages. " ICC: "Explain some of the programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? " CD:
" At the present we have 10 types of courses with 8 different levels
of Spanish language for each course, whereby the most popular courses are
A,B,D, F and H - see below. The experience with the students is that
in the last 5 years of the existance of the college today nearly
70% of our new students
All, 100% of our students which have been prepared by our college for diploma D.E.L.E. have passed the exam successfully. Types of the courses:ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency? "Spanish Language (A)Eight levels: CD: "We expect the student to be interested in learning the Spanish Language and willingness to be totally emersed into the Spanish way of life during his stay with us, which means that from the second day on the student has to try to communicate in the Spanish language only. The minimum age of the student is 16 years. " ICC: " What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student? " CD: "We accept students with college, high school, university degree as well as any professionals which need to learn the Spanish language for their profession. " ICC: " Explain your teaching methodology. " CD: "All our Classroom material has been developed by our team of teachers supervised by me personally. Our method is verbal and practical which uses all possible existing visual aids. " ICC: " Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistanceships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? dance scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria? CD: No, we don¹t. As a private College we do not offer any scholarships. " Here are some of the complementary services that we offer our students: - Receiving of telephone calls and faxes
International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Leon Leopold Fric, Director at Colegio Delibes, and Mr. Miguel Angel Benito Sánchez , Director at Colegio Delibes for providing all of the information for the article. If would you to enroll or more information, please contact International Connections Consulting.
The International Management Institute was founded in 1973. Mr. Luc Van Mele, now Director of the International Management Institute has been with the institute since the early eighties. The International Management Institute (IMI) is a privately held non-profit institution dedicated to the following educational resolutions:
IMI offers undergraduate (Bachelor) and graduate (Master) degree programs in Business Administration (BBA, MBA); Information Systems (BIS, MIS); Business Communication & Public Relations (BA, MA) and Transportation & Logistics (MSc.). All programs are offered in the English language. Through these business-oriented programs participants become hands-on, action-driven and inquisitive minded. Moreover IMI works on the development of the leadership skills and computer literacy of each participant. Based on the educational qualifications (educational data, certificates etc.), English language proficiency (TOEFL) and additional criteria (work experience and/or GMAT scores for the Graduate programs) along with personal interest and motivation each participant is evaluated. Through close lecturer-student contact and classes in small groups. IMI provides a professional academic atmosphere to meet students' individual needs. This ensures permanent interaction so that the student will obtain a firm grasp of the material. Lecturers are recruited from around the world and bring with them considerable international business experience. Students can benefit from the experiences these lecturers have accumulated. The IMI Antwerp campus offers attractive dormitories. However if students prefer to live off campus in one of the many rooms, studios, or apartments available in the neighborhood; IMI's housing office is happy to assist. A limited number of scholarships are available based on the applicants' academic merit and academic background. Business Administration The programs of business administration (AS, BBA, MBA) are designed for those seeking to prepare themselves for the rapidly changing and complex international business environment. The curriculum is developed to give our students a firm foundation in both the practical and theoretical aspects of theBusiness Communication and Public Relations The programs of business communication and public relations (AA, BA, MA) aim at providing the necessary knowledge and skills required for managing program-elated issues. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the expertise they need to pursue careers in public relations with both national and international organizations and in the business world. For all business leaders, communication skills for advertising, marketing and / or sales are essential tools of their careers.Information Systems The programs of information systems (AS, BIS, MIS) provide thorough training in information technology and management. The curriculum is created to meet the rapidly increasing demand for IT management professionals, and is frequently updated to keep a competitive edge with the industry's ever-changing needs and wants. A solid IT-education, together with a proper business and management training, increases career opportunities and provides you with the necessary qualifications for being a future business executive.International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Luc Mr. Van Mele during the Americas Workshop 2001 in Miami, Florida. ICC would like to thank Mr. Van Mele and Mr. Hans Hanegreefs ,Associate Dean of IMI for providing all of the information for this article. If you would like to enroll or more information, please contact International Connections Consulting.
ICC's Self Service Resource
Directory provides a wide variety of information to the world regarding
cultural information, education, funding, scholarships, and specialized
programs, etc. This service allows their clients to obtain additional information
to further assist them with their education programs, vacations, business
opportunities, and teaching material, etc. One positive aspect about the
directory is the exactness of the material. ICC tries to be as specific
as possible with the listings. This is extremely important when someone
is in a hurry and doesn't have a lot of time to do guesswork regarding
which sections serve their needs. ICC tries to limit its categories
to those that serve their clients needs. The
By listing in their resource directory, their clients receive multiple benefits. Being listed in the ICC Resource Directory gives them global exposure with a built in ongoing marketing campaign monthly (mass faxing, e-mail, direct mail, search engines, word-of-mouth, conferences, distribution-flyers/downloadable flyers, advertising-press releases, media, etc.). They can enter their own listings, have multiple listings or add other features depending on what their needs are. If you are interested in listing in the directory or obtaining more information contact ICC. All listings have to be in line with the overall subject content/theme of the ICC web site. All Paid listings have to be pre approved. However, for information about our 1 FREE listing, visit http://www.intlconnections.com/resource.htm to learn more about it. Please read all of the instructions carefully to avoid confusion. Later this spring, International Connections Consulting will launch a Book Section that will give up and coming future self publishers, writers, or small to medium size companies the opportunity to get the word out about their work. Contact ICC for more information. COLEGIO DELIBES IN SALAMANCA, SPAIN MAKES LEARNING SPANISH A FLEXIBLE EXPERIENCE Flexibility is the key word in today's fast pace learning environment. The value of time and money makes this an important element when deciding where a student should invest both. At Colegio Delibes in Salamanca, Spain, learning is not only flexible but a real value for your money.
