Tuesday, November 14, 2000
The University Daily Kansan
Section A • Page 3
Less popular languages overlooked
By Rob Pazell
writer @ kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
Lene Askbo teaches Danish 104 to Kelly Crowder, Colorado Springs, Colo., freshman, who is one of two students in that class. Askbo said small classes were advantageous because more time could be devoted to the needs of each student. Photo by Tara Kraus/KANSAN
There's more to Danish culture than pastries and Haus Christian Anderson, and Lene Askbo said students could overcome this stereotype and others by taking the less popular foreign language classes offered at the University of Kansas.
"They just don't know about it." Askboa said of many American students. "People think of a pastry and that's about it."
Askbo teaches Danish 104, one of many language classes offered at the University that students may overlook for what many language teachers refer to as the "big three": Spanish, German and French.
Many of these classes have significantly fewer students than the big three — Askbo's class has only two students enrolled — leaving some teachers to believe that students just aren't aware of the languages.
Askbo, who was born in Denmark, said she wanted to heighten awareness of the Danish language and culture because learning about a lesser-known language could help combat discrimination.
"It's not only being able to say a few sentences," Askbo said. "You get to know how people think."
Kelly Crowder, Colorado Springs,
Colo., freshman, is one of two students in Askbo's class and is planning to study abroad in Copenhagen, Denmark. She said taking Danish in a class with only two students was better than the more popular languages because she had a lot of one-on-one work with the teacher.
"If we're lost or confused, we can
take the time to ask for help." Crowder said. "Whereas in a class with 30 students, it's just more uncomfortable."
Edith Clowes, director of undergraduate studies in Slavic languages and literatures, said Russian generally yielded 16 to 17 students in each class, but other languages such as Serbo-Croation, Polish and Czech had a lower turnout.
She said when a student took a language class with higher enrollment the student tended to want to be anonymous and uninvolved. Clowes said smaller classes provided more
of an opportunity to speak the language.
"If you really want to learn, you move ahead faster and use the language more, which is the high of learning languages." Clowes said.
Keith McMahon, chairperson of the East Asian languages and cultures department, said East Asian languages had nothing in common with English, which may scare away some students.
"Americans are very language-ny," McMahon said. "They lack courage when it comes to learning a language."
Peter Ukopodku, chairperson of African and African American studies, said the number of students who took African languages fluctuated every semester, but he said it was valuable for American students to learn other languages because of the United States' leadership role throughout the rest of the world.
"How can a country be a superpower in the world if they don't know other parts of the world?" Ukpokodu said. "If you know the language, you know the people and their culture."
Edited by Amy Randolph
By Debra Steele Special to the Kansan
Andy. Knopp, Manhattan freshman, spends his Wednesday afternoons at Pincknev Elementary School.
"I'm really interested to hear the kids' opinions on the presidential campaigns." Knopp said.
Knopp is part of Students Tutoring for Literacy, a Center for Community Outreach program. He volunteers one hour a week during the Boys and Girls Club After School Program at Pinckney, 810 W. Sixth St., teaching third-through sixth-graders about government and the electoral process.
The students wrote letters to the Lawrence Journal-World before the elections, giving their opinions about the candidates. Knopp said their interest showed that people didn't have to be 18 to have an interest in the election.
Students Tutoring for Literacy helps both children and adults develop their reading, writing, speaking and learning skills. The goal is to better enable them to succeed in school, find employment and function in their communities.
"They are learning about the political process and getting early exposure, so they will become more likely to get involved in their government at a local and national level," he said.
Shawna Smith, Students Tutoring for Literacy coordinator and Hays junior, said the literacy training could entail specific tasks.
"Sometimes, all the participant wants to be able to do is read the Bible or fill out a job application," she said.
Students Tutoring for Literacy has about 75 volunteers. They travel to 13 different sites and typically work with the students either one-on-one or in groups for two hours a week.
Volunteers are available to tutor students on everything from reading to computers on weekdavs from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Many of the programs allow volunteers to help teachers in the classroom or even teach lessons. Other programs help adults study for their G.E.D.s or teach them English as a second language.
Lana Moaveni, Students Tutoring for Literacy coordinator and Leawood junior, said she had been tutoring for seven years.
"Literacy is a slow process," she said. "You learn patience and how to look at things from different angles. The best reward is when the person you are tutoring really listens and finally gets it. It's a wonderful feeling."
