University Daily Kansan, July 6, 1981
Page 3
Applied English Center director out to build new image
The Applied English Center is trying to build a new image under its new director.
The director, Elizabeth Soppela, said that the Center would get a full-time instructor during the fall semester as part of its drive to improve its image, following criticism by foreign student groups.
Victor Archibong, president of the Nigerian Students Association, said the graduate assistants at the Center to teach English as a second language.
Foreign students have complained that all the instructors at the Center were graduate assistants who were not trained to teach English to foreign students.
Krupadanan Billa, president of the KU International Club said, "Most of the instructors at the Center are not qualified."
Archibong also charged that students were "used as guinea pigs for research work for theses by the instructors."
However, Sopella said the criticism was a "perpetuation of past myths and prejudices and may not take account of the new changes that have been made."
She said all teaching assistants at the Center had completed courses in teaching English as a second language.
However, Soppella, who took over as director last August, said, "I too am concerned that all the teaching at the Center is done by graduate assistants.
"This struck me first thing when I came to the Center."
The Center, which enrolled 308 students in the spring semester, has four supervisors, but all the classes are taught by graduate assistants.
"We are trying to build up a core of full-time faculty members, and the recruitment of an instructor for the fall
semester is a start in this direction," Soppelsa said.
"I cannot comment on the charge that students have been used for research work by graduate assistants because, because I joined last year," she said.
But, she said she had instituted a policy that required all graduate assistants wanting to do research involving students to get her approval.
She said that the Center's guidelines conformed to the highest ethical standards of the academic profession, and she said the center would protect the rights of students.
Foreign students also charged that the Center's academic standards were too strict.
Smit Vajarantan, president of the Thai Student Association, said, "These people think foreign students come here to major in English."
Archbishop said that the requirements of the Center were too high and that students were retained longer than necessary.
Jose Permia, president of the Venezuelan Club, said the Center had become a business enterprise.
Billa said the center was holding back students to bikimk of them money. He said that foreign students had not come to England to squander money on learning English
"We can learn English cheaper at home," he said.
Suaip Yurteri, president of the Turkish Club, said the standards of the center were so high that after attaining the performance of students began to decline.
"my score on the Michigan test declined after I had taken some advanced courses at the Center," he said.
the English proficiency test developed by the University of Michigan.
But Soppelaus said the criticism stemmed from a misunderstanding about the Center's objectives and operations.
The Center uses modified version of
"The standards are not set by the Center but by the University," she said.
Under existing policy foreign students are required to take courses at the Center if they score below 500 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), which is administered by an independent organization.
Soppela said the Graduate Council had voted Monday to raise the admission requirements to 570 on the TOEPL for graduate students.
A foreign student may not feel any need to continue at the Center once he can comprehend lectures, Soppelasa said.
"But understanding lectures is only a quarter of the program's objective," she said.
Soppele said that students with inadequate communications skills were at an unfair disadvantage because they did not participate in classroom discussion.
"The American educational system is patterned on student participation and a student's grade can be affected if she fails to participate in the discussion," she said.
"Some professors' perception of the student is influenced, affecting the student's grades."
But Vajarantam said he knew students who had graduated from the University but who had not passed the
The advanced programs at the Center, she said, were designed to equip students with the skills to actively participate in the educational process.
requirements of the Center despite several years of study.
Soppelaas said she knew of some similar cases that concerned her, because they showed that the students' education were incomplete.
examinations," she said. "That is not the model of higher education in America.
"A degree is not achieved by listening for 100 hours and taking
"I think they must have gotten external help, at least on their theses."
She also denied charges that the Center was holding back students to make money from them.
The Center has a long list of students waiting to be admitted.
Only one-half the 306 students enrolled at the Center last spring were KU students. The other students had been admitted through the Center's immigration certification in order to learn English.
Elderhostel program provides studv for elderlv
By LISA PROCTOR Staff Reporter
The students, ages 60 and over, are attending KU through the Elderhostel program, July 5-11.