Colegio Delibes focuses on giving their students an above average program that emphasizes personalized service and flexible study plans. Situated to the mid-west of Spain, in the province of Castilla just two hours by road from the capital Madrid and only thirty minutes from the border of Portugal. Here we have a City of art, culture and excitement. A city blessed with a unique historical heritage spanning many centuries leaving a legacy of beautiful churches, monuments, cloisters and palaces. Plaza Mayor, built in Baroque architecture style of late 18th century, one of the most beautiful in Spain is a meeting and social gathering place for over 35 thousand students from all over the world. Our school is a five minute's walk from Plaza Mayor and is a modern teaching centre that has a library, a video room , internet room and a common room with coffee and refreshment machines and has fourteen classrooms especially adapted to learn Castilian. However, in order to obtain the best results, it is not enough just to have the best resources. The students must submerge themselves into Spanish life twenty four hours a day, speaking in Spanish, thinking in Spanish, even breathing in Spanish!! International Connections Consulting (ICC) was given an opportunity to get some further insights into the programs offered by Colegio Delibes (CD). ICC: " What is your role at Colegio Delibes? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide). " CD: " My name is Miguel Angel Benito Sánchez and I am Director, co-owner and co-founder of COLEGIO DELIBES, one of the finest private colleges in Spain (Salamanca) responsible for the educational part of the school as well as for the accommodation of our students and other commercial activities of the organization. As co-owner, and co-founder it is obvious that I am in the college from the very beginning, e.a. from opening of the college in October 1997. I graduated from the University of Salamanca (Spanish and French Filology) I started my career as educator / director in another college in Salamanca and spent 6 years with them. One of the reasons for founding my own college was a desire to offer students a different type of services (personalized) and education of Spanish language at the highest possible quality and standard. " ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Colegio Delibes? What makes Colegio Delibes unique? " CD: "The most compelling reason for a student to attend Colegio Delibes is a high standard and quality of our courses and personalized service given to them, by our employees. Answers within 24 hours to their questions and detailed explanation prior to their arrival. Nearly every student is being received on arrival by myself and my associate, which means we welcome the students personally, explain to them our study programme and activities and allocate them in their appropriate level of the course and classroom and are available for them nearly 24 hours a day during their stay with us. All possible problems that occurr are being solved immediately to the students satisfaction. In short; we implement what we promise in our brochure / web pages. " ICC: "Explain some of the programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? " CD:
" At the present we have 10 types of courses with 8 different levels
of Spanish language for each course, whereby the most popular courses are
A,B,D, F and H - see below. The experience with the students is that
in the last 5 years of the existance of the college today nearly
70% of our new students
All, 100% of our students which have been prepared by our college for diploma D.E.L.E. have passed the exam successfully. Types of the courses:ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency? "Spanish Language (A)Eight levels: CD: "We expect the student to be interested in learning the Spanish Language and willingness to be totally emersed into the Spanish way of life during his stay with us, which means that from the second day on the student has to try to communicate in the Spanish language only. The minimum age of the student is 16 years. " ICC: " What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student? " CD: "We accept students with college, high school, university degree as well as any professionals who need to learn the Spanish language for their profession. " ICC: " Explain your teaching methodology. " CD: "All our classroom material has been developed by our team of teachers supervised by me personally. Our method is verbal and practical which uses all possible existing visual aids. " ICC: " Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistanceships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? dance scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria? CD: "No, we don't. As a private college we do not offer any scholarships. " Here are some of the complementary services that we offer our students: - Receiving of telephone calls and faxesICC: "We would like to thank Mr. Sanchez for the interview." International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Leon Leopold Fric, Director at Colegio Delibes, and Mr. Miguel Angel Benito Sánchez, Director at Colegio Delibes for providing all of the information for the article. If you would like to enroll or more information, please contact International Connections Consulting.
The International Management Institute was founded in 1973. Mr. Luc Van Mele, now Director of the International Management Institute has been with the institute since the early eighties. The International Management Institute (IMI) is a privately held non-profit institution dedicated to the following educational resolutions:
IMI offers undergraduate (Bachelor) and graduate (Master) degree programs in Business Administration (BBA, MBA); Information Systems (BIS, MIS); Business Communication & Public Relations (BA, MA) and Transportation & Logistics (MSc.). All programs are offered in the English language. Through these business-oriented programs participants become hands-on, action-driven and inquisitive minded. Moreover IMI works on the development of the leadership skills and computer literacy of each participant. Based on the educational qualifications (educational data, certificates etc.), English language proficiency (TOEFL) and additional criteria (work experience and/or GMAT scores for the Graduate programs) along with personal interest and motivation, each participant is evaluated. Through close lecturer-student contact and classes in small groups, IMI provides a professional academic atmosphere to meet students' individual needs. This ensures permanent interaction so that the student will obtain a firm grasp of the material. Lecturers are recruited from around the world and bring with them considerable international business experience. Students can benefit from the experiences these lecturers have accumulated. The IMI Antwerp campus offers attractive dormitories. However if students prefer to live off campus in one of the many rooms, studios, or apartments available in the neighborhood; IMI's housing office is happy to assist. A limited number of scholarships are available based on the applicants' academic merit and academic background. Business Administration The programs of business administration (AS, BBA, MBA) are designed for those seeking to prepare themselves for the rapidly changing and complex international business environment. The curriculum is developed to give our students a firm foundation in both the practical and theoretical aspects of the functional areas of business administration, and seeks to develop the ability to recognize and solve business-related problems.Business Communication and Public Relations The programs of business communication and public relations (AA, BA, MA) aim at providing the necessary knowledge and skills required for managing program-related issues. The curriculum is designed to equip students with the expertise they need to pursue careers in public relations with both national and international organizations and in the business world. For all business leaders, communication skills for advertising, marketing and / or sales are essential tools of their careers.Information Systems The programs of information systems (AS, BIS, MIS) provide thorough training in information technology and management. The curriculum is created to meet the rapidly increasing demand for IT management professionals, and is frequently updated to keep a competitive edge with the industry's ever-changing needs and wants. A solid IT-education, together with a proper business and management training, increases career opportunities and provides you with the necessary qualifications for being a future business executive.International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Luc Mr. Van Mele during the Americas Workshop 2001 in Miami, Florida. ICC would like to thank Mr. Van Mele and Mr. Hans Hanegreefs ,Associate Dean of IMI for providing all of the information for this article. If you would like to enroll or more information, please contact International Connections Consulting. ICC AT THE LET'S