Watkins to help smokers quit
- Edited by Casey Franklin
writer@kansan.com
Kansan staff writer
By Melissa Davis
Matt Hohl started smoking in high school for many reasons, but increasing his risk for lung cancer, emphysema and many other detrimental side effects was not one of them. And that is why he's going to quit — on Thursday.
Hohl, Prairie Village senior, said he didn't know if he was addicted but knew he wanted to quit sometime in the future. This week he is going to try to stop with the help of Watkins Memorial Health Center's peer advisers.
The peer advisers, a group of students who help educate other students about health issues, decided to sponsor Hohl in conjunction with American Cancer's Society's Great American Smokeout this Thursday.
Janis Ellis-Claypool, health educator, said sponsoring meant the peer advisers would act as a support group while he tried to quit. This national day to quit smoking encourages people across America to stop smoking for one day in hopes that it will be forever.
Randall Rock, chief of staff at Watkins, said many students didn't realize that cigarettes were not only addicting, but deadly.
Hohl said he knew the side effects of smoking, but he started anyway, thinking he could quit at any time. According to the American Cancer Society, nearly one in five people in the United States — more than 400,000 people each year — will die from the use of tobacco. Based on research from the same statistic, a smoker could lose an average of 20 to 25 years from his life, meaning almost half of all smokers will die prematurely.
Rock said cigarette smoke and second-hand smoke not only significantly increased a person's risk of cancer and other irreversible harmful effects, but also could intensify other health problems.
"Smoking is an added burden to those with allergies and asthma," he said. "Second-hand smoke can magnify these symptoms."
But Watkins wants to help. The Great American Smokeout is a good time for students, friends and family members to quit smoking.
Health Promotions will be at Wescoe Beach and Watkins
WAYS TO HELP YOURSELF QUIT SMOKING
- List your reasons for quitting; refer to them whenever you feel the urge to smoke.
- Save your tobacco money in a separate jar or bank. Use it to buy yourself something special at the end of six months.
- Chew sugarless gum or munch on low-fat snacks when you get the urge to smoke or chew.
- Never carry matches or a lighter with you.
Celebrate all your smoke-free
anniversaries off cigarettes. O
week is as important as one month Source: Watkins Memorial Health Center
Ellis-Claypool said smoking affected everyone, even nonsmokers. She encouraged students to stop by and learn more about tobacco and its dangers.
Thursday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., registering smokers and nonsmokers for prizes and giving out free stop-smoking survival kits to help students try to quit.
— Edited by Lauren Brandenburg
F&O director learns the ropes
By Luke Wetzel Special to the Kansan
Facilities Operations — the department on campus that handles everything from electrical outlet repairs to building renovations — is moving forward with a new director.
Doug Riat officially assumed his duties July 1 and has since been planning for upcoming projects and reviewing processes recommended by last year's task force.
"A lot of what the year has been for me is getting a good understanding of the department and seeing what we can do." Riat said.
Upcoming projects include putting a corridor in Malot Hall that meets fire codes and converting the auditorium in Bailey Hall to offices — both $200,000 renovations.
Another project this year involves moving University Relations to the old Hilltop Child Development Center building
Although F&O handles
some of the University's construction programs, Riat said his primary obligation was to the variety of campus maintenance requests. About 140 of F&O's 400 employees work in housekeeping, he said.
"Today, it may be roof leaks," he said. "The next day, it may be landscaping issues or cleaning chemicals. Each day is so much different than the one before."
Riał said improvements this year came as a result of a task force that assessed the organization and business procedures of F&O and Design and Construction Management.
Changes in F&O include a new project manager position, a new utilities manager position and the zone maintenance program, which breaks down the campus into specific areas for designated F&O maintenance staff to cover.
"The good side of that is you have a fairly fast response time." Riat said.
Riat said his 15 years as
an assistant director at Design and Construction Management — the design and planning arm of construction — acquainted him with construction operations at the University.
"I very much like buildings and facilities and the infrastructure," he said. Jim Long, assistant provost, said Riat's experience made him a good candidate for job.
"I think Doug is a quiet, purposeful, organized and effective director," Long said. "He works very hard with his staff to provide services for the broad spectrum of the academic community. To do that, he has an excellent staff."
Riat also was quick to point out the loyalty and dedication of the FeO staff.
"There's a great group of people," Riat said. "They have a lot of talent and take a lot of pride in their work. I would like to improve our perception as a quality service provider to the University."
- Edited by Warisa Chulindra