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An unprecedented, four-week intensive ESL program drew to a
close with the awarding of certificates to students on the afternoon of
Friday, July 31, 2004.
Sponsored by Dharma Realm Buddhist University (DRBU), the
session was conducted from July 5-31. A total of 33 participants met for
classes five hours a day, five days a week. Unique among other intensive
ESL programs in the nation, the classes were held on the beautiful
Buddhist campus, with classes separated by gender--men teachers teaching
eleven male students and women teachers teaching 22 female students.
Students from abroad and lay and left-home residents of CTTB attended the
program. CTTB residents who participated made great efforts to improve or
refine their English language skills, in addition to carrying out their
daily duties at the monastery.
Students had classes in conversation (which included
pronunciation), vocabulary, reading, and writing. There was also time
designated for individual tutoring, as well as a daily period of
self-paced instruction using audiovisual equipment in DRBU’s new computer
lab.
In the closing celebration, teachers expressed their great
satisfaction with the students’ hard work, good attendance, and patience
in enduring the hot summer weather. The students expressed their
appreciation to the teachers and program administrators. Two students sang
the song “Row, row, row your boat” changing some of the lyrics to include
“…Continue with your studies!” to encourage one another to continue their
English language study. [In the final program evaluation, some students
expressed the need for more than the three different levels that were
offered. All in all, the program was a success. Everyone hopes that they
can continue to take ESL classes in the fall, and that there will be an
intensive ESL session every summer.
This summer Dharma Realm Buddhist University offered a
four-week beginning Intensive Chinese Language Program designed for
students interested in both Chinese and Buddhism. Students attended five
hours of classes five days a week, including a daily tutorial. They
learned the equivalent of one semester of elementary Chinese and a total
of approximately 300 of the most common Chinese words. The program also
included a Chinese Calligraphy class once a week. All students were
encouraged to live at CTTB for the duration of the program so they could
practice Chinese with residents and participate in Buddhist ceremonies.
Lila Buckley was the guest teacher for the program. Lila
attended Instilling Goodness Girls School at CTTB from grade 1 through
grade 8. This May she graduated from Middlebury College, a world-famous
language school in Vermont, with BA degrees in Chinese and Anthropology.
“Lila was a key reason for the success of the program this year,” said
Sarah Babcock, the program organizer and one of the teachers. “Her grammar
explanations are excellent, and she is always creating interesting and
effective ways to help the students become familiar with new words and
phrases.”
DRBU is planning to offer another Chinese program next
summer. Dates and level have not yet been determined. Interested students
can write to DRBU Chinese Program, 4951 Bodhi Way, Ukiah, Ca. 95482. |