GO UP TO THE 21ST CENTURY CAMP 2001
International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, had the pleasure and honor to be invited to participate in an Aviation Camp entitled Let's Go Up To The 21st Century held at YMCA Camp Letts in Edgewater, Maryland USA in September of this year. The field of aviation is so broad yet a feasible alternative career choice for young people. Mr. Richard Jones (RJ), founder of Let's Go Up to the 21st Century, was on hand throughout the camp to give us an overall view of what his programs mission is. Due to the wide variety of activities and personnel, ICC decided to let Mr. Jones fill in most of the blanks along with a few interviews. RJ: First of all, I am a Washington, DC native. I was born and raised in the DC metropolitan area. After graduating from high school, I decided to go into the military because I was unable to go directly to college due to economic limitations. I joined the US Air force. After I was tested, I was told that I had the aptitude to become an Air Traffic Controller. I had never been on a plane before. I grew up under very challenging circumstances. I was considered an at risk youth. I came from a single family home. I lived with about 12 or 13 cousins. We were considered in the low income bracket. I had no idea what the Aviation field was. My only point of reference for this industry was what I had seen in movies of a guy walking on a runway with a flag. That was what I thought the job entailed as a Air Traffic Controller. I was pleasantly surprised to discover after graduating from my class in Biloxi, Mississippi in 1962 at Keesler Air force base that I would be working in a Air Traffic Controller tower for the US Air force. I worked with them for four years. I was assigned to Seward Air Force base in Nashville, Tennessee and detached to Fort Campbell Kentucky during my enlistment. After leaving the air force, I worked with the US Postal Service for 10 months. During this period, the Federal Aviation Association (FAA) had a hiring freeze. They hadn't hired in 8 years. I also discovered that of the 12,000 Air Traffic Controllers less than 20 were African American. Within 2 years, I was able to qualify as a full performance Controller. Once I discovered what the compensation for an Air Traffic Controller was, I was quite interested in pursuing this line of career. I was employed at the Washington Air Route Traffic Control Center in Leesburg, Virginia for 28 years as a Controller and Supervisor for the Federal Aviation Administration. Once in the job, I realized the need for more minorities in this field. Air Traffic Controllers coordinate the safe and expeditious flights of all air crafts throughout the world. A friend of mine who was 10 years my senior started an organization entitled the Black Comptrollers Coalition in 1968. He, myself and about 8 other individuals from the Washington Center and 8 other individuals from the New York center formed this group and worked with the administration. I say that loosely. The administration had already decided that there were few minority candidates for that field. In 1968, there were less than 50 nationwide. We went out and recruited and assisted with the testing. Most of the test was based on Abstract Reasoning, Spatial Relationships and things of that nature. Once they finished being tested, we assisted them with obtaining positions in the field. It was 1970. This was probably the largest increase in the number of new minority hires by the FAA on one day, December 28, 1970. On this day, there were more than 87 minority new hires in the Air Traffic Controller field. This was the largest increase in minority hiring. By 1981, there were more than 1000 minority air traffic controllers. During this same period, the President at that time Ronald Reagan fired 80% of the Air Traffic Controllers. About 500 of the minority new hires went out on strike and were never rehired. Our organization played an instrumental role in reaching these goals. After the strike, we tried to regroup with the system. I spent 28 years with the FAA. I retired after 32 years of service in April 1994 at the age of 50. At this point, I felt the need to give back to the community due to all of the blessings that I have received while I was in the industry from all the people who had assisted me. I started this organization Let's Go Up to the 21st Century with my wife along side of me with my buy out. In addition, a educator colleague of mine assisted me during the first year of the program. This was my way of giving back to the youth. Especially, the youth at risk. Any youth without regard to race, religion, sex or ethnic background was allowed to participate. In particular, those who had close to 70% of their time unsupervised by adults or mesalliances into deviant activities that did not have a positive effect on their future development. One target area is the inner city youth. I work with about 4 or 5 different groups in this area. I had been a tutor and mentor for Children of Mine, LEAP, and many local schools and the Big Brothers for the past 20 years. . I have seen at least 2 of these youths graduate from high school and go on to attend college. In addition, I have worked with 5 churches who I have participated with on various levels over the years in addition to 2 homeless shelters. The first summer camp was started in 1995. We take 100 kids to the camp. Through the use of various workshops, we expose the kids to careers that they normally would not see. Many people are unaware that there are minority Air Traffic Controllers, Pilots, Engineers or Mechanics. This leaves a gap in the knowledge of the youth to these types of careers. There are 135 different jobs in this field (Air Traffic Controller, Weather, Flight Standards, Mechanic, and Transportation industry over 300 jobs). The most significant thing is that most of these positions don't require a college degree. I graduated from high school and was able to obtain a supervisor status. Some of these positions pay in excess of $100,000 USD per year annually without requiring a college degree. When we discuss careers, by gathering youth ages 8-17 and exposing them to all of these opportunities along with all of the activities available at the camp site, in which you can earn up to this potential, we think this is a plus. The first four years my wife and I absorbed most of the cost of the camp except for a grant of $10,000, which was awarded to Let's Go Up To The 21st Century by the Ronald McDonald Charities House. Many thanks to Jerome and Mary Navies for their efforts in obtaining this grant. However, in the last couple of years, we were blessed to be able to have the camp at the YMCA Camp Letts. I would like to extend a sincere thanks to them for allowing us to utilize their facility. Sharon Purcell, Coordinator of the Let's Go Up To The 21st Century Camp, gave ICC her impression of what it was like to coordinate the camp. SP: "It has been a very unexpected experience. I offered to volunteer. I had no initial expectation. It has been a wonderful experience. It has been an eye opener for me. I can't identify the differences between the students. We have all come together as one as Gods creations to make this camp a success. It has spiritual