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The Queen’s School of English gave guests a taste of international flavour during their 75th anniversary event.

The school welcomes students from around the world to learn English language skills and prepare them for undergraduate and graduate studies. Students in the Volunteering in the Kingston Community course at the school created internationally themed booths in the Agnes Etherington Art Centre on Monday, Dec. 4.

“The booths were a visual and taste tour of the world,” said Kate Fazackerley, Student Services and Events Assistant with the school. “Guests got to see their names written in Arabic, Japanese, and Chinese, learn about their Chinese zodiac sign, answer trivia facts, and eat foods from the regions, such as tofu, kimchi, Arabian coffee, green tea, pocky sticks and mochi balls.”

Speakers at the event included Vern “Mishiikenh” Altiman, cultural counsellor with Four Directions; Principal Daniel Woolf; Rebecca Luce-Kapler, Dean of the Faculty of Education; Jim Neill, Deputy Mayor of Kingston; two alumni of the School of English, and one current student with the school.

Originally founded in 1941, a handful of students from Quebec would come to the Queen’s school to learn English over the summer. Since then, the school has grown to upwards of 500 students, who study in short-term and long-term intensive English language courses over a full year.

“The School of English is growing, so this anniversary is a great opportunity to invite people to see what we’ve been up to since our last celebration five years ago,” said Amie Pilgrim, instructor with the school. “I think it’s also valuable in supporting students, to connect them with the community they’re living in.”

“I think the most interesting thing about the school is the diversity,” said Angel Guo, a current student with the school from China who wants to study Film and Media at Queen’s when she graduates. “It’s the first time that the international students meet students from other countries, in one class. We can find friends, and improve our English skills.”