Cadets hone cultural skills during language immersion trips
Cadets 1st Class Ainsley Durand and Ameen Khan spent part of their summers before their senior year overseas in U.S. Air Force Academy Dean of Faculty Office of International Programs language immersions. This summer, 138 cadets and 13 faculty members participated in language immersions in nine countries. (U.S. Air Force Photo by Trevor Cokley)
By Randy Roughton
U.S. Air Force Academy Strategic Communications
U.S. AIR FORCE ACADEMY, Colo.- Summer language immersion opportunities at the U.S. Air Force Academy help sophomore and junior cadets develop their cultural competence while studying abroad. Cadets improve their foreign language abilities while experiencing a new culture.
Cadet 1st Class Ainsley Durand, who is minoring in French, spent her language immersion in France this summer where she was able to practice the progress she made in her Academy classes. She also serves as the cadet-in-charge of the Dean of Faculty’s Office of International Programs Cadet Staff.
“To learn a language is to learn a culture as well,” Durand said. “That’s hugely important as we have so many allies, partners and different groups that we will work with in the future. The reason the Academy has these programs for us is because our leaders see real value when we learn more about other languages and cultures.”
Three-phased approach
The Department of Foreign Languages and International Programs designs international education experiences to help cadets better understand how to not only function but thrive in an international environment.
Lt. Col. Meridee Trimble, director of International Programs, further explains the office’s programs are designed to help cadets achieve one of the Academy’s institutional outcomes, The Human Condition, Cultures, and Societies, through a three-phased approach of knowing oneself, knowing others, and constructive engagement.
“Cadets’ interactions abroad help students learn about their own identity, the identity of others, and develop cross-cultural competence to successfully function as leaders of character in domestic and international environments,” Trimble said.
The office prepares cadets for immersion opportunities by holding discussions about the host culture and society, risk management and safety, accountability and leadership, and the importance of being a good Academy ambassador, Trimble said.
Connecting with history
For Durand’s summer language immersion in France, she spent three-and-a-half weeks in the home of a 90-year-old woman who lived in Nazi-occupied western France during World War II. She had already completed other international education programs, but her most recent one left a lasting impression, Durand said.
“It was amazing to talk with her in her own language about her experiences as a World War II survivor,” Durand said. “Just hearing her talk about what it was like was something I’ll never forget. I also learned a lot of language and culture in general during this experience. We also got a chance to visit the [Normandy American Cemetery]. It was a chance to connect with my history and my heritage as an Airman.”
Confidence through culture
Cadet 1st Class Ameen Khan, who is minoring in Arabic and German, spent his language immersion in Oman where he practiced speaking Arabic.
Khan said he relied on his Academy instruction when the host institution representatives asked for volunteers to give a short speech at the farewell dinner. Khan’s Arabic instructor suggested he represent the group using the skills learned at the Academy.
“The experience just reminded me of scenarios we would practice for oral exams that I never would have thought could actually happen in real life,” Khan said.
Both cadets said their language skills improved because they were using them daily during their immersions.
“Finding people who speak common languages and making a connection with them was just an all-around amazing experience,” Khan said. “[It] really helps you build your confidence in your language ability when talking with people that you might not have talked with otherwise.”
In addition to the language immersion program, upper-class cadets can also apply to participate in cultural immersions, foreign academy visits, and semester exchange programs.
‘Embrace Culture. Empower People.’
This topic will be examined further during the 2024 National Character & Leadership Symposium, scheduled for Feb. 22-23, 2024. The symposium will examine the common experiences, emotions and challenges all humans share. This year’s tagline, “Embrace Culture. Empower People.” is rooted in our institutional outcome of “Valuing Human Conditions, Cultures, and Societies.” Registration opens in January. See videos from NCLS 2023.