High School Students, Teachers Comment on Language Immersion Day

Every semester, over 50 high school students visit The University of Scranton to experience Language Immersion Day. There they receive a campus tour, attend an interactive language class and take part in Language Center activities.
Every semester, over 50 high school students visit The University of Scranton to experience Language Immersion Day, shown. There they receive a campus tour, attend an interactive language class and take part in Language Center activities.
Every semester, over 50 high school students visit The University of Scranton to experience Language Immersion Day, shown. There they receive a campus tour, attend an interactive language class and take part in Language Center activities.

Every semester, over 50 high school students come to The University of Scranton to experience a language class through a Language Immersion Day. For some, this may encourage them to study one of the university’s 11 language offerings as they begin their undergraduate studies. For others, they may enjoy visiting the campus so much that they decide to attend The University of Scranton. Some students have majored in a language at the University because of their experience at a Language Immersion Day, where they take part in a campus tour, attend an interactive language class, participate in activities in the Language Center, and enjoy lunch in the cafeteria.

In the Language Learning Center, students participate in online language learning activities. They also take an interactive quiz to learn more about the language they are studying. According to McCae Dougher, current University of Scranton Spanish Secondary Education major and previous Spanish Immersion Day student, “The best part was visiting the Language Learning Center in O’Hara Hall. It was so fascinating to me that there was an entire lab dedicated to learning languages.”

Next, they attend an elementary language class, the highlight of the day, taught by a Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant or visiting instructor from another country. These classes are interactive so high school students can participate in activities with University students and practice their language skills. Then, they enjoy lunch in the cafeteria and tour the University.

Stephanie Namlick, a Spanish teacher from Valley View High School, shared that the Spanish 101 class with Argentinian Fulbright Language Teaching Assistant Magalí Ferrer was her students’ favorite part of the day. She said, “They felt comfortable during the class and were engaged and interested in the content and the instructor.”

Ms. Spencer from MMI Prep shared that her students had a similar experience with Chiang Yun in her Chinese 101 class. “The Chinese teacher was wonderful. She was kind enough to allow our students to participate in her lessons, and her students and our students were very engaged in the activities she set up for the lesson. The experience is invaluable.”

For one student, attending a Spanish Immersion Day was the pivotal moment in deciding where she would study. Dougher shares that she knew she wanted to be a Spanish teacher since she was in middle school, but she was not sure where she wanted to attend college. When her high school Spanish department came to The University of Scranton for a Spanish Immersion Day, her time in the Language Learning Center convinced her that Scranton was the choice for her. Thanks to the Immersion Day, McCae says, “I knew that Scranton was the right choice for me!”

Back to Top