VTLCI Welcomes Fulbright Scholars This Summer

The VTLCI is hosting an intensive academic preparation program for 35 Fulbright scholars in July and August. In partnership with the Institute of International Education and the U.S. State Department, the VTLCI welcomes 35 Fulbright Scholars from all over the world in a program to help prepare them for graduate studies in the United States. Scholars will spend 3 weeks, beginning in July, on the Virginia Tech campus focusing on technology in the classroom, research skills and service learning. They will visit Smithfield and participate in lectures by Virginia Tech faculty.

If you have questions about programs at the VTLCI, contact Amanda Johnson, Assistant Director for Special Program at 1-9348 or majtwin@vt.edu.

NCR LCI Students at the National Portrait Gallery

Two students, Omamah Ashmeel and Abdualah Alreheli, from the Northern Virginia campus of the LCI describe their expriences at the portrait gallery in Washington, DC.

Field Trip to the National Portrait Gallery
By Omamah Ashmeel

I was very excited about the trip; I'm always excited when routine changes. I love art and museums and what was exciting the most is that we would have a tour guide because wandering in an art gallery without knowing the significant of each portrait is useless and with my knowledge and background, I would not even recognize the presidents. What I loved the most was the sculpture of Rosa Parks. This was a moving story of a brave woman who changed the future of the nation by refusing the inequality of that time. The sculpture itself is quite interesting it is made of wood showing her vulnerability yet her determination compared to the cops arresting her. They appear to be a bit flat in dimension while her portrait is more three dimensional. Her head is big while their heads are small and that might be an indication of will power and a bigger mind in her favor. An additional interesting aspect in the sculpture is the colors of her clothes. She is dressed in red, blue and white as if the artist wanted to emphasize that she's a patriotic and deserved her rights like any other American. Another artwork that I found very interesting was the JF Kennedy portrait. Unlike  other presidents' paintings, this one is abstract with vibrant colors and visible brush strokes. In the portrait kennedy's posture is unusual, he appears to be leaning forward as if he's about to stand; also he's dressed casually without his jacket on. Lastly, the Contemporary American Art section was fascinating with all different materials used from neon lights to wood.

National Portrait Gallery
By Abdualah Alreheli

Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute coordinated a trip to the National Portrait Gallery, allowing its students to acquire a new cultural experience which the school anticipated to be highly beneficial to them.  The management of the Institute was eager to find a qualified person to clarify to students the importance of the art. When the students arrived, they realized that the museum was dedicated to American history and were astonished with the culture they saw through each portrait. This novel experience for the students was partly due to the fact that typical museums are not always specific to a particular country. During the visit, the students were able to see a display showing a myriad of images of past United States presidents, along with many other pictures, which illustrated significant events that have occurred since the discovery of the States. A particularly impactful image was that of a black woman who was arrested because she refused to get off of a bus. Ultimately, the students were very pleased to have this unique and exciting opportunity, and they were also grateful to Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute’s management for always striving to assimilate foreign students into this great country.