Lexia study abroad program sends NU student to China

By Martha Petersante
Norwich Guidon Staff Writer

It is the student scholars' dream to travel abroad and immerse themselves in another country's culture. Lexia International is a company that believes in making those dreams come true, according to their website, (http://www.lexiaintl.org/about.cfm).

"To participate in the layers of culture in another place means to explore new levels of identification, to learn new ways of seeing and thinking and, ultimately, to create new bounds of understanding," according to the website. "Together, Lexia and study abroad programs provide the foundation for a rigorous exploration of culture, identity, and experience across the world."

Lexia offers students a variety of places to explore. A student can travel to Berlin, Germany, Budapest, Hungary or even Havana, Cuba.

"We have one student that is preparing to leave in the spring semester, and that student is working with Lexia to go to China," said Jenifer Atwood Hasenfus, the International Student Advisor for Norwich University.

Jeff Mitchell, 20, of Sanford, Maine, a sophomore International Studies major, decided to go to China because he was taking a Chinese language class.

"I talked to my advisor about going to China, and he was incredibly supportive," said Mitchell. "I contacted Jenifer Hasenfus, who recommended me to the Lexia program."

According to Mitchell, Lexia isn't the only study abroad program, but it is one of the better ones.

"World Link, the program that I had been looking at originally, was not accredited through Norwich University, and the credits most likely didn't transfer," said Mitchell. "It was not a thorough program."

With the Lexia program Mitchell will be attending, he is going to get a year's worth of credits.

"I talked about the program with Ned Quigley, one of the program's directors, and it's a years worth of credits, which are transferable to Norwich," said Mitchell. "I have gotten accepted into the program. I just need to get my VISA from China."

"Lexia offers a semester abroad, and it has some intensive language programs," said Hasenfus. "For example, if a student were to go to Spain, that student would have several weeks of language classes and regular classes. Each country is a little bit different."

A student will have an orientation for the first week, intensive language courses from the first week through the tenth week, a civilization seminar for that same period, a research methods seminar from the fifth through the tenth week, and a field research project from the tenth through the final fifteenth week. Also during that time, a student could have an internship, and the student will receive an evaluation during the final fifteenth week, according to the website.

"I will be in China for a year, which is two semesters and a summer," said Mitchell.

According to Mitchell, during his first semester he will have to face "intensive language classes" and "cultural studies and an independent field research project."

"The independent field research project is where most of credits lie," said Mitchell. "A topic and thesis is picked, and then I would go out into the community and research this topic, prepare a presentation, and present it to the Lexia Educational Board."

During the summer Mitchell will face an "incredibly rigorous" Chinese language class, which he will use to "buff up" on his language skills, according to Mitchell.

Lexia offers a choice of living conditions for the student.

"The student can live in a dorm similar to the dorms here on campus or with a family," said Hasenfus. "Depending on the size of the university, overseas it may be more family style dorm, and the student may not be with or without another American."

According to Mitchell, he is unsure as to his living conditions right now.

"In China, you cannot live in someone's home if you are a foreigner. The program does not do home stays; however, I may be staying in a single or double apartment," said Mitchell. "I am shooting for the apartment."

According to Mitchell, he would have to cover the cost of the apartment, which is included in the tuition, room and board costs of the program.

"It actually works out to be a lot less than attending Norwich University for a year," said Mitchell.

Lexia is "conscious" of the student not falling behind in their studies, stated Hasenfus.

"They want to make sure that your credits are transferable; that is why a company like Lexia is important. They do basic work; they make sure that the class you would take overseas meets the standards of Norwich."

In order for a student to enroll in this program, they must have a grade point average (GPA) of a B (3.0) or higher within their selected field of study. The application deadline for the spring semester is November 15th, for the summer session April 15th, for the fall semester June 15th, and for the academic year June 15th.

There is financial aid available for those students who desire it. The program cost differs from location to location. For example, according to the website, the fee for a semester in Rome, Italy, is $10,850 dollars, and the cost for a year in Cape Town, South Africa, is $19,850 dollars.

Overall, study abroad for a student "should not be an excessive expenditure for the student. Most of the student's federal financial aid goes with the student," according to Hasenfus.

"Your PEL grants and other grants transfer; however, Norwich financial aid does not transfer," said Hasenfus.

"The program fees do not include travel expenses from the student's home to the program site, local transportation, food (some programs do include partial board), pre-program immunizations, books, personal expenses (such as passport or visa fees), additional airline fees due to alteration of plans after arrangements have been made, or independent travel while abroad," stated the website.

"If you are in Army ROTC, the department is very pro-study abroad," said Hasenfus. "A commissioned officer with a semester abroad is something that you want and is a very marketable thing."

The Army is willing to work out programs with the finances, according to Hasenfus.

"They will not pay for your transportation there and back, and a student must keep up with their ROTC training," said Hasenfus. Hasenfus can work out programs so a student may "participate in a Lexia program, and still have the federal financial aid, and Army ROTC financial aid." Programs can be worked out separately with Air Force ROTC, Navy ROTC and Marine Corps ROTC, according to Hasenfus.

"I didn't have to work out any special deal with the Marine Corps ROTC," said Mitchell. "They are really open about this program. PLC works very well with this study abroad program, and all I need is to stay in shape and maintain a certain GPA while I am in China."

According to Mitchell, he is "hoping" to go to the Chinese Military Academy as a student ambassador from Norwich.

"An eminent goal of this experience is to get an exchange going with the Chinese Military Academy in the near future," said Mitchell.

Which ROTC a student is in should not be a restriction to whether the student studies abroad or not, stated Hasenfus.

"Lexia is the most prominent study abroad program on the Norwich campus," said Hasenfus. "It spent the most time here, and their representative [was] a former member of the faulty here when we had the Russian School. Lexia and Norwich have a history."

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