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Ecuadorian students work to achieve their dreams with PHCC

This month, Patrick Henry Community College is hosting ten students from Ecuador for a three week cultural and language emersion experience. The program, created by PHCC’s International Advisor, Enda Crehan, is designed to help these students make the transition between high school and college and to discover the benefits PHCC and this community offer.

During their visit, students complete a brief course in English, compete in a soccer tournament with Division III teams from Ferrum University and Roanoke College, experience a trip to Busch Gardens, and explore several of the area’s colleges and universities.

“For all of these young men, some of whom only know basic English right now, getting a degree from the U.S. and being bilingual will make them incredibly competitive in South America,” says Crehan, who began developing this program last October.  “This program shows them what it takes to achieve their dreams and prepares them to take on the challenge.”

The young men say their dreams are to attend an American university, to play soccer internationally, or simply to get a more competitive degree. According to Crehan, this program is tailored to help these students meet their goals, particularly by preparing them to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOFEL) exam which is a required for admittance to American universities and colleges.

“This is a big opportunity for these young men,” says Carlos Moran, former international soccer player and one of the Soccer College Showcase directors.  “This program is not only designed to expose these students to the opportunities that are in the states, but to also motivate and prepare them to take advantage of these opportunities.”