ESU to provide elementary students with cultural experience

As it becomes increasingly important to know the world around us and even more important to understand the cultures that it is comprised of, the need to teach students about these cultures begins at a younger and younger age.  Emporia State University’s Office of International Education is sponsoring an event to promote this learning.

On Thursday, April 26, area elementary school students will be invited to attend a multicultural event in Webb Lecture Hall on the ESU campus.

“The purpose of the event is to bring elementary school children from Emporia to campus so they may learn about other countries from around the world, interact with our international students and discover the ways of life in Kansas, as well as the United States, are similar to, as well as different from life in Europe, Asia, the Middle East, Africa, and Central and South America,” Study Abroad Coordinator Phil Coleman-Hull said.

Students from over 40 countries attend ESU, and it is hoped to have most of those countries represented.  International students will have country-specific tables and displays, as well as carry their passports.  Some topical tables will also be set up such as “Sports around the World,” “Currency” and “Languages”.  There will also be some demonstrations that the elementary students will be able to watch such as martial arts and traditional dances from around the world.  They will also be able to ask questions of international students regarding what life is like in their home country as well as gain understanding of food, geography, language, entertainment and education.  Students will be able to reinforce what they read and discuss in classes or at home with visual and tactile teaching aids.

“Meeting people from other countries begins the process of breaking down cultural barriers, where another country and people don't seem so ‘foreign.’  Hopefully this becomes an occasion where impressions students may receive of persons from other countries (or the countries themselves) in the news are challenged,” Coleman-Hull said.

About 1,200 kindergarten through fourth grade students from Village, Riverside, Logan and William Allen White elementary schools are expected throughout the day, with the first group participating from 8:45-11:30, and the second from 1:00-3:30.

Last Updated July 2, 2007>