Japanese Students Complete Unique Program at Alamo Community Colleges

A group of 80 students from the Tohoku Foreign Language College in Sendai, Japan will participate in a “graduation” ceremony tonight at the Watson Fine Arts Theater at St. Philip’s College. The students have completed a two-week program of study that included intensive English as a Second Language classes and exposure to American and local culture and customs. The Alamo Colleges are the only higher education institution in the country chosen to participate in this program.

 During their stay here, the students lived with 49 host families, who have helped them get an up-close look at American life and gave them more opportunities to practice their language skills. The students were divided into two groups: one at San Antonio College where the program included visits to local cultural landmarks such as the missions, the Alamo, the McNay Art Museum, the Riverwalk and the Institute of Texan Cultures; and the St. Philip’s College group, which focused on the local hospitality industry with behind-the-scenes looks at operations at the Alamodome, the Convention Center and leading local hotels. The St. Philip’s College students’ goal is to work in the Japanese hospitality industry.

 According to Mark Hagen, coordinator of the program for the district’s International Programs office, “Both the students and the Tohoku Foreign Language Institute have been very pleased with the program, and some of the students may return to take a semester or more of classes at The Alamo Colleges in the future.” Added Hagen, “The success of this effort will have a positive effect on our efforts to recruit other international students for similar programs at our colleges.”

 The Alamo Colleges consist of five colleges serving the Bexar County area: Palo Alto College, St. Philip’s College, San Antonio College, Northeast Lakeview College and Northwest Vista College. Our high quality and low costs provide exceptional value to our students and alumni, who are major contributors to the economy and culture of our community. For more information, visit our website at www.accd.edu .