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48 °F Forecast | Road Cams Thursday, February 26, 2004 Today's News | Classifieds | Autos | Homes | Jobs | Tempo | Health | Community | Home Delivery SECTIONS Home Page Local News Sports Business Obituaries Life Opinion - Politics AP News Weather Classified Archives Site Map EXTRA Newspaper in Education Personals Movie Times TV Times E The People CLASSIFIEDS Find a Car Find a Home Find a Job Find a Rental Place an ad eSouthernOregon Automotive Communities Entertainment Publications Recreation Calendar CUSTOMER SERVICE Frequent Questions Advertising Information Home Delivery Employment Contact Us Media Kit Network Affiliate Email Story to a Friend February 6, 2004 English school re-established on SOU campus ELS Language Centers step in after the dissolution of the American Language Academy at SOU By BILL CHOY Mail Tribune ASHLAND — An English language school for international students has been re-established at Southern Oregon University, thanks to an agreement with ELS Language Centers. ELS, which is affiliated with the Berliz language programs, began operation the first of January. It replaces the American Language Academy, which folded nationwide in November because of declining enrollment. Faculty of the academy, which had been at SOU since 1981, faced the prospect of telling its nearly 40 students from around the world that the school would shut down. Faculty and staff decided to finish the term working without pay to ensure the students — the vast majority of whom transfer to SOU after completing the program — would be able to finish. Amy Lepon, who has been part of an English language program at SOU since its inception, said enrollment has decreased here and at other language institutes nationwide since the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. In Ashland, enrollment had decreased from an average of 60 students to about 40. Advertisement "It was affected by 9/11, that’s definitely a key," Lepon said. "It affected people’s desire to come to the states, and many nations were looked on with suspicion and those students couldn’t get visas." Before 9/11, the academy averaged five to 12 Middle Eastern students each year. Now there are none. Lepon said though the language academy was not affiliated with SOU, the university’s commitment to maintaining the program on its campus solidified its future. "SOU had to decide if they wanted an English language program or not, and they decided right away they wanted it," she said. The university worked with the program’s administrators to quickly find another English language institute and received interest from ELS. "We feel it adds to the breadth and depth of education on campus," said Craig Morris, director of business services for SOU. "We’re delighted we have a company (ELS) that is highly respected in the international community that will continue the program." Student Yuko Konishi, 19, of Japan, said she was concerned when she heard the language academy had gone out business. She said she appreciated her teachers’ commitment to their students when they volunteered to finish the term. "I felt their love for teaching," she said. "I didn’t know before how much they loved to teach. I really appreciate that." Duygu Turhan, 18, of Turkey, came to the program in September only knowing how to say her name in English. Today, she can have a conversation in English. Turhan plans to go back to her country after graduating from college to be an engineer. "I like the teachers," she said. "They’re really helpful. When you ask them something they always help you." Teacher Ronda Sheffield said the staff felt it was vital not to leave the students hanging. "These students are far away from home and their lives would have been disturbed if we closed," she said. "We decided remaining open was the right thing to do." The English language program helps SOU and the community in a number of ways, Lepon said. This includes money the students bring to stay in apartments or SOU residence halls, and tuition they give to the school once they transfer. They also bring a diverse cultural background to the school and area, which helps other students and community members understand different cultures and foster new friendships. "These students make lots of friends with the (SOU) students," Sheffield said. "They’re good ambassadors." With a new, stable language program in place, Lepon hopes to attract more international students back to Ashland. ELS language centers were founded in 1961 and have more than 30 locations in the United States and the United Kingdom. Bill Choy is a reporter for the Mail Tribune and the Ashland Daily Tidings. Reach him at 482-3456. 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