East meets west at Northwestern

WINSTED — Northwestern Regional High School is looking to expand its global horizons with a new program that will bring a small group of Korean and Chinese students to live and study here next fall.

According to Superintendent of Schools Clint Montgomery, the international student project will enhance the district’s global skills curriculum by providing students with an opportunity to live and study with students who, although they are the same age, share a different culture and language.

“We’re trying to create a broader sense [of our place] in the global world,� Montgomery said.

Global skills have become an increasingly important focus for many high school and college students, as the worlds of business, technology, government and other fields become globalized.

In the same way, the international students who chose to come to study and live here, are also looking to balance their education by improving their English language skills and the experience of a long-term exposure to Western culture.

“They are looking for a broader curriculum, but they are also looking at the social advantages and opportunities as well,� Montgomery said of the international students.

Montgomery said the project would also provide an important complement to the high school’s Chinese language program.

“It all fits together,� Montgomery said, adding that the district is also in the beginning stages of developing a new Arabic language program.

The project, which has been in the works for more than a year, was recently given the green light as a pilot program of five students by the district’s board of education.

If the venture proves to be successful, Montgomery said the district hopes to expand the program to both increase the number of international students and lengthen their stay, beginning study here in ninth grade and continuing through to 12th grade and graduation.

Because of this, the project would be similar to college students who study abroad, as opposed to a typical high school exchange student program.

“It’s a different kind of approach,� Montgomery said.

In addition to the educational and cultural benefits the program would provide, Montgomery said each of the international students would be required to pay full tuition to the district, as well as room and board to their host families here.

“So there’s a fiscal advantage as well. It’s a win-win,� he said.

Over the past several months the district has been working with the South Korean-based Nexdore, an overseas study management agency, to identify students who are not only interested in coming here, but also have the English language skills required.

So far, three students have been selected as meeting that criteria.

In addition, the district has been working closely with Homeland Security and other government agencies to make sure the administration is following proper procedures in setting up the program. Also, Region 7 is one of the few Connecticut school districts that have received federal approval to be named to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS) list.