meaning to me. My purpose in life is to work with young people and give back to the community. I feel that God is leading me to work in some type of ministry capacity with the youth. I am a single parent. Most of the things that I am involved in deal with working with young people. As coordinator, this has been a test of my everyday experience. When Mr. Rick Jones approached me about coordinating the camp, I was allowed the opportunity to put everything into play. It has been a challenge at times; however, all of the activities came together to make the camp an overall success. The most important thing that came about was every ones willingness to come together and assist as needed." Yvonne McGee, entrepreneur, Pilot, and Scuba Instructor, was on hand to instructor, advise and assist in any capacity necessary. YM: "The nice thing of having an aviation camp is that it is a nice format of teaching young people about aviation. At the camp, an emphasis is placed on team work and team building. Everything is done with your designated group. The camp setting helps to get them in the mindset of working together. Many people don't realize that behind every pilot is a team of professionals (10) that assist with every aspect of flying. Especially in the African American community, there is a major gap in the percentage of them in this field. If they are exposed at an early age, more of them may select this industry as a potential career choice. This industry is constantly increasing in the long run. All of the activities at the camp are designed for teams or groups. Nothing is done individually. This fosters the theme of the overall camp in regards to the aviation field." ICC: "If you had been exposed to a program like this, would your career choice have been greatly affected?" YM: "It would have deterred me from making some of the poor choices that I made as a youth. Peer pressure plays a major role in the decisions that young people make. At the age of 16, you can be a pilot and solo in a plane. Due to the Let's Go Up To The 21st Century Camp, many young people have been able to learn to fly a plane before they turn 18. The program teaches them self confidence, self esteem and gives them alternatives." Here is some detailed information about the camp and what it offers. Camp Letts, located on a beautiful inlet off the sparkling Chesapeake Bay, overlooks three islands and a 2,600-acre preserve that has served as the backdrop for 94 summers of land-based and aquatic adventures. It all began in 1906, when YMCA Boys Work Director Albert M. Chesley pitched camp on five acres along the South River, initiating what is now the oldest organized resident camp in the Washington area. The camp moved in 1922 to its present location, thanks to the generosity of John Cowen Letts, and today youngsters from the Baltimore-Washington area and beyond flock to this secure and exciting environment to kindle friendships and master new skills - all the while learning more about themselves, their peers and the world in which they live. Our 219-acre peninsula has miles of wooded trails for hiking, horseback riding, and nature discovery; vast green fields for a variety of team sports; three tennis courts; and a crystal clear, olympic-size swimming pool for instruction and fun. Our professional equipment includes more than 50 sailboats and small craft; certified nets, balls, racquets, hoops and targets for various sports; plenty of supplies for arts and crafts; and much more to enjoy a broad selection of aquatic, land-based and waterfront activities , including:
Due to the vastness of activities, high quality accommodation, and cuisine at YMCA Camp Letts, Let's Go Up To The 21st Century summer camp has been given the resources to make our program an excellent opportunity to give these youth an above average experience while keeping the cost of the camp bearable to myself and my wife. I would like to extend my gratitude to Mr. Pat Butcher former Executive Director at YMCA Camp Letts, Mr. Scott Peckins, current Director of YMCA Camp Letts and Mr. Duncan Churches Camp Coordinator for "discovering" and recommending our program. Additionally, I would like to thank Mr. Edward Meagher, Assistant Administration for Veterans Affairs for participating in our program as a counselor of Conflict Resolution and providing computers and access to the internet for our youth. Through the workshops, which are taught by Air Traffic Controllers, Pilots, Telecommunications personnel, etc., we expose the young people to the wide variety of careers in this industry. Our company is a 501(C)3 Non Profit organization for the past 7 years. All of the staff are volunteers and top notch personnel in their various professions. Along with the exposure that we provide during this weekend camp, any youth that expresses a sincere desire to further his experience in the industry, we provide him/her with an internship program (for example, Tuskegee Airmen, etc.). We have a partnership with the original Tuskeegee Airmen. The Tuskeegee Airmen will pay for the participants flying lessons. If any of the campers are interested in Meteorology, our company has contacts at the United States Weather Service (OHSHA). Most of the young people who are motivated are encouraged to continue with their new interest by a wide variety of opportunities to continue this learning experience until adulthood. We also have a partnership with the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Those that are interested can participate in the FBI's internship program. We feel that kids need to know right from wrong from the law enforcement standpoint. A representative from the FBI has participated in the camp each year. The unit supervisor, Barbara Wallace from the FAA and community outreach, has been with us for the past 5 years. We also want to extend kudos to Mr. Louis Freeh, former Director of the FBI has sent guest speakers on every occasion. We are also working with HUD (Housing Urban Development). Some of the participants in the program are from homeless shelters. My whole desire is to work with HUD to establish a permanent residence for those youths. It is hard for us to follow up with them once they leave the camp because of the instability in their living situations. If we had a permanent residence, we could continue with teaching them social skills and continue assisting them with the transition into a new way of life. The focus of Let's Go Up To The 21st Century is to successfully place these youths in careers in this industry. We would love for all them to go on to universities to obtain degrees; however, we want them to know that their are careers that they can go into without higher education. We have several success stories that can be individualized and discussed in group sessions. One of the students, who started with us 7 years ago is about to graduate from Rocky Mount Wesleyan College with a degree in Business Administration but also took Electrical Engineering. Mrs. Delabruno has been a part of the Lets Go Up To The 21st Century for the past 7 years. She conducts the exercise program daily from 7-7:45am and provides a Karate demonstration to allow the youth to see what the results can be from participating in their program or similar martial arts activities. Mrs. Delabrunos school only extends this type of program to the camp annually in addition to running her own school. She looks forward to her annual participation and feels that it is a privilege to be a part of this program. By the end of the camp, the campers learn to appreciate the martial arts program in spite of their initial hesitancy due to the early morning workouts. We would like to obtain resources
to establish a residence that would allow us to continue this process on
an ongoing basis. Once the youth complete the process and go
on with their respective lives and careers, they could return to the camp
as counselors and advisers and be
One of the workshops at the camp was the Sistas Womanhood Training Program conducted by Loretta Jones, Executive Director and Cheryl Rogers-Brown, It has a 24 week curriculum. They conducted 3 segments of their workshop. Part I Get to know the students.
