Special Programs
Meet the World in Knox County currently offers several programs. All programs are flexible and subject to small changes and adaptations in accordance with class needs and teacher preferences. If what we offer do not match your needs, we request you to contact us. We are open to ideas and suggestions and together we can design a program based on our abilities and your needs and preferences. Teachers are encouraged to choose a program from the following:
Language
This program is predominantly designed to help out students who are interested in learning languages. We offer additional support for all language levels through our native speakers or students who are advanced speakers in the language. We also try to meet teachers' needs and preferences by covering specific topics during these sessions. This program encourages minimal use of English so that students get maximum exposure to the targeted language. The review of the course material will be combined with introduction of new information. Through discussions, games and other interactions, Kenyon student speakers will interact with students using the targeted language. Different interactions will be carried out depending on students' language levels. More emphasis will be put on vocabulary building and proper usage of grammar for beginners, while more emphasize will be put on discussions for more advanced speakers. Either way, students will be encouraged to come out of their comfort zones and think in a different language.
Travel Around the World
We will work together with the teacher in deciding which countries to virtually visit. We will then bring international students from those corresponding regions to a Knox county classroom. During any given session, a student speaker will cover either demographic, cultural, social, economic or environmental aspects of his/her respective country. The session will be carried out through interactive presentations comprising of images and videos, games and discussions. At the end of the program, our office will provide every participating student with a "World Traveler" certificate indicating a list of countries that they virtually visited.
Pen-pal Buddies
This program involves Kenyon student speakers writing short letters or postcards to students in Knox County classrooms at a regular basis. The correspondence will ideally include speaker's description of who they are, what their interests are and what they are studying at college along with questions about the recipient's school experiences and future aspirations. One of the fundamental aims of this program is to encourage young students to consider college as a part of their future.
Religion Around the World
This program is mainly designed for higher grade levels and gives students a firsthand opportunity to listen to Kenyon student speakers who follow major world religions. The informational session will be followed by discussions about various religions, i.e., the first half of the session will follow a lecture format and the second part will follow an active discussion format. Kenyon student speakers will be encouraged to talk about their religious experiences and paricipating students will be encouraged to make comments and ask questions.
Holidays Around the World
This program is designed for lower grade levels. It involves student speakers talking about holidays in their homeland and how they celebrate them. Each student speaker will start with an introduction from where he/she is from and a little background of the country, and then will proceed on the actual topic. They will talk about: which holidays do they have? How do they celebrate them? What kind of food and drinks do they prepare? Do they celebrate Christmas? What kind of clothes do they have to wear? Are there any traditional games that they play? etc. We also ask the American students to tell the student speakers more about their holidays and what kind of things they do. After this a discussion is developed, where both sides are able to comment, contribute, and ask each other questions.