Opportunities at Saint Martin’s open doors to cultural
understanding
SMU seeking host families and cultural ambassadors
April 10, 2008
Lacey, Washington — Saint Martin’s University is currently offering
the following opportunities to local community members who are
interested in broadening their cultural horizons:
Cultural ambassadors
Saint Martin’s University is seeking high school and college students
to work as cultural ambassadors for the Office of International Programs
and Development. Cultural ambassadors earn $8–10 per hour or community
service hours assisting foreign exchange students who participate in the
school’s summer programs. For information, contact Mary White, assistant
director – community liaison of international programs and development,
at 360-438-4304 or mwhite@stmartin.edu.
Host families
Saint Martin’s University is seeking families to participate in the
International Host Family Program this summer. Host families open their
homes to international students, introducing their guests to American
culture and family life. Both weekend and week-long home stay
opportunities are available.
The University’s Office of International Programs and Development
welcomes students from many different countries, including China, Japan,
Taiwan and Korea. During their stay, students study English, learn about
life in the United States and visit sites of interest in the Puget Sound
area. The highlight of an international student’s visit is the home
stay, when students experience daily activities and practice their
English in conversations with their host families. For families, it is
an exciting and enjoyable opportunity to learn more about another
country, help promote cultural understanding and build long-lasting
friendships.
Participating families are asked to host a pair of students and:
- Attend a one-hour Host Family Orientation Session.
- Provide a room for the students to share.
- Provide meals during the students’ stay.
- For week-long home stays, drop the students off at Saint
Martin’s each weekday by 9 a.m. for classes and pick them up shortly
after 5 p.m.
- Attend a dessert reception and a farewell dinner with their
students.
If your family is interested in hosting an international student,
contact Mary White at 360-438-4304 or
mwhite@stmartin.edu.
ESL instructors
Saint Martin’s University is seeking experienced English as a Second
Language instructors to teach a variety of classes for cultural and
language summer exchange programs from May through August. Several
different opportunities are available. For more information, please
contact ESL program manager Janelle Garcia Martinez at
jgarcia-martinez@stmartin.edu
or 360-438-4597.
Saint Martin’s University is an independent four-year, Catholic,
coeducational university located on a 320-acre wooded campus in Lacey,
Washington. Established in 1895 by the Catholic Order of Saint Benedict,
the University is one of 18 Benedictine colleges and universities in the
United States and Canada, and the only one west of the Rocky Mountains.
Saint Martin’s University prepares students for successful lives through
its 21 majors and six graduate programs spanning the liberal arts,
business, education and engineering. Saint Martin’s welcomes 1,250
students from many ethnic and religious backgrounds to its main campus,
and 650 more to its five extension campuses located at Fort Lewis Army
Post, McChord Air Force Base, Olympic College, Centralia College and
Tacoma Community College.
For additional information:
Mary White
Assistant director – community liaison
Office of International Programs and Development
Saint Martin’s University
360-438-4304
mwhite@stmartin.edu
Haley Thompson
Director
Office of International Programs and Development
Saint Martin’s University
360-438-4598
hthompson@stmartin.edu