This exercise in values and priorities allows the trainers to see where they need to start in terms of what areas of their lives may need repairing or counseling. Part II The second item was about selecting an ideal mate (husband/wife). Each camper had to draw a picture of their ideal partner by using pictures which represent the characteristics that they saught on one side of the paper. On the opposite side, they had to draw pictures of the characteristics that they did not want. An example of the positive ones would be symbols of hardworking, intelligent, etc. An example of the negative ones would be lazy, unintelligent, etc. After they complete their drawing, a few of the students were selected to come up and discuss their drawings. The interesting thing was that some of the youth who were very young knew exactly what they wanted in their future spouse. Part III The third exercise had to do with proper etiquette at an elegant restaurant. The campers had to identify appropriate tableware and set up. All of the activities were essential characteristics in raising young people to be responsible adults one day. This program is offered throughout the USA and in the Caribbean. Both trainers/founders work with youth extensively through their program and in their professions. ICC: "I was extremely impressed by all of the activities and look forward to future exposure to this program." Another of our success stories is about a youth who came to us about 7 years ago who was from a homeless shelter. He and his mother were from Haiti and were homeless. He was also a Martial Arts students. At the moment, he is a student at Prince Georges Community College studying Aeronautical Engineering. Most of the youth that we identify, in addition to offering them mentoring and counseling, we try to provide financial support for them as well. In both of those cases, we were able to accomplish this. I also assisted with the development of the Youth Aviation program with the Tuskegee Airmen who finance the students. The cost of this is $4,000 USD per student. The program will guide the participant all the way up to receiving a Pilots License. So far, about 6 or 7 of our youth have gone through that program. One of them entered the Air Force about two and half years ago. He has been chosen to fly the Top Gun Flight F16 plane. Another of them is going to Emory Aeronautical University. She is going for her Private Pilot License. They have to obtain up to 1500 hours to obtain a Commercial Airline Pilot license. Once they reach this goal, they can go to any of the major airlines and apply for positions as a pilot. If they continue with the program, they can be hired by the time they are 22 or 23 years of age. Currently, the industry has a limited amount of minorities in these positions. Let's Go Up To The 21st Century has been funded over the past seven years by myself, my wife and private contributions. For a weekend camp of this sort the cost could run about $10,000 USD. In the future, we would like to expand our camp globally if funding were made available. We would also like to extend the opportunities to other ethnicities. In spite of our limited funding, we have been blessed by support from colleagues/friends for the past 30 years. Additionally, we would like to open the camp up to include foreign languages. I have an interest in expanding the youth program to other countries-especially, since my wife, Linda, has an interest in the Spanish language and we plan on visiting some Hispanic countries in the next few years. International Connection's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Richard and Linda Jones and all of the other staff for allowing me to participate in the camp and for supplying all of the material for the article. If you would like more information about the Let's Go Up To The 21st Century, please contact Richard Jones . For more information about YMCA Camp Letts,.
In the last few years, there has been a constant increase in the available career opportunities in the hospitality a sector. Training students to be competent professionals ready to meet the demand in the industry has always been one of the primary objectives of Escuela Universitaria de Hosteleria y Turismo de Sant Pol ( EUHT StPOL complements its theoretical education with practical activities that give the students the opportunity to experience the reality of the profession, as well as bringing them closer in contact with successful professionals of the sector. According to the WTO (World Tourism Organization)
ICC: " What is your role at Escuela Universitaria de Hosteleria y Turismo de Sant Pol/Barcelona ? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide)". EUHT: "I am responsible for international relations at the School, as well as a member of the board, a Professor of management and some duties in the consultancy department of the school. I graduated from Cornell University's School of Hotel Administration and worked in middle management positions in hotels in Florida, California and Spain. ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Escuela Universitaria de Hosteleria y Turismo de Sant Pol/Barcelona?" EUHT: "We offer several degrees related to hotel, restaurant, and tourism management and culinary arts at three levels: associate degree, bachelor degree and masters degree. Since 1966, we are the first hotel school in Spain where the students practice in the school's hotel (open to the public) always supervised by the professors. All of our diplomas are University degrees. We believe in putting into practice the theory learned in class at the hotel. There is no other hotel school with this characteristics which the language is in Spanish. " ICC: " Explain some programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? " EUHT: "We offer: assoc. degree in restaurant service and culinary arts. 3 yrs bachelor degree in hotel and tourism administration. 3 years masters degree in hotel administration . 1 yr masters degree in food & beverage management. 1 yr post graduate degree in culinary arts . 1 yr In the postgraduate and masters degrees, 60% of our students are from the Americas, Europe, (excluding Spain) and Asia. These programs include both theoretical and practical classes at the hotel. " ICC: "Your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? Language proficiency? " EUHT: " An interview is required. Foreign students have to write an assessment. Grades and language (Spanish) proficiency are a requirement. " ICC: " What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student? " EUHT: " It all depends on the program: Bachelor degree students, they need the Spanish equivalent to SATs for the 02-03 and 03-04 school years. From 2004 we will have our own acceptance exam. (acording a the new Spanish law). Masters: they need a Bachelor degree Graduate in Culinary Arts: They need a culinary arts degree " ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology. " EUHT: "We are a small specialized School. Theoretical classes are a ratio of one to 25, and practical, 7 to one. We believe in putting into practice the knowledge learned in class at the hotel of the School. We evaluate the students in both practical and theoretical knowledge. " ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistanceships defray the cost of , room and board? academic scholarships? dance scholarships? the eligibility criteria? " EUHT: " We offer scholarships based on the income tax statement of the student and his/her tutors. High school and previous university grades are important. The Spanish Government, through AECI (Agencia Espanola de Cooperacion Internacional), through the Spanish Embassies, offers scholarships for the masters and postgraduate degrees. ICC: "We would like to thank Mr. Lluis Sierra for the interview. " Educational Goals:
DIVERSITIA,
INC. HELPING INSTITUTIONS ACHIEVE THEIR DIVERSITY GOALS
