ECC students learning from all effectually the world

Cooking in foreign land

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Courtesy of Ryan Ottens

ECC's culinary team of bound 2019 back at the hotel afterwards having cooked for the "American Dinner."

Did you know that Elgin Community College offers many report abroad opportunities in dissimilar countries throughout the world?

According to Director of International Didactics and Programs, Lauren Nehlsen, at that place are opportunities to written report abroad through institutional programming every bit well as through consortial organizations, and at least thirty students per year are enrolled in these programs.

"Our virtually popular programs are in Ireland, Spain and Republic of austria," Nehlsen said.

On Feb. 22, a selected group of 12 ECC students, majoring in culinary and pastry arts were accompanied past Jennifer Loiacano,Director of Spartan Terrace Eating place and hospitality professor, and Chef Instructor, Chrystie Wojcik, on a i-week trip to Semmering, Austria with the purpose of gaining new knowledge about the culture and culinary cuisine in this state.

Nehlsen states that the cost of a study abroad programme varies depending on the length of time of the program, the destination and what is included. Although some of them are economical, other programs may exist more expensive due to the higher cost of living, like Austria.

Even so, non only does financial aid exists for the students who determine to enroll in the programs, but too the culinary arts department organized different fundraisers to be able to solve some of the costs and at the aforementioned time, this would assist the students learn even more in a dissimilar mode.

"We were not simply doing the events to make money," Loiacano said. "When nosotros were fundraising, it was actually important that students were really learning something."

According to Loiacano, ECC has had a standing human relationship with the Tourism School from Semmering for almost 30 years, in which these two schools have been allowing students and teachers to visit the schools, enriching the international experience.

During this week, the team participated in different cultural activities and visits to many tourist places in diverse cities such every bit Vienna and Graz likewise every bit going to culinary tours and restaurants and having the opportunity to visit dissimilar nutrient production factories.

Courtesy of Jennifer Loiacano
ECC's Culinary Team of spring 2019 in Graz, Austria

"All these experiences give you first-hand insight to another culture," Loiacano said. "Being able to experience it has a whole other level of truthfulness and solidifies what we are teaching to the students."

Ryan Ottens, culinary arts major student at ECC and a fellow member of the group, said that the best function of studying abroad is that they were exposed to so many dissimilar things and new experiences in such a short amount of time.

"I recall at that place is one behemothic benefit and that is being able to experience another culture from the view of the people that live there and not just encounter the overly touristy spots," Ottens said.

Loiacano likewise states that during this programme, the team got to prepare an American-manner dinner for their hosts, which is an opportunity to promote the traditions and cuisine.

When it comes to cooking, the world encompasses a dandy variety of flavors, forms and procedures, which is why the students began to do the dish they would serve several times before traveling.

"Preparing dinner is something we had to practice ahead of fourth dimension," Loiacano said. "The temperatures and measurements are dissimilar over in that location, so we practise all of our converting before we even become over there."

According to Nehlsen, students who are interested in applying to study away should make an appointment with the Centre for International Education and Programs for a one-on-1 appointment to talk over their interest.

"During the engagement, nosotros explore the pupil's interest in study abroad and attempt to discover a program that matches the student's involvement and budget," Nehlsen said.

Loiacano, Nehlsen and Ottens agree with the fact that expanding your cognition can go across taking your respective classes at ECC and brings new means of learning, in add-on to getting to know many other cultures on your own.

"Study abroad enhances intercultural competency, global awareness and increases persistence in college," Nehlsen said. "Students who study abroad are more than probable to be open to multifariousness, and have an increased understanding of a foreign language and culture."

Another benefit that these programs bring to both students and teachers, is to get to know and create friendships with people who have grown up in a country completely dissimilar from yours, which also helps to forge your own personality and points of view.

"I would recommend every student to look into studying away for a week, like me, or a whole semester," Ottens said. "I think that there is then much to learn and and so much to see that is completely worth it."