For a quarter of a century, West Virginia Universitys Intensive English Program has helped international students become acclimated to life in the place that for them is a foreign country.

The program that makes students proficient in the English language turns 25 this year, and WVU is celebrating next week with a host of international themed events that take in everything from Japanese fencing demonstrations to Salsa dancing.

Its an opportunity for our students to showcase their culture while also letting the community know who we are and what we do,said Anna Cicala, a graduate assistant who teaches English in the program.

Along with the fencing and dancing, other displays and demonstrations will feature the art of henna and origami, Japanese martial arts and a traditional Japanese tea gathering.

Students in the program will staff the displays and demonstrations on Monday, Wednesday and FridayApril 4, 6 and 8from 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. at the Mountainlair.

A 4 p.m. reception that Friday at E. Moore Hall on the downtown campus will cap the celebration.

WVU makes Morgantown a vibrant, international community,Cicala said.

Asian students comprise the majority of the programs enrollment, she said, followed by students from the Middle East and South America.

After attending the program, many of those students use their skills in English to enroll in courses of study at WVU and other schools across the country and world.

No matter where those students go, we hope they take a part of WVU with them,Cicala said.