Global Classroom

Article and Graphic Design by Holly Shanks



   Stepping onto a college campus for the first time can be a traumatic and exhilarating feeling for the young and not so young alike. If someone that is not a perpetual lone wolf comes to campus without any connections or acquaintances, one good idea would be to investigate what clubs or organizations are offered for student participation.

  Campus clubs offer a wide range of professional, academic and personal interest, such as art, math and engineering, poetry, medical, deaf communications, future teachers, broadcasting, photography, political interest, religious interest, international culture, and even a Genshiken club and a Tolkien Adventure Community. 

  With the vast amount of diverseness there is enough variety to offer a little something for everyone. All clubs and organizations have sponsors and advisors made up of staff and faculty from the college. 
  

  Joining campus clubs and organizations offer many benefits, such as networking with professionals through seminars and training sessions and activities. The opportunity to meet, spend time and connect with people that share the same interest can offer a place to fit in and an anchor to campus that someone may never have had otherwise. The experience can be rewarding and create lifelong friendships. To find a complete listing of clubs at STLCC-FV campus visit www.stlcc.edu/FV/Campus_Life.html

  If anyone has an interest in global culture then the Global Classroom Club could be a good fit. The club is open to any students who would like to be part of a group offering on-and-off campus learning experiences, such as visiting the Japanese festival at the Missouri Botanical Gardens, local museum exhibits, hosting global food tasting events, foreign language lessons and even travel to other countries to experience another culture first hand.

  Advisors for the Global Classroom Club Chris Stephens and Jeanne Florini explained that the club offers students opportunities and learning experiences to help them be better equipped and comfortably interact with a multi-cultural skill set, while living in a growing international society. Also, entering the workforce where employers have increasing concerns of global and cultural awareness in potential staff.  Students can gain a better understanding of their own cultural heritages, as well as others, along with a different perspective and alternate ways of doing things.  

  This past March, the club traveled to Italy and visited places, such as Pompeii, a city that was preserved in ash during the volcanic eruption of Mount Vesuvius in 79 A.D. Along with the famous sights of Italy, Stephens also likes to lead his students off the beaten path of the tourist trail to see, feel and observe local life and customs. This gives the students a healthy mix of the expected tourist sights and a look inside the “contemporary and historical culture of Italy and how they fuse together in the modern world.”

The club is planning an upcoming trip to Northern Italy, according to Stephens. 

For more information on the Global Classroom Club and how to earn points for participation in the club’s activities that can help offset a percentage of travel cost for the club sponsored trip contact Chris Stephens at cstephens@stlcc.edu or Jeanne Florini at jflorini@stlcc.edu.

     STLCC offers many other opportunities for study abroad. Visit www.stlc.edu/programs/study_abroad.com to learn more.