USC Gould makes California Dreamin’ a reality for its international students
International students in USC Gould’s Summer Law and English (SLE) program piled onto two chilled charter buses for a study break under the Santa Monica sun. Equipped with cameras, sunglasses and beach essentials, clusters of students discussed day plans in various languages that drowned out Prince’s “Let’s Go,” a fitting soundtrack to the start of their Southern California adventure.
The SLE program celebrates its 10th anniversary this year and is open to students outside of the United States who have earned their first law degree or are close to obtaining it. During the four-week program, they have the opportunity to take basic American law classes and legal English classes to improve their fluency in the language.
Anne Marlenga, associate director of USC Gould’s Office of Graduate and International Programs, said the school was hosting 103 students this summer. Of these, 64 students were staying for the LL.M. program and 39 were participating only in the SLE program and later would be returning home or attending other schools. Although many of the students are already legal professionals, the SLE program hosts undergraduates as well.
“This is our fifth year at Santa Monica,” Marlenga said. “It’s touristy; we also go to the Getty and a Dodgers game. These are quintessential summer spots, and this seems to be what they enjoy most.”
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| Abdullah Alsaad (l.) from Saudi Arabia and Kris Vamderhallen from Belgium stop for a picture during lunch on the pier. |
After the first week of classes together, the SLE students enjoyed their time in the beach city. Stories from home were swapped along with French fries and photos snapped since their arrival on the pier. Abdullah Alsaad, an LL.M student from Saudi Arabia, said the summer program was an enjoyable introduction to what he hopes will be a rewarding academic journey at USC. Upon receiving his LL.M. in business law, he hopes to continue his studies for an S.J.D.
“I came to ‘SC to study for my master’s in business law,” Alsaad said. “This first week has been a beneficial time and fun simultaneously. Before this I studied English in Boston for three months and I have heard a lot about Santa Monica so I want to explore it.”
Marlenga said that the SLE students do their fair share of exploring on the weekends, traveling to Vegas, San Diego and other tourist destinations. What makes the program more enjoyable for students is that they are able to bring their families and friends to the events.
Hans Christian Hansen, an assistant attorney from Denmark who specializes in bankruptcy and intellectual property law, said he enjoyed being able to share his four week SLE program experience with his wife, Anita. Although he will not stay for the LL.M. program, he said he has enjoyed the curriculum that USC Gould has planned during his visit.
“The classes are great,” Hansen said. “We learn a lot, everything from civil procedure, U.S. law, torts -- we are enjoying ourselves.”
Apoorva Gangapatnam recently graduated with a degree in law from National University of Advanced Legal Studies in India. She said the SLE program offered a much needed break from three-hour exams and difficult assessments under the marks grading system in India.
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| Apoorva Gangapatnam says she is enjoying her time in Los Angeles. |
“We learn a lot during this program and it feels so great not to be graded,” Gangapatnam said. “It allows us to really enjoy what we are studying. In India we get graded out of 100 marks. Fifty marks are essay exams and the remaining 50 are strictly professors’ remarks on your performance, so it can be stressful.”
Under the pier, SLE students joined hundreds of people who buried the stress of the week in the sand and rode the waves to a fresh start to the weekend. After shopping on Third Street Promenade and sightseeing, the students returned their seats on the bus with sighs of contentment and took turns sharing about the day until they grew silent, lulled by the slow journey through rush-hour traffic.
With one week down and three more to go, the SLE students will have more opportunities to make memories and build friendships before many of them return home. For the students who stay for the LL.M. program, however, this is just the first week of many to be filled with adventures.
For more photos of their day, visit the slideshow page.
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