Community Engagement

The CSLC offers one of the College of Arts and Letters’ signature community engagement programs. In 2014, the CSLC began a joint language and cultural immersion program with Perley Elementary Fine Arts Academy in South Bend, Indiana. Although Perley has since closed, the program continues to take place at Nuner Fine Arts Academy.

FLTAs teach classes throughout the semester during which the students and FLTAs have the chance to share language knowledge, learn about music and traditional dances, play educational games, and discuss history and cultural differences.

In the inaugural year, individuals from China, Brazil, and Italy worked with students in second, third, and fourth grade, offering the students an opportunity to have contact with Chinese, Brazilian and Italian languages and cultures. At the same time, the program gave the FLTAs the chance to learn more about the American public education system.

As an FLTA, you will help to provide individualized lessons and classes to students in the South Bend community to share your own language and culture with local students. This is a wonderful opportunity not just for young students, but for you to learn more about the American educational system as well.