English takes an accent
By CASS SEXSON
Kansan Staff Writer
In the background, 14 voices with a half dozen foreign accents recited English phrases.
A group of Oriental students stood by the door, joking with their American instructor about the amount of homework he had given them.
A sign nearby read: "A sentence in your native language is a step backward; a sentence in English is a step forward."
The students were at the Intensive English Center where all of them hoped to attain, in a semester, proficiency in English enabling them to study at an American university or engage in American business.
The Intensive English Center (IEC), located in Foster Hall, 1200 Louisiana St., has been in operation for five years. It was started with the aid of a Ford Foundation Grant for International Development in 1964, and took over the function of the remedial English program of the University.
Edward T. Erazmus, director of the IEC, said the Center had grown in size from about 35 students during the first semester of its operation to its present enrollment of 147 full-time and 64 part-time students.
"This is an optimum number of students for our facilities," Erazmus said.
Students at the IEC attend class about 30 hours a week for one semester and at the end of this time about half are proficient enough to continue into University studies, Erazmus said. Of those remaining, he added, half need some additional practice and half repeat the course at an advanced level.
Two major problems the IEC must cope with, said Erazmus, are student motivation and control of the native language.
"We keep careful attendance records," he said. "We also keep the student busy, actually under pressure, in order that he may profit from his studies."
Dec.3 1969
12 KANSAN
Commenting on the native language problem, Erazmus said: "Most of the students live in University dorms with American roommates. They tend to congregate into groups, however, and speak their native language."
Students at the IEC are from three general areas of the globe: the Far East, especially Thailand; the Middle East, especially Iran; and Latin America. A few students are European.
"The composition of the students at the Center reflects the international picture," said Erazmus. "Countries with close economic and political ties with the United States tend to send more students to this Center and others like it in the United States."
Enrollment fees at the Center are the same as out-of-state tuition for the University. Operating costs for the Center, as well as salaries for its 23 part-time
instructors, all graduate students, are paid from the tuition fund.
Although the students carry KU-ID cards, and the Center uses state facilities, the IEC is not on the University budget, Erazmus said.
People-to-People, an international organization at KU, works with IEC providing American tutors for the students and introducing them to American culture through discussion groups and organized trips.
The Homestay project of People-to-People helps IEC students who live in dorms find housing with American families over vacations.
The IEC also aids students who have not yet been admitted to an American university after their course at the Center is completed.
About 10-15 per cent of the IEC students remain at KU for their academic studies, Erazmus said.
LHS students hear Vietnam war ideas
Harry G. Shaffer, professor of economics, and Carl Lande, associate professor of political science, spoke at dual assemblies at Lawrence High School Tuesday afternoon. The two men presented their views on the war in Vietnam.
Lande said the main question is: "What should the United States do in respect to Vietnam?"
Shaffer said the United States is in one of the "darkest hours in the history of this country."
The war is draining the national resources of our nation to help support a cruel and unjust war, Shaffer said. He added, the rivers and air around our country are still polluted.
Lande listed three alternatives to the war situation.
- We could escalate the war to the point where we were almost sure to win. This is clearly rejected by the American people, he said.
- We could have an immediate and complete withdrawal of Americans from Vietnam.
- We could have a gradual pullout of the fighting troops from Vietnam and turn over the entire fighting duties to the South Vietnam army.
Lande said President Nixon had decided to follow the third step and that he fully backs this approach.
An "old-fashioned liberal" is the way Lande describes himself. He said he feels personal freedom is more important to the Vietnamese people than anything else.
Shaffer said the American people are paying $1,000 a second to help the people of Vietnam.
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