As our world becomes increasingly more diverse and multi culturally rich, the need for organizations to act as facilitator between institutions and individuals to meet this requirement has increased tremendously. Mr. George H. Mitchell, Jr., Ph.D., Partner and Senior Representative with DiversiTia Inc. located in Columbia, Maryland in the USA offered International Connections Consulting an inside look at what his company is doing to meet this need. "I am a partner and senior representative of DiversiTia Inc., a company that helps USA-based institutions achieve their ethnic and racial diversity goals through recruitment, retention and out-placement activities. As a partner and senior representative, my primary responsibilities are in the area of marketing and relations with our clients. I have been with DiversiTia since it was founded in early 2001. Before then, I was, successively, a university administrator, university faculty member and U.S. Foreign Service Officer. DiversiTia provides assistance to institutions and organizations (especially those involved in international affairs, public affairs, academia and international business) which--despite having put forth significant effort and expended significant financial and other resources--have found it difficult to achieve their ethnic and racial diversity goals. We think that such institutions and organizations should avail themselves of our services because the structure of the market for human resources, and especially the ethnic and racial diversity segment of the market, seems to require intermediaries in order to function efficiently. DiversiTia, with its well-connected executives and representatives, stands between institutions on the one hand and opportunity-seekers on the other hand and helps each find the other. Individual opportunity-seekers who might contribute to the success and diversity of US-based institutions may also want to avail themselves of our no-fee placement services by contacting and registering with us at diversitia@intlconnections.com Our principal services are in the areas of recruitment, placement and retention of individuals who would contribute to an institution's success and diversity. We also offer institutions the opportunity to utilize our web site for internet advertising and promotion of opportunities, programs or the institutions themselves. And again, we offer no-fee placement services to individuals fully registered with us. The principal criteria for prospective client-institutions are that they be fully committed to the ethnic and racial diversification of the institution, and that they understand that the identification and/or retention of qualified, talented individuals who also contribute to diversity are valuable services for which an institution should gladly pay a very reasonable fee. We believe that, as the quote on our home page by Senator Edwards of North Carolina says, "There are extraordinary people all over this country who aren't born into families of wealth and privilege, and...need an opportunity to shine. They can do great things for themselves; they just need a chance to do it." When we find such people, and when they can clearly contribute to the success and diversity of one of our client-institutions, we want to be sure that the institution is fully prepared to welcome them--and compensate us. Our long-term goal is to have created a company, founded and operating on private-enterprise principles, that "does well" financially while also "doing [a great deal of] good"--by matching minority Americans seeking opportunities with institutions that seek to enhance the ethnic or racial diversity of their cohort(s)--and by, as soon as feasible, applying some of its earnings to activities that increase both the number and quality of qualified minority candidates and the number and quality of opportunities available to them." International Connections Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, had the pleasure of working with Mr. George Mitchell, Jr. Ph.d, Partner and Senior Representative of DiversiTia, Inc., on a project for the Department of State (Foreign Service Written Exam). Throughout the project Mr. Mitchell and his staff exhibited a high level of professional integrity and professionalism (synonym needed here) that made the project a success and met the necessary objectives. Ms. Lewis would like to thank Mr. George Mitchell and his staff for providing all of the information for this article. If you would like more information, to register or advertise with DiversiTia, Inc., please contact them at diversitia@intlconnections.com
There is no quicker way to learn a language than "living it". This is what COINED has been offering successfully to students from all over the world since 1971. The main goal of their Institute
is the teaching of Spanish as a Second Language along with other experiential
programs that fully immerse their students in the Argentine culture and
way of living.
COINED Spanish School is a very well known Institution in the field of International Education. It was founded as the academic branch of the Argentine Exchange Student Organization "Comisión de Intercambio Educativo", better known as COINED. They are situated in Córdoba city and Buenos Aires, Argentina, and have been involved with intercultural programs since 1971. Thousands of students from Europe, North America and other countries have joined their programs and studied Spanish in their Language School. Through the cooperation and assistance of a number of former participants, COINED has evolved into a dynamic organization, constantly thriving for the highest standards in quality and on the lookout for new services to offer. Since 1988, COINED has been able to establish itself as a leader in Latin America in the development of the following programs: Spanish Language Course Internships Study Trips As the oldest Spanish School in South America, COINED has been able to design a very effective immersion program of Spanish as a second language. The school has decided to continue their successful work of helping their students to enhance their education, intercultural understanding and prepare them for this new age of Globalization. Mr. Marcelo Cuestas, Director at COINED, gave International Connections Consulting (ICC) a glance of what studying at their school was like. ICC: "What is your role at Comision de Intercambio Educativo (Argentina COINED) ? How long have you been at the school? (any other background information that you wish to provide)." COINED: "My name is Marcelo Cuestas and I am the Director of COINED ARGENTINA Spanish School. I have been working here since 1997 and I am really glad about it. I enjoy very much the School atmosphere and the challenge of bringing together students from all corners of the world to learn and immerse themselves into our Argentinian culture. Since the beginning, my position has been a great challenge. With two excellent Schools in Buenos Aires and Córdoba city, Argentina, COINED has been involved with intercultural programs since 1971. Since 1988, COINED has been able to establish itself as a leader in Latin America in the development of the Spanish Language Courses and Internship programs. I am very excited and decided to continue with our successful work of helping our students to enhance their education, intercultural understanding and prepare them for this new age of Globalization." ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend Comision de Intercambio Educativo (Argentina COINED)? What makes Comision de Intercambio Educativo (Argentina COINED) unique?" COINED: "The most important reason is our flexibility to adapt to the needs of our students. Our programs are open to everyone and we try our best to make the student feel cared for as an individual. Another reason is our long experience. We have been active since 1971. All members of our Staff are experienced and have done intercultural experiences abroad so we really understand the situation and interests of our participants. Our program features, such as the Spanish courses combined with experiential programs, like internships or volunteer positions, complement the learning process with practical experience of our culture." ICC: "Explain some of the programs that you offer? How does this enhance the learning experience for your students? What types of courses do you offer? COINED: The Intensive Spanish Language Courses cover all aspects of language learning (speaking, listening, writing and reading skills) and it is specially designed for foreign students. Our average class size is 3 students and we never place more than 5 students in a class. Unlike other Spanish Schools, we assign a teacher who speaks the student's native language, to facilitate the communication between them. The teachers' enthusiasm and the communication-orientated classes ensure that our students are totally immersed in the Argentine life and learn the language faster." ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance? Age? language proficiency?" COINED: "We accept students from 16 to 60 years old but most of our students are 20 to 35 years old. The previous Spanish language proficiency is not a requirement. We receive students with any level of Spanish. Our Courses are divided into six levels: Basic (2), Intermediate (2) and Advanced (2) depending on previous knowledge of the Spanish language. The newly arrived students are given a placement test on their first day to evaluate their level, identify their individual needs and assign them to the corresponding class. Furthermore, students may choose to take private, personalized classes (one on one instruction)." ICC: "What type of student do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student?" COINED: "We are not very strict when accepting a student. Generally we love having participants with an open mind to face a cultural immersion program like ours. It is important to be eager to learn and share their experience with their counterparts. This is why we organize some extracurricular activities in which our students discuss about their experience and make friends for a lifetime." ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology" COINED: "Our Syllabus is designed specially for foreign students and contain a mix of several teaching methods but, unlike other Spanish Schools, we emphasize communication by using much interaction. The didactic material has been carefully prepared to connect the areas of listening comprehension and oral communication. We promote the active participation of the students with different games and material which help them acquire more fluency in the language. Our main text is Español 2000 but other materials such as current newspaper clippings, magazine articles, etc, are used as well to augment the text. Courses also include an introduction to the Argentine culture and customs because true intercultural communication is more than just knowing Spanish." ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships, or assistanceships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? academic scholarships? dance scholarships? If so, what is the eligibility criteria?" COINED: "Since we are a low-budget organization, we can not offer financial aid or scholarships. We do offer some important promotions during our low season (April, May, October, November and December). The discounts are up to %35 off our regular prices." ICC: "We would like to thank Mr. Marcelo Cuestas for the interview." COINED offers students the possibility of doing non-paid internships and volunteer work in Argentine Companies, Institutions and other Organizations. While working in an area that matches the participants interest, he/she will be able to experience and learn about the work environment of a different culture and make a valuable contribution to the company by offering their own points of view. Depending on the duration of the internship, our participants are sometimes assigned a particular project by the firm. Participation in this program requires a minimum stay of 8 weeks in Argentina. Placements for internships are not limited in number and are available for all fields of study. After receiving their application papers, we will find the internship that best fits their needs. Requirements for the Participation in the Internship Program: The participant needs to send them their Resume and Motivation Letter by regular mail at least 2 months in advance. Their previous studies or work experience has to be sufficiently related to the desired area of work in which the internship should take place. If they have a beginner or intermediate level of knowledge of Spanish, they must participate in the schools Spanish Language Course before starting the internship. This is necessary in order to acquire confidence and fluency in the language. At least, they should reach an intermediate level and fluency in the Spanish language, that will enable the participant to communicate sufficiently and succeed in the internship. Also, they will be introduced to the vocabulary, culture and customs that are characteristic of Argentina. Depending on their previous level of Spanish, they will be required to do: 4 weeks (Intermediates). 6 weeks (Beginners). Minimum duration of the program is 8 weeks (advanced students) and 10 weeks (beginners and intermediates). COINED, in collaboration with the Association of Student and Youth Tourism, is offering a program of intensive integration in the Argentine culture. The participants have the opportunity to combine intensive training in the Spanish language with a complete tourist program that they will share with a group of young people from Argentina as well as from abroad. During the week, students combine intensive Spanish language courses with trips to the historical center of Córdoba while being accompanied by their professors. During the weekend the group will participate in a series of excursions outside the city where they will get to know the beautiful countryside of Argentina. In the end, participants will travel to the North of Argentina, or to the Patagonia, passing through the most picturesque regions of the country. The Spanish Course: This course is designed especially for students studying abroad, with the goal of exercising practical vocabulary, grammatical structure, and intensive conversation. Throughout the classes, students will also be introduced to the Argentine culture, which is one of our main goals of the course: to not only serve the purpose of learning and perfecting the language, but also to support an immersion into the Argentine culture. The course is structured in three levels: Basic, Intermediate and Advanced. Professors will evaluate the previous studies and knowledge of the Spanish language in order to place each student in the appropriate level. The classes take place in the main offices of COINED. Also, during the course of the program the professors arrange small trips to distinctive places throughout the city to help familiarize the students with the lay of the land, and to give a chance to get together with familiar faces.Duration: There is a total of 75 classroom hours with each class lasting 45 minutes. In general, class is everyday, from Monday through Friday, with a daily total of 5 classroom hours. Course schedules will vary slightly according to the specific development of the final trip of this program.Teachers: The professors are native Spanish speaking Argentinos, whom are capable and experienced in teaching the Spanish language to foreigners. All of them have University training and a high level of general culture, which is fundamental to the interaction with the students. Generally speaking, a professor who is familiar with the native language of the student is assigned with the student in order to facilitate the communication between them.Certificate: At the end of the course COINED will reward the student with a certificate of completion of the Intensive Spanish Course.The Trips: Sierras de Córdoba: Talampaya and Valle de la Luna
In today's global environment,
the need for a wide variety of tailor made courses to meet the needs of
today's current and future business people is becoming an essential ingredient
for success in any field. Combining this with learning the Spanish
language allows our future generation to compete in any specialty.
Sociedad Hispano Mundial (SHM), located in the Conference and Exhibition Center (Palacio de Congresos) in Granada, Spain, has what it takes to prepare their students for the new millenium. Their motto is "Aprender para Crecer" (Learning for Growth). Fully equipped with the latest technology and only minutes from the city's center, SHM provides comfortable, modern, air-conditioned/heated classrooms, audio-visual equipment, a student library and self-access center. SHM's location caters to everyone from the family to the diplomat. Concerts and political events are held in the Conference and Exhibition Center throughout the year which provides a wonderful atmosphere for cultural enrichment and observing Spanish Politics. In addition, SHM can arrange various Internships in related fields to enhance their clients learning experience. Located near by is the Sierra Navada and the beach. Whether your fancy is skiing in the mountains or relaxing on the beach, SHM provides excursions that allow you to mix both worlds within the shortest distance. There is something for the whole family-sightseeing in some of the cities famous landmarks, skiing in the mountains, swimming at the beach or "just living Spanish." Mr. Jose Antonio Ruiz Cantero
(JC), Director of Sociedad Hispano Mundial, was on hand for an interview
with ICC's President, Tasha Lewis, outside the famous La Alhambra castle
in Granada, Spain in October during the FEDELE conference.
