Taiwan teens complete ESL Summer Camp at CSU

Seven teens from Taiwan received certificates of completion from Charleston Southern University’s English as a Second Language Summer Camp Monday, July 23.

ESL campers had English sessions with Kristi Hixon, a CSU professor in the English department, and also experienced typical American outings such as bowling, pizza making and kayaking. Director of International Programs Stephanie LeVan and CSU students Princeton McBride and Jemima Backman coordinated the annual summer camp. The original idea for the camp was proposed by Dr. Yu-Ju Lin of the computer science department. “He traveled extensively to make this camp happen,” said LeVan.

Hixon told the campers they taught her at least as much as she taught them. Hixon, McBride and Backman had words of appreciation and encouragement for each camper. Backman, a CSU graduate student from Finland, said she was excited to participate in the camp because of her love for students and internationals.

Dr. Dondi Costin, CSU president, told the teens, “Three people have spoken over you words of encouragement and told you that God thinks you are special.” He advised the teens to take those words to heart. 

The CSU camp counselors were taking the campers on a trip to Disney World in Orlando, Fla., as the final activity of ESL Camp.

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