American Language and Culture (ALC) Program

The American Language and Culture (ALC) Program is an international exchange program bringing university students from Japan, Taiwan and Korea to Stanford since 1977. For 2008, we will have ALC Session 1 which will bring students from National Taiwan, Seoul National, Keio, and Waseda Universities, and ALC Session 2, which will have students from National Taiwan, National Cheng Chi, National Chiao Tung, National Tsing Hua, Keio, Waseda, Hitotsubashi Universities, and Kobe College. ALC1 will be held from July 27 till August 27 and ALC2 will be from August 3 till September 3, 2008.

ALC is offered by VIA, a nonprofit organization based at Stanford University that has promoted US-Asia international education and exchange for over 40 years. The program works in conjunction with the Stanford Language Center where the Asian students will be investigating social issues through English language classes.

Fellows welcome Asian students at SF Airport

Claude Buss Fellowship

VIA offers the Claude Buss Fellowship to Stanford students to provide them the unique opportunity to help lead the ALC program and host the students from Asia. Working in teams of seven or eight, Stanford students design an American culture program that explores different aspects of contemporary society through educational panels, volunteer opportunities and site visits.

Fellows explore SF as part of training

Pre-program Training

Claude Buss Fellows participate in cross-cultural and organizational training which will be provided a week before the program begins (July 20 - July 26 for ALC1 and July 27 - August 2 for ALC2). Fellows will develop cross-cultural skills, learn about individual Asian students, increase knowledge of Asia, and gain leadership, facilitation and team-building skills. Fellows will also plan several of the program's educational and service-learning activities.

Fellow taking host group to SF

Host Groups

You will be responsible for one host group consisting of 9-11 students. It will be the Fellows' job to make sure that the Asian students are comfortable, are making friends with each other, and are adjusting to American culture. This will also give Fellows an opportunity to spend informal time with the students and develop enduring friendships.

Fellow and a Japanese student volunteering for Sunday Friends

Fellow Projects and Presentations

Drawing from your personal strengths and interests, Fellows will direct at least two educational and/or recreational activities each week with other team-members. Previous educational activities have included a beach clean-up project, volunteering at soup kitchens, an LGBTQ panel, visits to Silicon Valley companies. Recreational activities have included excursions to San Francisco, bicycle campus tours, mini-olympics, talent shows, etc.

The Fellows will also do a presentation on some aspect of the American culture for the Asian students. Previous presentation topics have included race relations, environmental issues, education, gender issues, volunteerism, family life, and gay/lesbian issues.

Fellows will also organize evening study halls for the Asian students to help with the English class assignments.

Fellows' visit to Taipei

Fellows' visit to Tokyo

Asia Trip

All Claude Buss Fellows visit Asia after the program to get first-hand experience learning about the cultures in Asia and to reconnect with program participants. The Fellows enjoy a cultural itinerary designed by the ALC participants.

The timing of the trip depends on the schedule of the Fellows but we recommend that the Fellows travel together. A $1000 stipend is provided to be used for the trip.

Compensation

• Room and board for five weeks during summer program and reimbursement of program-related expenses.
• $1000 towards airfare for the Asia Trip

Timeline

April 24, 2008	Application deadline
April 25 - 28, 2008	Interviews
May - July, 2008	Program preparation
July 20 - July 26, 2008	Host training for ALC1
July 27 - August 2, 2008	Host training for ALC2
July 27 - August 27, 2008	ALC1 Program including a 4-day trip to Yosemite at the end
August 3- September 3, 2008	ALC2 Program including a 4-day trip to Yosemite at the end
Date to be determined by Fellows	Asia Trip

Application

• Application and reference forms are to be turned in to the VIA office (Room 101 of Galvez Module, near Meyer Library) by April 24, 2008
• Contact Kazutoh Ishida (Senior Stanford Programs Director) by email (kazutoh@viaprograms.org) or by phone (650-723-3229) for any questions.