Students and teachers at Jordan Small Middle School may have a teaching assistant from Korea next year, if one or more families express interest in hosting an international exchange visitor from Korea.

The teaching assistant would come through the Tokyo-based International Internship Program (IIP), a leading international exchange organization. The program has placed several thousand Asian teaching assistants over the past 25 years. The teaching assistants, typically between ages 20-25, contribute their energy and expertise to enable students to learn first-hand about the customs, culture and language of Asia.

The program is designed to provide students with a memorable cross-cultural experience. An exciting part of program is having local families host the visitor from Korea. This creates a unique opportunity for the host family to develop a lifelong friend in Asia and to enjoy a unique exchange of culture and ideas within their own household.

More than one family can host and it is common for several families to participate.

The Korean intern would arrive in fall for the 2007-2008 school year. The only part of the agreement between Raymond and the internship program not in place is the provision of a host family.

Families interested in becoming a host family should call Principal Randy Crockett at 655-4743.