Lake Wales – On July 22 Warner Southern College welcomed 40 students and four teachers from Tamagawa Seigakuin, a junior senior Church of God high school for girls in Tokyo, Japan, to participate in the Tamasei English Program. The Tamasei program is offered for three weeks each summer and provides a faith-based cultural and educational experience for sophomore students.
Dr. James Moyer, Chair of the Communication Arts Department and program director said, “Tamasei provides a unique opportunity for the mission field to come to us. The Japanese people place a high premium on education and cultural and international experience. More than 120 students compete each year to participate. This is the 18th year that we have offered this program.”
While on campus the students will attend classes, practice conversational English, participate in Chapel services and experience a birthday party, Christmas and Easter events. Cultural tours are scheduled for them to visit Bok Tower Gardens, Kennedy Space Center, Islands of Adventure and EPCOT at Disney World. Shopping excursions will include Wal Mart and Eagle Ridge Mall.
Journaling is an important component of the Tamasei students’ learning experience. Each student is required to keep a daily journal to record her experiences in words and pictures and what she finds different from her own culture. The journals are turned in at the end of the program.
While housing for the students is provided in the college residence halls, two weekends are spent off campus with a host family. “The home stay provides a look at daily American life. We are fortunate to have host families who open their homes to the students each summer,” Dr. Moyer said.
The Council of Christian Colleges and Universities (CCCU) has recognized Warner Southern’s Tamasei Program for Best Practice on Internationalization in “efforts to promote and foster cross-cultural awareness on institutional campuses.”
Warner Southern, a Christian liberal arts college, is celebrating its 40th anniversary in 2008. The campus is located at 13895 Hwy 27, Lake Wales, Florida.
To learn more about the Tamasei English Program, call Dr. James Moyer at Warner Southern College at (863) 638-7267. The college Web site address is www.warner.edu.