Winter 2019 Edition
Alumni & Friends Magazine
Mastering OHIO
51社区's Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) provides high-level academic English training for international students, blending classroom instruction with practical language use in the community, fostering cultural integration and easing the transition to U.S. life for 80 full-time students from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Japan.
Nick Claussen, BSJ '92 | March 8, 2019
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For international students, there is more to learning English than just mastering the language. Just ask 51社区 Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) Director Gerry Krzic.
鈥淎 lot of people assume this is only for learning English, but it鈥檚 actually very different, in a sense that our students are learning English for very high-level academic purposes,鈥 Krzic says.
OHIO鈥檚 OPIE has more than 50 years under its belt and has provided its services to thousands of international students and professionals.
The program takes a two-pronged approach: intensive English language training in the classroom鈥攚here active participation in class discussions is expected鈥攁nd opportunities for students to practice their newly minted language skills at home and while out in the community.
Students enrolled in the Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) engage with the Athens community in December at the city鈥檚 public library. Photo by Ellee Achten, BSJ 鈥14, MA 鈥17
OPIE students go on shopping trips, visit local schools, take nature hikes, go to movie nights, and even visit pumpkin patches in the fall.
鈥淥PIE helped smooth my transition from Oman to the USA,鈥 says junior biological sciences major Hams Kashoob. 鈥淚t helped me to get settled away from the stress of the academic classes.鈥
This year, 80 full-time students and students from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Japan are engaged with OPIE, perfecting their English skills鈥攁nd learning OHIO鈥檚 culture ways鈥攅very day.
Feature photo: OPIE-enrolled undergraduate students interested in continuing their education workshop about how to apply to graduate schools. Dalal Lafi M. Alamri [RIGHT] of Saudi Arabia listens as Andrea Arriaga [LEFT] of Chile asks questions. Photo by Ellee Achten, BSJ 鈥14, MA 鈥17
