NWC News Desk

Summer talkin' opportunities happening at Northwest

Posted May 5, 2009
By

POWELL, Wyo. - Community volunteers are needed this summer by Northwest College to spend a little time each week talking with teachers from Korea.

The Koreans, who teach elementary-through-high-school grades, are enrolled in NWC classes for nine months as part of an English improvement project originated by Eleutian Technology.

"The best way to improve English speaking skills," Harriet Bloom-Wilson, NWC's director of international academic programs, said, "is to engage in conversation. These people are eager to learn about Powell and its people. They're also willing to teach their conversation partners a little of the Korean language if local folk are interested."

Bloom-Wilson said the topics up for discussion depend on the conversation partners. Sports, politics, family, crafts, movies are all fair game. Because conversation partners are volunteers, there are no obligatory schedules or minimum time limits. There's also no participation fee or remuneration.

"The students in this group of Korean teachers are spending such a long time away from home and their families," Bloom-Wilson said. "Just an hour of conversation a week about everyday life might make a big difference to them, and who knows, maybe to their American conversation partner as well."     

To learn more, e-mail Harriet Bloom-Wilson or call (307) 754-6429.