Korean Students Complete English Language and Culture Immersion Program at Howard Community College

For the third year, 30 middle school students from South Korea visited Howard Community College (HCC) for two weeks in July to participate in an English language and American culture immersion program.

The students spent their whirlwind trip attending English lessons in the morning, and learning about Maryland and surrounding areas in the afternoon. Trips included touring monuments and museums in Washington, D.C., visiting Fort McHenry and attending an Orioles baseball game in Baltimore, taking private State House and Governor’s Mansion tours in Annapolis, and a thrilling trip to Hershey Park. The students also visited Ellicott City, where they were welcomed by Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at the Howard County Office Building. The visit was topped off with a tour of major sites in New York City.

Students explored academic science-driven activities such as biology, chemistry, and engineering in HCC’s Science, Engineering, and Technology (SET) building. On another occasion, the students engaged in the arts with a drum circle and stop motion animation activity in the Horowitz Visual and Performing Arts Center (HVPA) on campus.

“It’s a great program,” said Christopher Morphew, ELC Academic Support Coordinator. “Students improve their English abilities, gain insight into American culture, and expand their view of the world.”

HCC President Kate Hetherington signed an agreement with Naju City Mayor In Kyu Kang in 2016 to develop the cultural and educational exchange. Naju City is the hometown of Maryland First Lady Yumi Hogan. The students had the opportunity to meet the First Lady during their tour of the Governor’s Mansion.