Veteran ESL Professor Provides Glimpse into USU's Multicultural Classrooms

Glenda Cole, a 37-year teaching veteran at Utah State University’s Intensive English Language Institute, provides a rare glimpse into the communication, and miscommunication, that can occur in multicultural classrooms during Kiger Hour May 19. Her address “ESL Professor as Grammarian and Ambassador” also highlights the various roles instructors of English as a Second Language courses must play to the university’s international students.

“An ESL professor represents the department, the college, the university, the state and the United States of America the first day he or she walks into the multicultural ESL classroom,” Cole said.

ESL instructors must not only recognize the importance of their role as an ambassador, but as an educator. The student population is often comprised of individuals from as many as five to 12 countries, and with as many different cultural learning styles, cultural communication styles and personal learning and communication styles, she said.

The IELI program is designed to help international students, teaching assistants and visiting scholars acquire the language and cultural skills needed to be successful in USU classrooms. Cole, an associate professor in the program, argues that faculty must create a classroom environment that can adapt to and support these differences.

She will deliver her talk at Kiger Hour, a social and intellectual program presented by Utah State University and sponsored by the College of Humanities and Social Sciences and the Caine College of the Arts.

Over the course of the past three decades, Cole has held multiple administrative positions as assistant director and director of IELI, in addition to serving on the Faculty Senate and on the Women’s Center Advisory Board. She researches international women’s issues, cultural issues related to teaching English as a Second Language and diversity in communication behaviors among international students. Cole has traveled abroad to introduce the IELI program to several colleges in Korea and Japan and taught teacher-training workshops in China. She will retire in June.

“I enjoy the students so much and have learned about their countries and their dreams and have been so impressed with their accomplishments,” Cole said. “I have always wanted to know more about people from around the world and to compare our similarities and differences for the purpose of better understanding among peoples.”

To learn more about Cole and the methodology for teaching ESL courses, attend her talk at Kiger Hour Thursday, May 19, from 5:15 to 7 p.m. at Hamilton’s Steak and Seafood, 2427 N. Main St., Logan. A buffet with appetizers, desserts and soft drinks, iced tea or coffee is available. Cost is $6.95 per person (plus tax and gratuity) and billed on an individual basis. Guests can also order from the menu, and a cash bar is available.

For planning purposes, please RSVP to Natalie Archibald Smoot in the college office, 435-797-2796, or email, natalie.archibald@usu.edu.

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Writer: Kristen Munson, (435) 797-0267, kristen.munson@usu.edu

Contact: Natalie Smoot, (435) 797-2796, natalie.archibald@usu.edu