The 4C program will begin their 12th year of connecting students who share a passion for learning foreign language this week.
The 4C program, which stands for Cross Cultural Conversation Connection, was created by the English as a Second Language department and designed to connect students who speak a foreign language. The 4C program groups and pairs international students with American students who speak, or are studying, a common language so they can learn to use the language more comfortably.
Graduate student, Garvice Brannon, is the coordinator of the 4C program and an administrative assistant in the ESL department. Brannon said the program isn’t only designed to help students who are studying a foreign language, but also to help international students feel more comfortable speaking English. The 4C program is especially helpful to students who speak English as a second language.
“[Students] come here from another country and can have an American friend to explain things to them and help them adjust,” Brannon said.
Ann-Gee Lee, the former 4C Program coordinator, said the program represents all ages and is open to all members of the Bowling Green community. Those interested in the program can attend the Kickoff Party or pick up an application outside of the ESL office located at 218 East Hall. Applicants are questioned about their preference of age, gender and language of a partner but more importantly what they want to talk about.
Senior Jonathan Moczadlo, a Spanish and International Studies double major, has been a member of the 4C program since the spring of his sophomore year. He belongs to a Spanish-speaking group made up of himself, Lee and two other Venezuelan graduate students. Moczadlo said the program has helped him a lot with his Spanish.
Many students find it intimidating to speak up in foreign language classes but in language groups coordinated through the 4C program students can speak comfortably without worrying about being judged.
“If there is a word I don’t know in Spanish, all I have to do is ask my partner,” Moczadlo said.
The languages in highest demand among American students who are members of the program are French, Spanish and German – the languages most offered in U.S. high schools. However, a majority of international students who join the program speak Chinese and Arabic. The program sometimes finds it difficult to pair partners because very few American students prefer Arabic-speaking partners.
“If you’re interested in learning Chinese or Arabic this is an excellent opportunity,” said Noah Schmidt, ESL Administrative Assistant.
All students who are interested in connecting with international students are encouraged to apply but Schmidt said the program is especially opportunistic for some majors.
“It offers a good market for business majors because they can make good connections with students who are fairly affluent in their home country when they go back,” he said.
The kickoff party will be this Friday from 6-8 p.m. The location of the party has yet to be announced, but students interested in the program are encouraged to apply beforehand. After the Kickoff party, partners are left uncoordinated by the program and are expected to meet on their own accord. Brannon and Lee said they don’t really follow up on partners, it is really just up to them to get what they want out of the program.
