Newspapers / Elon University Student Newspaper / Sept. 23, 1993, edition 1 / Page 5
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.t'. Features September 23, 1993 Page 5 The Montagnard People A Tribe of the Vietnam Highlands Tiffany Edmondson Staff Reporter Imagine teaching foreign eople American culture and the nglish language, or how to buy loceries and cook. Elon students Karen Hipp nd Casey Lunny did just that irough an American Culture ass taught by Elon professor of istory Judith Beall. The project, organized by Jeall, is to teach Montagnard ^omen how to live in the United States and to cope with the Everyday style of American Culture. The Montagnard people are a tribe of the Viemam highlands who aided the United States in the Vieuiam War. They were left in the jungles of Vietnam. The U.S. government brought them over to start a new life. Beall began this project through a Catholic church in Greensboro that sponsors the Montagnard families. Hipp and Lunny both traveled to Greensboro over the summer to an apartment where the families met for class. Hipp described the project as a "home-ec" class for women. They taught the women some English by identifying simple items such as clothes and food. They also brought an anatomical sketch of the human body to help the women relate to their own bodies. ^ It was terrifying at first, not knowing if they would respond. But they were really nice, friendly people. ^ Karen Hipp Hipp said, "Some of the women were pregnant so when they identified with the word pregnancy they were always interested in learning." By doing this the women also learned to go to the hospital in an emergency. Hipp and Lunny also took the women to the grocery store to help them identify basic fruits and meats. They taught them measurements and how to use different cooking techniques such as boiling and frying. They also showed the women how to price food and eat on a small budget. The Montagnard women also became interested in makeup and asked the students how to wear it. Erika Wessman, who was one of the first to teach the class last spring, said, "We had to start with elementary learning and it took a long time to have a comfortable communicating relationship." The Montagnard men knew more English than the women because they had to get jobs and communicate outside the home. The students that taught the Montagnard people agreed that it was an intimidating experience. Hipp said, "It was terrifying at first, not knowing if they would respond. But they were really nice, friendly people." Both Hipp and Wessman agreed that teaching the Montagnard people was a cultural exchange and they learned as much from the people as they taught Hipp said, "Although we were teaching them the American culture, the Montagnard people still have their culture ingrained into them, and we had to respect that." Mr WELCOMES ALL ELON STUDENTS! Monday-Friday Saturday -Sunday 4:00 pm 1:00 pm Grand Opening Party! Sept 25th Free Cookout 4:00 pm rots Of Jtm! POOL TABI.ES CQOKOUTS LIVE BANDS KARAOKE FOOSBALL MTTG NIGHT VIDEOS DARIS HORSESHOES X MR. Greensboro STl DYHALL ^00 7000 Burlington Rd. 449-2044 ^ Highway 61 Burlington ELON>
Elon University Student Newspaper
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Sept. 23, 1993, edition 1
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