VCU hosts first American Language and Civilization Workshops

By Malorie Burkett

Virginia Commonwealth University's School of World Studies recently hosted 50 visiting English teachers from France in two workshops on American language and civilization.

This is the first time VCU hosted the program, which brought 20 middle school and 30 high school teachers selected by the French Ministry of Education in contact with faculty experts in the fields of education, American literature, American history, American music, American national and local politics, women's studies, African American studies and business. Participants came from all over France as well as the islands of La Réunion and Corsica.

The 13-day workshops overlapped, one from July 4-17 and the other from July 11-24, and were divided accordingly by middle school or high school.

"We have a wonderful combination of activities in this program because the teachers are getting a unique experience involving both language experts and first-rate scholars in every field," said Patricia Cummins, Ph.D., professor of French and international studies and director of the workshops. "In addition to the rich cultural heritage of Richmond, Williamsburg and Washington, D.C., we have taken advantage of special opportunities in our urban surroundings."

The purpose of the workshops was to expose the teachers to various facets of American culture so they could incorporate their experiences into their lessons back home. Cummins also said the program was designed to expose the participants to American life and its people, including seeing a Richmond Braves baseball game and visits to shopping malls.

"Many of the teachers commented on how warm and welcoming we made them feel," said Cummins. "We wanted them to come here and feel comfortable with us and see how wonderfully this country reacts toward French visitors."

The workshops included both classroom lessons and educational excursions to various sites such as a Civil War battlefield in northern Virginia, the National Gallery of Art in Washington, D.C., the Virginia Museum of Fine Art, Colonial Williamsburg, Jamestown, Yorktown and the Richmond Federal Reserve bank.

In addition, participants met with several local dignitaries, including J. Alfred Broaddus Jr., outgoing president of the Federal Reserve Bank of Richmond and a member of VCU's Board of Visitors; Glenn Davis, CEO of BranCore Technologies; and James Dunn, president of the Greater Richmond Chamber of Commerce.

During their stay, the participants stayed in VCU's Gladding Residence Center apartments. They also dined at Hibbs Dining Center for breakfast and dinner, and lunch usually was served in the VCU Student Commons' Richmond Salons.

Cummins said the program received excellent feedback, and she already is in the process of preparing the proposal for next year's workshops. For more information on the summer workshops, visit the School of World Studies' web site at www.has.vcu.edu/wld/index.html.