Talking it up with University of Minnesota International students

Twenty International students from the University of Minnesota visited with residents of The Kenwood Senior Living Community on Thursday, July 11, 2024. Senior citizens met with students to help improve the students’ English-speaking abilities.

For a decade prior to the pandemic The Kenwood had a partnership with the U of M’s English as a Second Language program called MELP. This is the first time seniors from the Kenwood are meeting with the students since the pandemic ended.

MELP’s mission is to improve English language skills of students at the University of Minnesota, helping them develop cultural understanding and the communication, critical thinking, and academic skills needed to be successful in academic, professional, and social settings.

“It’s a delightful program,” said Jennifer Volkenant, executive director of The Kenwood, “and we pair students with residents who were in similar career paths.”

The point is to encourage the Kenwood residents to converse with the students to improve the students’ English-speaking abilities.

The University of Minnesota’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program offers undergraduate and graduate credit courses in English grammar, reading, writing, and speaking, to help students be more effective in their research, work, and studies at the University.

University of Minnesota International Students Gallery

The Kenwood Senior Living is a rental retirement community which provides independent living and assisted living apartments and a full schedule of activities and services. Furnished apartments are also available for a short-term stay – a weekend, a week, a month or longer.

For more information, call 612-374-8100.