Next fall, more UW-Madison students will be able to immerse themselves in the languages and cultures they are studying, officials announced Tuesday. The International Learning Community in Adams Residence Hall will be the newest addition to the rising number of residential life choices on campus.
The idea arose less than two years ago when UW-Madison students and faculty wanted to create a German House, similar to the French House, 633 N. Frances St., an off-campus establishment separate from the university. The new development will feature both German and Italian floors, on which students will only be allowed to speak those languages with help from a resident native speaker and housefellow.
Currently, students can live in the Global Village, part of a residence hall on the third floor of Merit House, also part of the Division of University Housing. The center planned for Adams Hall will serve as an expansion of this learning community.
The Office of International Studies and the Division of University Housing arranged the living community.
\Global Village is a small learning community on campus with space for fewer than 30 students,"" said Michael Hinden, associate dean of the International Institute and the new learning community's faculty director.
Organizers will arrange for learning programs that will compare a variety of cultures. Lori Berquam, University Housing assistant residence life director, said the program's goal is to link domestic students with international students in an attempt to share different cultures.
""We have domestic students that will be working internationally and international students who will be working here in the United States,"" she said. ""This will give both a chance to find out more about the places they will be working and living.""
According to Hinden, the students will become completely immersed in the language and culture, making it ideal for those planning on or returning from studying abroad.
The learning community will provide academic opportunities to its residents, including meals with faculty, special speakers, a one-credit academic course and field trips.
Berquam said the students will decide what programs will be implemented.
""This is really a student-driven program and the students develop what they want it to be,"" she said. ""Students are consumers and want to be prepared for what the future will hold.""
Also beginning next fall is the Multicultural Learning Community in Witte Residence Hall.
Hinden, who also served as faculty director for the Bradley Learning community, said learning communities are helpful for students in their social life as well as their academic life.
""Learning communities are becoming more popular both on the faculty and student side because they are meeting in an environment outside the classroom,"" he said.
