ELI and UTK’s Department of Kinesiology, Recreation, and Sports Studies (KRSS) are teaming up for the fifth consecutive year to offer a summer program to undergraduates from Shanghai University of Sport (SUS). This summer’s group arrived in Knoxville on July 25 and will depart July 29.

This year’s cohort includes 14 students and two faculty/staff advisors from SUS – China’s premier higher education institution for physical education and sports.

The Summer Language, Culture, and Sports Studies Program offers daily English language instruction with a focus on experiential language use in the community, particularly through sports and recreational activities. Those activities included stand-up paddle boarding and a visit to UTK’s climbing wall. The program includes a series of KRSS seminars and tours such as tours to the Exercise Physiology Lab, and Neyland Stadium.

Students participated in a home-stay experience the weekend of July 8.

Lauren Wood, who coordinates ELI’s efforts for the group, commented on the group’s reliability and enthusiasm for classroom activities: “Our SUS students have been involved in class and are really positive about applying what they are learning in English classes to outside activities. They’ve been great to work with.”

Rob Hardin, who leads KRSS’ programming with the group, said “It’s always great to host students from SUS and introduce them to the American sporting culture. The group this year was able experience everything from Ijams Nature Center to the Women’s Basketball Hall of Fame to the Biomechanics Lab. Most of these things are totally new to them and it is great to see the look on their face when they experience something for the first time. It also a great learning experience for the students in our department as they lead many of the seminars.”