The joy of learning has motivated 34 new students to enroll at the University of Kansas.
THE ELDERHOSTEL, in its second year at KU, is sponsored by the Division of Continuing Education. The division offers its year's program. It is part of a nationwide program, started in 1975, that allows senior citizens to spend a week on college campuses, live in campus and attend college-level courses.
More than one-half of the Elderhostel participants are KU alumni, according to Beulah T. Duncan, Elderhostel coordinator.
Three courses are being taught this year. "It Takes a Little Time," which includes lectures and field trips on geologic time, is taught by AlKamb, an assistant curator in geology at the Museum of Invertebrate Paleontology. "The Lost World of Action" is taught by Bobby R. Patton, chairman of the Department of Speech and Drama. "Looking at Art: Regionalism Meets Modernism" is
taught by the staff of Helen Spencer Museum of Art.
ELDERHOSTEL participants may attend any or all classes, according to Duncan.
"I encourage them to go to each class the first day," she said. "Often they become interested in things they hadn't planned to attend after the first class."
There are no educational requirements, no texts to purchase, no reading assignments and no tests in the Elderhost program.
"The participants are looking for new and different challenges," Duncan said. "They're here because they love to learn."
This is the first Elderhostel for Fredericka Brown, 68, of 937 Pennsylvania St. "I think it will be a fun experience," she said at something at the same time, "she said."
Thirty-one senior citizens are living in GSP, while three others are commuting to classes, Duncan said.
IN ADDITION TO attending classes, participants will have evening activities. Social activities include a get-together with band members and Band performance at Gertlede Sellars Pearson Residence Hall, where the group will live. The group will also attend the Repertory Theatre's "The Robber Bridegroom."
"They're really having fun at us," she said. "They run around visiting between rooms, they're as sociable as college students."
Participants have come from Hawaii, Oregon, Florida, Illinois and many other states, but most are Kansas residents.
The cost of the one-week program is $140.
"We have a variety of professions represented. There are doctors, farmers, homemakers and everything in between." Duncan said.
The first Elderhostel program was held in New Hampshire in 1975.
AFTER RETURNING from a toury walking tour of Europe, Martin Knowlton, a teacher, student and research engineer, was impressed with the influence the youth hostels had on the attitudes of European youth. He played an active role with the active roles played by older people in European communities.
Together with David Blanco, director of Residential Life at the University of New Hampshire, he conceived the idea of creating a summer in summer for programs for elders.
The first program six years ago in New Hampshire involved five colleges. This year, seven colleges in Kansas are sponsoring Eldoret hospital programs.
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The Kansan Back to School Issue is coming in August.
The students, faculty and staff spend approximately $75 million annually in the Lawrence community and the Kansan is the best source to reach this market. The B.T.S.Issue will feature increased circulation and distribution points during its two day distribution August 20,21.
ATTENTION LAWRENCE MERCHANTS
You can't afford to miss this exciting, special edition.
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Deadlines begin July 8.
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Starting July 3rd Bottoms Up announces SUMMER SPECIALS
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Come in and drink in air conditioned comfort
Monday
50cans & bottles 8-12
Wednesday
25' draws
7-10
Friday
'1 Pitchers
3-7
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3-12 MON-SAT
*if you present a KU i.d., we'll extend the special discount until 4 p.m.
SUMMER SALE
Our annual summer clearance begins at 8 a.m. Monday morning
July 6th . . . and from 8 a.m.
'til noon* we'll give you an extra
10% OFF the net amount of every sale.
- Our fine mens suits Reg. 140 to 240 Now from 109.97
- Our lightweight sport coats Reg.110 to 220 Now from 77.99
- Dress and casual slacks 10%,20% and 30% off.
- London Fog rainwear and jackets 20% off.
- Shirts . . . sport, knit and dress 20% and 30% off
- Ties, swimwear, sweaters Whittenight's
Town Shop
the men's shop
839 Massachusetts Street
Downtown