International Studies
Lincoln Memorial University takes great pride in the cultural and ethnic diversity of its students. International students make up a significant portion of the LMU learning community. The current student body is represented by countries as diverse as Japan, Congo, Ethiopia, Brazil, Colombia, the United Kingdom, Vietnam, Mexico and France.
The University offers several programs of interest to international students and those who value global citizenship.<
The Kanto Program
A unique and dynamic international study initiative hosted by Lincoln Memorial University is the LMU-Kanto Program. Annually since 1979, Lincoln Memorial University has welcomed students from Kanto International Senior High School in Tokyo, Japan. Once each year, a group of 40-70 students from Japan come to visit LMU and reside on our campus, where they engage in rigorous, immersive English studies and a dynamic extracurricular cultural program that exposes them to the richness of the culture of our Appalachian region. While gaining an appreciation of college life and forging lasting friendships, students also improve their English skills and experience life in America first-hand. Many Kanto graduates have later decided to attend LMU as college students and then went on to earn their degrees at our university. The benefits of the Kanto Program are truly reciprocal, as the entire LMU community is enriched by the presence of these Japanese students who teach us about their own customs and traditions.
The mission of the LMU-Kanto Program is to provide excellence in a non-traditional study abroad program. This program seeks to prepare students for mature global citizenship as well as a successful post-secondary experience. The LMU-Kanto Program provides a caring and nurturing environment which gives its participants the opportunity to grow and succeed as they experience the challenges of direct involvement in a new culture.
Director: Mrs. Margaret Proctor, Student Center, 423.869.6021, margaret.proctor@LMUnet.edu
Assistant Director: Mrs. JoAnn Russell, Student Center, 423.869.7763, joann.russell@LMUnet.edu
Home Stay
In conjunction with the Kanto Program, LMU offers the home stay option to participating students. Through home stay, international students spend a weekend with a local host family, and participate in the host family’s normal activities such as going to the park, Sunday service or family dinner. This allows the students to participate in the daily life of an American family which enriches their American experience. This unique opportunity is only made possible through local, host family participation. Each family can expect to host two students for one weekend at a time, starting Friday and ending Sunday afternoon. There is no obligation to host more than one weekend throughout the duration of the Kanto Program.
Spring home stay dates: Weekends between March 23 and April 27
For more information on becoming a host family, please contact JoAnn Russell.
Contact: Mrs. JoAnn Russell, Student Center, 423.869.7763, joann.russell@LMUnet.edu
The World School Program
Closely affiliated with the LMU-Kanto Program is the World School Program, in which Lincoln Memorial University is proud to be a longstanding participant. The World School was initiated in 1997 by Masaki Matsudaira of the Tokyo, Japan-based Kanto International Senior High School.
The World School Forum is an annual event that takes place in countries throughout the world. In odd-numbered years, the World School Forum is held in Japan, where it was founded. In even-numbered years, the Forum moves to the country of one of its 14 member schools. Lincoln Memorial University hosted World School Forum in 2002. The 2010 World School Forum will take place in October, in Seoul, South Korea.
The primary aim of the World School Program is to create a truly borderless entity that brings together high school students and teachers from countries around the globe, and to help individuals in all member schools create their personal image of an ideal educational program. Each Year, Lincoln Memorial University partners with the J. Frank White Academy in sending student representatives to distant lands in order to participate in this memorable event.
Director: Mrs. JoAnn Russell, Student Center, 423.869.7763, joann.russell@LMUnet.edu
The English Language Institute
Through its English Language Institute (ELI), Lincoln Memorial University offers classes in English as a Second Language to all international students who need to improve their reading, writing, and vocabulary skills. International students who are admitted to the University but do not meet certain minimum scores on the required Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) are required to take ELI courses upon enrollment. The ELI program consists of four skill levels, representing beginning to high-intermediate English proficiency. An ELI placement test determines the first level, and the student continues in the ELI program until they finish the final level.
Director: Mrs. Margaret Proctor, Student Center, 423.869.6021, margaret.proctor@LMUnet.edu
