Second Group of Students from Japan Come to Felician College to Study English and American Culture

Rutherford, NJ—Twenty-three college students from Japan will embark on a six-week intensive course in English language and American culture at Felician College as they prepare to graduate from universities in Japan and come to the United States to earn a second baccalaureate.  “It is common practice for students from Japan and other countries to earn one degree in their native country and then come to the U.S. to earn a second degree here,” says Jeff Sinding, Director of International Student Services at Felician College.  “By earning a degree in the United States, they increase their potential to land a good job in their native lands—it gives them the competitive edge,” he says.

The group of students aged 20-21 are the second group from Japan to enroll in Felician College’s English Language/American Culture program.  A beginner and intermediate course will be offered for the students depending on their skill level.  The intermediate students will be joined by two returning students who plan to continue their studies at Felician.  At the end of the six-week program, the students will take a standardized English competency test.  Towards this end, they will be in class six days a week, four hours per day from July 28-September 8.  But it’s not all lectures and homework, says Sinding, who notes that the class will incorporate field trips and activities to introduce the students to American culture.  Those activities include a trip to the Renaissance Festival and New York City where they will take part in a Circle Line Cruise of Ellis Island, the Statue of Liberty, and the Brooklyn Bridge.  They will also get a taste of American college life through evening activities organized by the various student and residence life groups on campus. 

The group of Japanese students coming to campus is just one of the many examples of Felician College’s international reach.  The college’s diverse student body includes students with native homelands of China, Korea, Ireland, Canada, Greece, Philippines, Albania, Columbia, Peru, Poland, Ukraine, Norway, India and Africa.