Admission is free.

This festival will showcase more cultures and countries from all over the world than the Spring International festival.

Come join us and enjoy tasty food, great music, amazing performances, crafts and cultural displays. Throughout the event there will be live entertainment performances.

If you take pleasure in learning about new cultures come join us and take in as many cultures as you have never imagined. Travel the world without airport hassles or major expenses. It will be lots of fun.

For more information, call the I-House front desk at (865) 974-4453.

On Thursday evening, September 30, ELI had a “potluck” dinner. For readers who are unfamiliar with the term “potluck,” this refers to a party with food that is supplied by party guests.  I don’t know the origin of this term, but I can guess that it comes from the idea of people bringing pots of food to a party or event, and the final menu or choice depends on luck.

So one of the exciting things about a potluck dinner is that success of the event depends on luck – or, in the case of the ELI party, success depends on that cooking skills of students who prepare or purchase dishes to bring to the party.

So we were very luck at last night’s party. It was a sumptuous feast! The dishes had their origins from around the world, and I can guarantee that better food could not be found in the finest restaurant. Our ELI students prepared some fantastic dishes. Thanks to all of you!

I was particularly impressed with the pride and skill of ELI students who did the cooking! Where did these students learn to prepare such delicious dishes? I was also surprised at the great food  prepared by the ELI faculty and staff!

A final word to ELI students: If someday you happen to prepare some dishes in your dorm or apartment, and if there happen to be leftovers, feel free to bring them to my office any time!

Jim Hamrick

Advanced English Prose for Grant Writing will be held August 31 through October 19 (Tuesdays from 4-6 p.m.) at the Walters Life Science Building (room 401).

This is a “hands-on” course.

It includes opportunities to compose and revise proposals. If you are interested in registering for this course, please register here by August 27.

In this course, you will look at several areas of the grant proposal where clarity of text plays an essential role.

In additional to looking at overall structure, you will study how language can be used most effectively to present clear and concise ideas.

You will learn drafting and editing skills to make their texts academically appropriate and, hopefully, more successful as a result.

If you need more information, please contact the English Language Institute at (865) 974-3404 or e-mail eli@utk.edu.

This week, our Shanghai students participated in many exciting activities such as watching a Smokies baseball game, whitewater rafting, visiting Cade’s Cove and the Museum of Appalachia, and watching Independence Day fireworks on the 4th of July.

Click here to see more pictures of this summer’s group of Shanghai University students enjoying and learning about American culture.

Shanghai students enjoying some ice cream!

Binh Bui Ngoc
Mirna Bzeih
Kai Chieh Chen
Xing Ru Yang

Congratulations to these hard-working students!

He has served as an instructor at the English Language Institute (ELI) since 1981.

In addition to his teaching, testing, and administrative duties at ELI, he coordinated Persian language testing for the Department of Modern Foreign Languages and Literatures. Rahbar holds B.S. and M.S. degrees from UTK.

Before joining ELI, he taught English in Iran, and he served as a producer and director for National Iranian Radio and Television.

He has taught thousands of ELI students over the years.

If you would like to share a comment about your experience with Mr. Rahbar, or if you wish to send him a greeting on the occasion of his retirement, you may do so at mrahbar@utk.edu.

“We are pleased to host these students — they come from some of the best universities in Brazil,” said Dr. Jim Hamrick, ELI director. “We’re especially excited about the opportunities these students will have to interact with students and faculty on campus.”

The Brazilians will participate in specially arranged classes taught by UT faculty from various disciplines. The students will learn about U.S. society — how values, events, and conflicts of the past have shaped American culture, politics, and society.

ELI is a part of the University of Tennessee’s Center for International Education.

“ELI Director Jim Hamrick and his staff now have a greater opportunity to utilize their expertise and experience with international students and organizations in this new arrangement,” Burkett said. “With a growing interest by UTK to make a stronger effort to ensure international educational is a major component of the educational experience of its students, ELI can potentially play a larger role in bringing this goal to fruition.” 

Hamrick asked that we share the following comment with you on behalf of his staff:

“All of us at ELI want to express our regret about severing ties with UOCE,” Hamrick said. “We have so many positive connections to the division as an organization, and of course to individual employees. This kind of change will be hard on many of us.”

Burkett added: “ELI has been a part of the Division since its inception some 25 years ago. It will be a real loss to us, but we certainly wish for them all the luck in the world. They are not only a great staff, but are also wonderful individuals. I offer my sincere thanks for all they have contributed to our Division over the years.”

The students participated in morning classes that emphasized spoken English and awareness of cultural differences in the U.S. The curriculum included homework that required them to observe social interactions on campus and in Knoxville.

They also visited several places of interest, including a visit to Cades Cove in Great Smoky Mountains National Park and the Ocoee River, where they enjoyed whitewater rafting.