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Members of the Eta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education, at Western Illinois University helped Macomb Jr. High School students celebrate the school's third International Day in early April. Pictured here (L to R) are: Neil Hartnett, Guada Cabedo-Timmons, Beate Wilson, Steve Kaesdorf, Victoria Barclay, Maria Montalvo and Jack McKinnon.
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Students from Brazil, who studied English as a second language during the Spring 2014 semester at the WESL (WIU English as a Second Language) Institute, also presented to Macomb Junior High students in early April to help the school celebrate its third International Day.
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WIU International Honor Society Helps Macomb Jr. High Celebrate International Day

May 16, 2014

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MACOMB, IL — Members of the Eta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the honor society dedicated to recognizing scholarly achievement in international education, at Western Illinois University helped Macomb Jr. High School students celebrate the school's third International Day in early April. According to Dana Vizdal, assistant director for Western's Center for International Studies, every year, members of the Eta Epsilon Chapter, along with staff, faculty and student volunteers, present to seventh and eighth graders there.

"Volunteers present on a specific country and share information about the country's culture," Vizdal explained. "Presenters each gave a 40-minute interactive presentation to two different groups of students. Presentations included information on a country's location, food, clothes, music, holidays, schools and more. The goal of the event is to give Macomb Jr. High students a chance to learn how cultures are different and similar to ours, as well as so international students at Western can see how children go to school in the U.S."

According to Maria Montalvo, an eighth grade teacher and a charter member of the Eta Epsilon Chapter of Phi Beta Delta, the feedback received from Macomb students was very positive.

"Students felt they learned many things about other countries and wanted to learn more. They enjoyed tasting food popular in different cultures and the stories about life in other countries," Montalvo said.

This year's presenters and the countries they talked about included:

In addition, students from Brazil, who studied English as a second language during the Spring 2014 semester at the WESL (WIU English as a Second Language) Institute, all presented. They include:

  • Tharles Dias de Silva
  • Vicente Czermak Zuccatti Buttner
  • Diego Ribeiro Duarte
  • Pedro Augusto Menezes Nogueira
  • Harisson Roberto Da Silva Rosa
  • Fabricio Alves de Oliveira
  • Jessika Queiroz Severino
  • Maira Teixeira Barbabela de Silva
  • Tania Carvalho Carli
  • Taina Tamara Lima
  • Giovana Nunes da Silva
  • Thais Lima Marques
  • Gustavo Perez de Vilhena Paiva
  • Attilio Kandrotas Bercht
  • Fernanda Aguiar de Melo Rezende

For more information, contact Vizdal at (309) 298-3734 or via email at DM-Vizdal@wiu.edu.

Posted By: University Communications (U-Communications@wiu.edu)
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