Mastering OHIO

For international students, there is more to learning English than just mastering the language. Just ask Ohio University Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) Director Gerry Krzic.

“A lot of people assume this is only for learning English, but it’s actually very different, in a sense that our students are learning English for very high-level academic purposes,” Krzic says.

OHIO’s OPIE has more than 50 years under its belt and has provided its services to thousands of international students and professionals.

The program takes a two-pronged approach: intensive English language training in the classroom—where active participation in class discussions is expected—and opportunities for students to practice their newly minted language skills at home and while out in the community.

OPIE students go on shopping trips, visit local schools, take nature hikes, go to movie nights, and even visit pumpkin patches in the fall.

“OPIE helped smooth my transition from Oman to the USA,” says junior biological sciences major Hams Kashoob. “It helped me to get settled away from the stress of the academic classes.”

This year, 80 full-time students and students from Mexico, Saudi Arabia, and Japan are engaged with OPIE, perfecting their English skills—and learning OHIO’s culture ways—every day.

Feature photo: OPIE-enrolled undergraduate students interested in continuing their education workshop about how to apply to graduate schools. Dalal Lafi M. Alamri [RIGHT] of Saudi Arabia listens as Andrea Arriaga [LEFT] of Chile asks questions. Photo by Ellee Achten, BSJ ’14, MA ’17