University of North Texas
Introduction
Welcome to the Linguistics and Technical Communication (LTC) Summer Institute. We are glad that you have taken an interest in our program, and we hope you find the program beneficial. Our summer program features:
- student workshops
- on-campus living
- university classes
- field trips
Our program provides students with a unique cultural and social experience.
History & Purpose
The LTC Summer Institute began in July of 2008 with 26 participants from our sister university in Mexico—Universidad Autónoma del Estado de México (UAEM). Participants lived on campus and attended English classes taught by masters of teaching English to speakers of other languages (MA TESOL) students. Katie Crowder, one of our coordinators, directed the program. Improving spoken and written fluency was always a major objective of the program. After our first year, it became obvious that students could improve their English speaking skills by attending LTC classes and by immersing themselves in the American culture.
This cultural immersion became a hallmark of the LTC Summer Institute. Along with cultural immersion, students are also active learners. They attend and present workshops, work in groups, attend regular classes in their major, and create brochures, newsletters, videos, and blogs. By the summer of 2010, the institute quadrupled in size from the first year, with 94 participants. Participants enjoyed a conference-style program where they could select various workshops each afternoon. For summer 2011, we are planning a viral video contest.