LCI students tour National Portrait Gallery in Washington

LCI students at the Northern Virginia Center took a field trip recently to the National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. See photos from the trip and some of the students' reactions below.

Bassam AlSulami                                                                                                                                     

On Jun 6, we went to National Portrait Gallery. It was one of the nicest trips in my life. First, we arrived in 10:15. Second, when we entered the museum, we met the displaced tourist. Third, we went to the presidential hall, and saw different of the presidents to the united states. Overall, we learned a lot of about American history.

Abdulrahman Alghamdi

We went on a trip to National Portrait Gallery on Friday 06-20-19 , It was a very beautiful trip. First we left at 9:30, Our teachers were with us. Second, I learned a lot about America's presidents, for example George Washington and Obama Thirdly I liked the place very much, for example the variety of ways of providing information. Finally the tour guide was treated very well and she told me a lot. I loved the place a lot and advised my friends to visit it

Omar Alghonaim

On Friday June 21,2019 my friends and I went to Washington D.C to visit The National Portrait Gallery. The sky was cloudy and the wind was perfect. We took the metro to metro center and walked to the gallery. The building was huge and full of pictures, sculptures and art work. The best thing in the gallery was the art work. There was a snake made of bottle caps. I didn’t see everything in the gallery because I want to come back and continue looking around. As I mentioned it is a huge building and it is free.

LCI students tour largest library in the world

Students and staff from the LCI in Northern Virginia recently visited the Library of Congress in Washington, D.C. It is the nation's oldest federal cultural institution, and it serves as the research arm of Congress. It is also the largest library in the world, with more than 162 million items. The collections include books, sound recordings, motion pictures, photographs, maps, and manuscripts.

Read students' accounts of their field trip below.

Photos: LCI welcomes 2nd cohort of Pakistani Fellows

The LCI hosted a welcome reception for our second cohort of remarkable Fellows from Pakistan.

They are participating in the six-week Teaching Excellence and Achievement Program for Pakistan.

See more photos on our Facebook page.

LCI welcomes CIS University Tour to campus

LCI Director Don Back welcomed participants from the Council of International Schools University Tour to campus on Monday evening with a picnic on Dietrick Lawn.

More than 30 representatives from schools around the world met with representatives from the Language and Culture Institute and the Office of Undergraduate Admissions. 

Among those participating in the (nearly rain-free) picnic were AdvantageVT Director Elsie Paredes, Associate Director Bryan Ducote, Interim IEP Director Pamela Smart-Smith, and Senior Assistant Director of Undergraduate Admissions Tyler Oxley.

On Tuesday, participants took part in a walking tour of campus and then held brief sessions at The Inn at Virginia Tech and Skelton Conference Center.

Fairfax students take a trip to the money factory

Students and teachers from the LCI National Capital Region took a field trip recently to the Bureau of Engraving and Printing in Washington, D.C. The BEP designs and prints billions of dollars in paper currency each year for delivery to the Federal Reserve, the nation's central bank.

Below are essays written by several students, as well as photos from the trip.

Natalia Rodriguez

This was one of the most interesting places that I have visited in my life, because I could appreciate better how the money such as bills and are engraved, inked and printed.

We started to watch a video about the history of money, when the first engraving and printing was founded in 1862 just with six people. Then this company was growing with more people and it was totally formed in 1934. Since then the same company exists until now.

After we watched the video, the tourist guide showed us the steps how the bills are created and processed. The first step is they start to engrave the security marks on the bills and then they ink the bills with the colors green, yellow, black and blue. The second step is they print the bills with their denomination number, correlative serie and the year which it was created. This company changed the new design on the bills every seven or ten years. The people who design the new bills work in front of this company. Finally they package the bills in bricks. For example each brick has $80,000 in denomination of 20’s. In total the company produce from $900,000 to $1,200,000 per day.

One important data is the Bureau of Engraving and Printing Company has a customer that is The Federal Treasury Reserve (FTR). When the FTR receive the money it is distributed to all the national banks. 95% of all the produced money is exchanged for damaged money from the Federal Treasury Reserve, and just the 5% is placed in circulation, that it means “the national inflation” of The United States of America.

Victoria Cheng

This is my first time to see money printing out from machines. The tour guide said each type of notes will change their designs in 7 to 10 years. The water print designs are to make sure that notes are real. Those designs can not be easily reproduced. The paper used to print the notes is also special. Those trees are from the central of the United States. Moreover, notes are basically printed in green in the back and black in the front. Each notes print in different color. One dollar notes do not have special color. However, the rest of notes are printed in specific color. For example, ten dollar notes are printed with yellow and hundred notes are printed with blue.

