The University will welcome approximately 2,000 high school students from Oregon and Washington on Friday when the Yamada Language Center kicks off the 24th Foreign Language and International Studies Day.
FLIS Day is the University’s annual showcase of international programs. High school students from all over the Northwest choose from the 100 different presentations and events offered. Events range from doing origami to learning German hip-hop. The presentations and events are intended to promote and celebrate foreign languages and the study of other cultures.
Foreign Language and International Studies Day Coordinator Julia Bossers said FLIS is a celebration of cultural diversity and an important event that helps promote understanding for all those involved.
Presentations are delivered by members of the University faculty, graduate teaching fellows, international students and others who are interested in diversity, harmony and international understanding.
FLIS 2001 offered activities focusing on languages taught at the University, including Spanish, German, Russian, Finnish and Indonesian. Bulgarian folk dancing, Swahili language lessons and Chinese calligraphy were some highlights of FLIS 2001.
The University Alumni Association offers a $1,000 scholarship to the FLIS attendee who best answers a short essay question.
Students from participating high schools were invited to write a 500-word essay on why understanding and using foreign languages is important, based on their personal experience. The recipient of the scholarship must be a high school senior who will be attending the University in fall 2002. The scholarship winner will be announced Friday.
The Yamada Language Center only offers FLIS Day to high school students, but University students are invited to volunteer. Interested students should attend Thursday’s volunteer meeting from 5 to 6 p.m. in the center, 119 Pacific. For further information, please contact the center at 346-1538.
E-mail reporter Katie Ellis
at [email protected].