Faculty of International Economics Administration: “English as an International Language” Program 4th ACTIVITIES SUMMARY

I. STUDENT EXCHANGE REPORT

Yesterdays (19/06/2014), the EIL program ran the field trip to The American Center (AC) which located at a commercial building of District 1, Ho Chi Minh City. The mission of field trip is involving the section which is Activities in English - Conversation Hour with U.S. Students - Duke University with specific details is:

Time: Wednesday, June 18, 5:00 p.m.

Venue: 8th Floor, Diamond Plaza, 34 Le Duan Blvd., District 1, HCMC

Speaker: Students from Duke University

Students from Duke University will share stories about their learning experience, their hometown and American culture and tradition.

II. DEPARTURE/ARRIVAL IN THE AMERICAN CENTER

With the enthusiasm and strong supports from the Rector of Lac Hong University and Deans of Faculty, business students and few Vietnam studies students begin the trip to Ho Chi Minh City on 15:30 and arrived on time at the Consulate General of The United States. After hours, which for entertaining and enjoy the dynamic activities hold by Duke students, the group of Lac Hong University came back Bien Hoa City at around 20:45.              

III. OBSERVATIONS

Because The American Center is classified as a diplomatic residence, hence the entered procedures is a very strict security checking. Therefore, the students had to leave all electronic assistive devices at the entrance.

In additions, due to the face that there is a large number of attendants which from vary range of schools and other organizations, the administrators of AC Team have to divide attendants into several groups and cycling the group’s members into numerous events such as: learning the Y.C.M.A. dance, playing mini-games likes “2 trues and 1 lie”, “have ever never”, etc. and culture of North Carolina where Duke University located.                  

IV. EXPERIENCES

In order to make friends, you must withdraw the initiative to gather people. Because of the American value of independence, Americans will not constantly be looking out for you, or making sure that you are getting acquainted with other masses. They assume you are taking charge of yourself unless you tell them otherwise. If you don't ask for help, Americans will assume you don't require anything. Then remember—ask for assistance when you require it!

V. RECOMMENDATIONS

Adverse to the stereotype of independence and individuality, most Americans are conformists and gain their identity by belonging to groups. You may discover that many students join groups in order to both get acquainted with others and in order to fulfill a need to belong. Thus, find a group or groups when you are linking the events like those!

VI. ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

EIL program would like to express our deepest gratitude to People's Teacher Dr. Do Huu Tai - Rector, Chairman of the Trustees Board of Lac Hong University, for his support and guidance.

Our sincere appreciation is extended to Dr. Nguyen Van Tan – Dean of Faculty and Ms. Nguyen Thi Lan Thanh – Deputy Dean of Faculty for their invaluable support and advice on the field trip preparation.