ICC: "What is your role at SHM? How long have you been at the school?" JC:
"I am the founder and director of Sociedad Hispano Mundial. I have nearly
17 years´ experience in foreign language teaching. SHM has
been working as it is now for 5 years. Before opening SHM I was a
teacher of Spanish as a Foreign Language, Director of an International
School (bilingual) and Education
ICC: "What in your opinion is the most compelling reason for a student to attend SHM? What makes SHM unique?" JC: "I could mention many reasons I am very proud to offer to the students, such as the high quality language teaching, our enthusiastic and well qualified teachers ( all of them with post-graduate qualifications), the wide range of activities outside the class, our comfortable and well located facilities, our excellent accommodation service, our total quality control, the many prizes and awards we have been given by national and international bodies, etc. But what I consider most unique at SHM is our focus on the individual. Our main objective is to encourage and facilitate one´s personal development and so enhance one´s quality of life. The most important thing for us is the student as a person, we like people, and the students can feel it. In our school our students are our friends." ICC: "What type of courses do you offer?" JC: "We offer general Spanish Courses (Vacation Courses) with activities, Spanish for specific purposes programs (Legal and Political Spanish, Business Spanish, Spanish Literature and Spanish Civilization and Culture), Hispanic Studies Course for university students (to get credits for their universities) and a Teacher Training Program for people who want to become teachers of Spanish as a Foreign Language with the internationally recognised OCR Certificate (Oxford, Cambridge, Royal Society of Arts). To enhance the learning experience we include in our courses a program of activities which goes from visiting monuments, to tapas tour, learning flamenco or salsa, and learning to play Flamenco on the guitar. On the other hand, as we have many Spanish students, the foreign students are immediately in contact with Spanish ones. We also provide all kinds of accommodations, from very well selected families to hotels. All the students have access to our library, where they can borrow books or audio-visual materials and they can have free access to Internet. There is also a continuous Information Service to the students and a 24 hour telephone service to help them while they stay with us. Don´t forget that Granada has activities that go on 24 hours a day in the city with more than 60,000 students!" ICC: "What is your criteria for evaluating a student for acceptance?" JC: "In the case of the Vacation Courses, we accept individual students from 16; and in the case of groups, we also accept younger ones. The groups are divided into children, teenagers and adults. For these courses we always have all levels available, so the level is not a problem (from beginners to advanced). In the case of Spanish for Specific Courses, the students must have a minimum of intermediate level. For the Teacher Training Program, the students must have university studies, minimum of two years at the university, and a very good knowledge of Spanish." ICC: "What type of students do you accept? What qualities do you look for or consider when deciding to accept a student?" JC: "Basically, what we look for in the students is their motivation to learn Spanish and to integrate within the Spanish culture. We usually have students, professionals, teachers, and diplomats, etc." ICC: "Explain your teaching methodology." JC:
"Being a Teacher Training Centre, we are always fully updated in
all methodologies and teaching techniques. We are ready to use any methodology
to fulfill our students´ needs. But, in general, it is the
ICC: "Do you offer financial aid, scholarships or assistantships to help defray the costs of tuition, room and board? Academic scholarships? Dance scholarships?If so, what are the eligibility criteria?" JC: "Unfortunately we can not offer any financial aid. But we know we are helping the students with our cheap prices. For what we offer, in the courses plus the activities, any student would pay at least 25% more in other schools. In the case of dance classes, we offer them for free in our activities program and if there are students who are really interested in this, they can have two more dance lessons a week for free as well." ICC: "Ms. Lewis would like to thank Mr. Jose Antonio Ruiz Cantero for the interview." International Connections
Consulting's President, Tasha Lewis, would like to thank Mr. Cantero and
all of the staff at Sociedad Hispano Mundial for the material for this
article and for their generous and thoughtful hospitality while she was
in Granada, Spain in October. If you would like to enroll or more
information regarding any of their courses or Sociedad Hispano Mundial,
please contact International Connections
Testimonies from students. These are only some testimonies from our students; but we have a long list for people who require it before making the decision to come to SHM. We provide their e-mail so that they can contact them. "Sociedad Hispano Mundial is more than a school... it´s a family. The staff is very supportive and offer fun excursions outside of the classroom. The classes are excellent: the professors always teach according to the needs of the student, are flexible and very dedicated to the goals of each person. The teaching method is active and effective, the environment friendly... Come to SHM!" "Sociedad Hispano Mundial has offered me a great environment in order to learn the language and experience the life and culture of Spain. The method of instruction is effective and intensive and also very enjoyable. The teachers are excellent and always aware of the needs of the students" “My experience at SHM opened so many doors to me it is incredible. I had the opportunity to not only learn Spanish, but also to be exposed to the rich culture and history of Granada. Through the staff, teachers and host family, I was made to feel confortable and at home. We studied and then applied those studies by participating in cultural events, it was a lot of fun! I believe that SHM had an incredible positive impact on my life and it changed the course of my life. I do miss My Granada!"
A Note from the President
International Connections Consulting (ICC) works with various Editorial Consultants (including Publishers, Education Professionals, Entrepreneurs, Undergraduate/Graduate students, and a list of other professionals) with a wide background of expertise in order to give our newsletter a global and innovative approach to appeal to our audience.
©1997-2001 International Connections Consulting. All rights reserved. |
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Everyone
needs resource information to facilitate their studies or work. Quality
resource information is an invaluable tool. International Connections
Consulting (ICC) has spent the last 13 months researching and investigating
various types of resource information that would appeal to their wide variety
of clients (business people, organizations, students, teachers or vacationers).
