La Voz

The Cross-Cultural Partners program needs more fluent English speakers to pair with English as a Second Language students, said the program's co-coordinator, Gloria Heistein.

Though applications were officially due Jan. 30, CCP is still accepting applications from non- ESL students.

All students, regardless of first language, are encouraged to apply.

This quarter the program needs at least 50 more non-ESL students to have a partner for every ESL student, said Heistein. The program pairs students based on age, gender, and availability. The two then agree to meet at least five times during the quarter.

In the past, partners have gone shopping, played pool, watched movies, and gone out to eat. We encourage them to do fun things, said Heistein.

The program hosts two get-togethers each quarter, for students to become acquainted and to have a good time.

Anne Ngo, a partner in the program, said the best part was that she has been paired with students from four or five different countries.

Heistein said many Asian-American students are very impressed with the independence of American students, who often live on their own and pay for their own education, she said. Since being founded in 2000, Cross-Cultural Partners has grown over 600 percent to 450 students last quarter. There are more ESL students who have applied than non-ESL students this quarter, as is typical of most quarters.

To advertise the program, Heistein is visiting classrooms to encourage students to join. Oftentimes, she visits twice because students forget to submit their applications.

However, she spends so many hours running the program and developing it that she is unable to maintain a broad outreach program.

Nonetheless, she hopes her efforts will help break down stereotypes and contribute to a more tolerant society.



This article appears in the Feb. 6, 2006 print edition of La Voz.

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