A.C.E. /STEP-EIKEN sign Memorandum of Understanding with The American Association of State Colleges and Universities
On December 11, 2011, A.C.E. /STEP-EIKEN signed a Memorandum of Understanding with The American Association of State Colleges and Universities (AASCU), a non-profit, association of 400 accredited public colleges, universities and systems of public higher education throughout the USA. The MOU agrees “to work together to assist member academic institutions in U.S. and Japan to develop cooperative programs that will be mutually beneficial to Japanese higher education institutions and American AASCU member colleges and universities.”
A Grand Beginning for the New Year as A.C.E. Opens at URI
A.C.E. celebrated the opening of the new A.C.E. Language Institute at the University of Rhode Island on January 19, 2012, just days before the celebration of the Lunar New Year on January 23. This holiday marks the upcoming year of the Dragon in many Eastern cultures – a symbol of good fortune and power. A.C.E. wishes all of our institutes and partners a fortuitous and productive year ahead. Congratulations to all those who helped make the launch of A.C.E. at URI possible.
Former WLCA student Arman Kehlhofer wins year abroad in Trabzon, Turkey
A.C.E. World Language & Culture Ambassadors (WLCA), formerly World Language Programs, recently received a touching email from the father of a former WLCA student saying, “We appreciate the work A.C.E. does in getting young people interested in learning languages and learning about different cultures!”
In 2009, his son Arman Kehlhofer attended WLCA’s STARTALK summer camp on Farsi language and Persian culture, an experience Arman says “really helped him with his Farsi skills.” Since then, Arman has continued down a path of international exploration and education. While continuing his Farsi studies, Arman has also taken on Turkish, Spanish, and German. Most recently, he was awarded a NSLI-Y Scholarship from the U.S. State Department for a year-long immersion program abroad in Trabzon, Turkey during the 2011-2012 academic year. When he returns, Arman plans to attend the University of Washington to pursue his studies in Linguistics and Near Eastern Languages and Cultures, also hoping to add Arabic to the mix. (more…)
Commencement of the Carols!
By: Special Correspondent Serafima Healy, age 12, grade 7 (daughter of Tim Healy, Assistant Director at A.C.E. Language Institute at SPU)
The holiday festivities have begun at A.C.E., introduced with a lively performance of A Christmas Carol by the ACT Theater. This annual trip to the ACT is a great way to start the season, and for me the ‘official’ start of Christmas. Not only is this a fun group activity that anyone can enjoy, but it really brings to life the great English literature and language of Charles Dickens. (more…)
A.C.E. Shares Thanksgiving Potluck at SPU
By Kate Spoor, Program Coordinator - A.C.E. students, A.C.E./SPU Culture Partners, and the First Free Methodist Church hosted an International Potluck Event on Tuesday, November 15, 2011, on the SPU campus.
Over 50 members from the church, A.C.E. staff, teachers, and students attended and the event was a wonderful success! A.C.E. students brought food from all over the world – including Japanese Mochi, Korean Bulgogi , and Arabic coffee, dates, and kapsa. Church members prepared the turkey and potatoes while the A.C.E. staff provided stuffing, green bean casseroles, corn muffins, and scones. SPU Culture Partners brought an array of traditional plates for Thanksgiving. Pumpkin pies, stuffing, cranberries, and rolls graced our colorfully decorated tables. (more…)
