International Center Offers Language Lessons

The International Center located in West Lafayette, Indiana is a community organization dedicated to enriching the diversity in the community through various programs. It was founded in 1971 with the purpose of fostering international communication and understanding within the community. The center is a non-for-profit organization run by volunteers, both international and local, who give their time.

Foreign language classes are offered for German, Chinese, French, Japenese, Polish, Korean, Russian, Turkish and Spanish. They have various courses in each language, from beginning classes to conversation classes. The rate for these classes is $35. English classes are also offered for those whose native language is not English. These classes are free with a one-time fee of $3 for materials.

On Tuesdays from 10 am to 11:30 am, the center hosts 'Coffee and Conversation' which helps international women to meet women from the local community and make friends, all while increasing their language skills. The only month 'Coffee and Conversation' does not meet is July. Along with language courses, the center also offers International Cooking Classes that meet Wednesdays between 5:30 pm and 8 pm. The cost is $10 for students and $12 for others. There are also guitar lessons and Tai Chi Chuan available.

The International Center has a few annual events. The first is the Global Fest, which is a celebration of the people and cultures that make up the local community. This event is sponsored by the West Lafayette Mayor's Office and the Parks & Recreation Department. At the fest is cultural displays, music and dancing, as well as a number of ethnic foods. The second annual events it the International Food Bazaar. It has samples of foods from over 20 countries around the world, and serves at the primary fundraiser for the International Center. The event is held at University Church at 320 North Street in West Lafayette.

The center pairs with Purdue University for some student clubs on campus. These include the Dining Club, where they meet on the third Friday of every month at 6:30 pm to enjoy local ethnic cuisine; Purdue Chinese School, which offers Chinese courses for language and culture are taught; French Conversation, which is a free meeting every Friday from 12:30 pm to 1:30 pm and the participants only speak French the whole time; and the International Play Group, which meets Thursdays from 10 am to 11:30 am that teaches young children (newborns - preschoolers) songs from a different country each week, teaching the little ones about various cultures.

The International Center also offers dinner parties, dances, and parties which can all be found on their website. It provides housing for eight international students. It is located within walking distance of Purdue, located on Russell Street, and is on the City Bus line. These have a one-year lease and the rent is $375, $390, or $425 depending on the room size, with all utilities included except for telephone. Each student has their own room and shares a bathroom with one or two others, as well as the common areas (kitchen, living room, dining room). The students are expected to participate in some of the center's activities, especially the International Food Bazaar.

All in all, the International Center in West Lafayette, Indiana provides many opportunities for the local community to improve their foreign language skills, meet people from different cultures, and become more worldly.