The American Studies Program (ASP) begins again on February 4 with the arrival of 124 students.  One of the primary activities that approximately 90% of the students are most interested in joining is the Tomodachi ("friendship") Program.  Students want to connect and befriend people in the community and share their cultures with them, as well as learning about American culture.  They will be signing up for the program in mid-March and the need for community participants is high.

Whether you are young or old, married or single, have children or not, you have something to offer!  The students live on the Willamette University campus and they are busy with classes and campus life, so all we ask of program participants is once a month contact with your student(s) on your schedule.  It could be for dinner, an athletic activity, shopping, movie night, etc. Many of the students say it takes a little of the homesickness away to spend time off campus with you!

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There is a new initiative started by Willamette University (WU), Tokyo International University (TIU) and Tokyo International University of America (TIUA) called the Graduate Teaching Institute (GTI).  The Global Teaching Fellow (GTF) teaches English language courses in the curriculum of the GTI of Tokyo International University.  TIU has campuses in Kawagoe (Saitama) and Tokyo, Japan. 

To learn more about these exciting positions, please click here.

One-hundred twenty three students arrived in Salem Tuesday, February 4.  The Class of 2014 are here for the 11-month American Studies Program (ASP) at Willamette University.  The students looked excited to finally arrive and began their orientation to campus. There will be an official welcome by the Willamette community at Goudy Commons at Tuesday's dinner. Students will be welcomed by Willamette University's Dean of Campus Life David Douglass.  There will also be musical performances by campus a capella groups Headband, Tandem, and UpTop.

Click here for a photo gallery of the arrival day activities.