UNIVERSITY PARK, Pa. — When starting at Penn State, Francisca Figueroa Vidal said she believed her limited English-speaking skills might prevent her from successfully completing her degree. Figueroa Vidal — who is pursuing a doctoral degree in higher education — felt what she described as impostor syndrome. She spent more time on assignments than the rest of her classmates, and faced increased difficulties expressing thoughts and ideas in English.
Figueroa Vidal dreaded receiving a new task. Work she felt capable of completing in Spanish became more difficult when she had to seemingly translate all her concepts into English.
“I was forced to begin thinking in English,” she said. “I knew that I had the knowledge and could convey my ideas well in Spanish, but trying to transfer that to an unfamiliar language added a level of complexity.”
Figueroa Vidal relocated to State College from Chile in 2023 to further her education. Having learned English only a few years prior to moving, she encountered challenges not only completing class assignments, but also in everyday interactions with professors and peers. Acquainting herself with the conversational vernacular in State College presented yet another barrier, according to Figueroa Vidal.
This is the intimidating situation international students can encounter across the University. Figueroa Vidal knew she needed additional support to succeed at Penn State, so she began searching for on-campus resources that could improve her English speaking and writing skills.
That’s when she found the English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC).
What is the English for Professional Purposes Intercultural Center (EPPIC)?
EPPIC is an academic center at Penn State designed to provide advanced English language support to international students and scholars.
“EPPIC has been amazing,” Figueroa Vidal said. “I started attending EPPIC’s webinars and workshops, because they focused on writing, speaking and pronunciation. It’s exactly what I needed when I first moved to State College.”
EPPIC’s specialized workshops and other language support services offer guidance to students, both on campus at University Park and virtually across the commonwealth, and cover a wide range of topics related to academic communication. Sessions focus on email etiquette, American English pronunciation, conversational English, research writing, networking and preparing for job interviews in the U.S.
As a secondary mission, EPPIC aims to cultivate engaged intercultural communication across the Penn State community.
“All of us who work on the EPPIC team have studied languages besides English and have lived in other countries. When we were in those other countries, we wished there was a place to go to ask questions not only about the language, but also about local cultures and customs,” said Meredith Doran, director of EPPIC. “We created EPPIC in part to be a place where students can ask questions like these when they are adjusting to life at Penn State.”
International students who are new to University Park may find helpful EPPIC’s Speak UP: Weekly English Speaking Group. Speak UP sessions offer a space to discuss and practice the everyday language used in academic, interpersonal and professional life at Penn State. Led by an EPPIC language specialist, each weekly session provides participants with a short lesson, followed by discussion and practice of commonly used language. Each week’s group meeting is centered around a type of communication common in university life, such as small talk, everyday colloquial phrases, socializing with peers or talking with one’s adviser.
“Students can learn about everyday interactions at Penn State, whether it’s participating in discussions in class, introducing yourself, or even something like interacting at the grocery store or how to order food at a restaurant,” Doran said.
University Park international students seeking writing assistance should attend the twice-weekly EPPIC-Write-A-Thon: Writing Support Group.