Those machines used to print 1.5 billion dollars per day. Due to people who are changing their way to pay by credit card, now those machines reduce the amount to 900 million per day. The 95% of notes are used to replace the notes that are seriously damaged. The rest is used to keep the currency demand balancing. Before the notes are public to the market, the notes will check by machines to make sure the notes are correct. If there is an error, that note will be replaced with a special note whose number has a star. These notes for replacement are rare. If I get the note with a star, I will keep the note and do not use it. Meanwhile, I know there was a mistake happened. And this is what I have learned during the tour in Bureau of Engraving and Printing.

It is important to know how notes are being printed and how the government design notes to be protected. Also, I would like to know how people who work in Bureau feel because they company with million dollars. Even I just walked through in front of the window, I could smell the money.

Ayman Alhammad

Long time ago, money was important thing in our life. However, is not easy to have or to create it. Yesterday, I visited bureau of engraving and printing one of the effect place in global economy and take general idea about the dollar printing process.

Firstly, me and my friends take the metro from Dunng Louren to Smithsonian station that located on 14th St at DC, which the edifice at the there. It was old building.

Next, we walk up the stairs and it was surprised me that no unusual security pressure. After passed the check point. We sat at the lobby to watch a short film about the bureau.

After that, the guide women took us throw the corridors to explain how print money and how much the print every day. In addition the explanation was very deep and the questions that my friend asked our guide were smart.

In sum, I enjoy of the trip to bureau of engraving and printing. Absolutely it is a good place that any one will come to D.C have to visit. 

LCI Fairfax students tour Air and Space Museum

Students and faculty from the Language and Culture Institute in Fairfax took a field trip recently to the Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum. The museum maintains the world's largest and most significant collection of aviation and space artifacts, encompassing all aspects of human flight, as well as related works of art and archival materials.

Below, read two students' essays about the trip.

Saud Alhokiar 

As usual, LCI provides every new season's field trip to please that seems interesting as U.S. museums or pike neck. On 7 February 2018, we went to the Smithsonian Air & Space Museum that please present old things such as airplane and who old people create this airplane. I get a lot of important information it was very useful. The place was crowded because many people want to see something related to the previous centuries however I had a great time. It was a good time with my friends. In conclusion, I like places that related to the past because I like to think how these people can create something even though they do not have an ability like the ability which in the modern life. Overall it has pretty and amazing please and I hope to visit this place again with my family in future.

      

Marta

My experience during the field trip was amazing. It was my first time, I saw the Air and Space Museum before I did not had enough information about Airplane and Moon rockets and the machines that were used in the world. All the machines that we saw were in their original form which was interesting for me especially I had chance to touch the moon stone. Special representative was assigned for us to give the detailed information about the background and history of the machines which I really liked. Now I am interested to take my friends to this Museum. Using metro was also great experience, I learned how to recharge my SMART card for future trips and I will be able to travel next time by myself and can see more Museums in DC because all of the Museums in DC are free, which is great. I learned a lot and had fun with my classmates in this trip.

Hokies women's soccer coach visits LCI

Follow us on Facebook to see more photos from Coach Adair's visit.

Thanks to Chugger Adair, head coach of the Virginia Tech Women's Soccer team, for speaking this morning at the Language...

Posted by Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute on Wednesday, January 24, 2018

LCI students explore National Portrait Gallery

Students in Fairfax recently toured the Smithsonian National Portrait Gallery in Washington, D.C. The gallery aims to "tell the story of America by portraying the people who shape the nation’s history, development and culture."

Read what some of the students had to say about their trip below.

Photos: Scenes from the annual LCI/ISS Thanksgiving Lunch and Variety Show

Follow us on Facebook to see more photos from our annual Thanksgiving Lunch and Variety Show.

Now posted: Watch video of students, teachers -- and even Director Don Back -- doing the "Hokie Pokie"!

We are grateful to all our students and scholars who contributed their talents and time to make a wonderful variety show.
Posted by Virginia Tech Language and Culture Institute on Wednesday, November 8, 2017

Photos: LCI welcomes delegation from Vietnam People's Security Academy

The LCI was honored to welcome a delegation from the People's Security Academy of Vietnam to Virginia Tech today.

Lt. Gen. Nguyễn Văn Ngọc, Maj. Gen. Phí Đức Tuấn, Dr. Nguyễn Thị Phương Lan, and Dr. Nguyen Văn Ly met with Provost Cyril Clarke and Vice President for Outreach and International Affairs Guru Ghosh, as well as LCI Director Don Back and Associate Director for Partnerships and New Enterprises Patricia Parera.

Photos: Hokies football player Terrell Edmunds visits the LCI

Thank you to Hokies football player Terrell Edmunds, who spoke to LCI students this morning about his grueling schedule, why he loves playing football, and what it's like coming out of the tunnel in Lane Stadium with "Enter Sandman" blaring and thousands of fans cheering.

Students, perhaps more familiar with soccer than football, peppered Edmunds with questions about what it's like to make such powerful hits, what his most memorable plays were, what his favorite position is, and what it takes to make it to the NFL.

LCI students tour National Museum of African American History and Culture

Students from the LCI Fairfax recently visited the National Museum of African American History and Culture in Washington.

It is the only national museum devoted exclusively to the documentation of African-American life, history, and culture. It was established by Act of Congress in 2003, following decades of efforts to promote and highlight the contributions of African Americans.

Read what some students had to say about the field trip below.

Photos from Virginia Tech's partnership with Shandong University

Xuhao, Siangtong, and Shubham work on a microphone array to record ultrasound from bats.

Our friend Liujun Zhang, at Shandong University, sent us some photos of Virginia Tech students working to unravel the intricacies of bats' remarkable sensing and flight skills.

The students are part of professor Rolf Mueller's lab at Shandong, part of a collaborative partnership between the two universities.

Andrew, Jonathan, Liujun, and Michael hike on Yellow Mountain in Anhui province.

"The VT students help us do experiments and analyze data," Liujun says. The students have had a busy summer but have found some time for activities such as hiking mountains in China.

See more photos in our Facebook gallery:

Benefits of going outdoors with classmates and professors

An LCI student in Fairfax wrote the following essay after last week's (rainy) picnic adventure:

We are students at Virginia Tech, located in Virginia. The school administration agreed to organize a scientific and recreational trip by visiting Nottoway Park, located in Vienna. We were eager to learn about the beauty of this natural park. On the morning of Friday, July 28, we attended the park early, and each of us brought a small back bag. This bag contains some sandwiches, bottles of water and some other things that we need. This type of trip is not only for entertainment; it has many purposes, it is a very extensive activity. Such as strengthening interpersonal relationship, developing in skills, and identifying of different type of traditional foods.

Trips can assist to increase love and strengthen human relationships between students. In this context, trips may be an important way for establishing many new relationships. For example, I met my old friend who used to study with us in VT. I really missed her. And I was worried about my other friends if they can come because the weather was rainy. Moreover, I have learned many things about my friend May such as, her real name, I also realized that after three weeks of studying with her in one class she didn't know my name! That was so funny. This kind of picnic can make a significant change in student skills. For instance, increase self-confidence of the person, and develop in educational skills such as speaking and listening. For example, I think I have spoken with all students and professors without feeling of shame or worry to make some mistakes in speaking. That was a great experience.

It is always good to go out of doors. Going out of school can gain knowledge about traditional food from different countries. When the rain stopped Mr. Bratichko started preparing the lunch for us. Each of us brought something traditional. For example. I brought with me some dates, traditional sweet called camel’s eyes which has caramel inside, and Arabic coffee. And some of my friend brought drinks also the professors brought burgers and hot dogs so we could grill them. Others made sweets by themselves. This trip taught me that the traditional foods are almost the same but it has a different name. I was surprised that the camel’s eyes exists in Switzerland as Natalia side they have it in their country with the same taste and almost same shape.

A picnic is a beneficial change. It takes people away from boring days and routine, it produces effect to life. Life has not only existed for work, but it needs human balance, enjoyment. Trips can make some changes in people for example, strengthening relationships by talking with friends and know them very well, developing skills by listening carefully and catch a new vocabulary, and identify of different types of traditional foods. It is good to run away into the open air for a day when one has the time.        

Library of Congress field trip offers lessons in history

This month, students and faculty from Fairfax took a field trip to the Library of Congress, the oldest federal cultural institution in the United States.

It is said that the Library of Congress is the world’s largest repository of knowledge and creativity, with a growing collection of more than 162 million items, including books, print materials, sound recordings, photographs, maps, sheet music, movies, and manuscripts.

The Library of Congress was established in 1800, when President John Adams signed a bill transferring the seat of the U.S. government to Washington. The legislation described a library of “such books as may be necessary for the use of Congress.”

Read more about the field trip below.

Baseball game in Salem is a hit with students

“The announcement came out of left field.” “Your answer is way off base.” “You need to step up to the plate.” “Three strikes, you’re out!”

These and other baseball-related idioms moved from figurative language to literal for students attending the Salem Red Sox baseball game Friday night. Not only did LCI students have a chance to learn some of the language of baseball that carries over to American speech, but they were also able to check their understanding of language through conversations going on around them.

Even though it was the first baseball game the students had attended, they soon got into the swing of the game. One student who had seen several baseball movies had a good understanding of the basic rules. By the end of the ninth inning, the other students had a good idea of the basics as well.

In addition to the rules part of the game, students experienced the cultural aspects like standing to sing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame” for the seventh-inning stretch, trying some Cracker Jack, and joining in the eighth-inning singing of “Sweet Caroline.”

Although our cheers and support couldn’t lift the Salem Red Sox to a win over the Wilmington Blue Rocks, we did have a treat following the game. The ballpark lights were turned off and there was an extended fireworks display. One of the students said it reminded of his home in Oman where they marked the end of Ramadan with a fireworks display.

— By Bonnie Sumner