The English language program at LCI is not merely a course. It is a “total immersion” experience in which the students are plunged into an English-only environment. Students take five hours of class in English every day, where they quickly learn how to communicate in speaking, listening, reading and writing. Specialized classes in writing for academic and business purposes, public speaking, and drama are offered as well. The skills students learn in class are consolidated and extended in their living situation, as they are surrounded by native speakers in the cafeteria, in the residence hall and in virtually every area of campus life. The more advanced students can take other classes with the American students on campus, and thus extend their knowledge of the language in specific fields related to their future work, such as theology, psychology or business.
After their year in Gaming, the students have used English at international conferences, in job interviews, homilies, and many other settings.
Catechesis and Spiritual Formation
Every LCI student studies the Catechism of the Catholic Church. Class size is always small, so the professors are able to tailor the course to the level of language and theological background of the students. In addition to learning the basics of the faith, students can choose other theology classes offered on campus, such as Scripture, Christian marriage, and Catholic moral principles.
Daily Mass and perpetual Adoration are important elements in the growth and formation of all the students. Though not required, participation is high and supported by a positive attitude among the students, faculty, and staff of the four institutes on campus.
Daily prayer, both organized and spontaneous, focusing on a Scripture passage, the lives of the saints, or the liturgical season, helps the students cultivate their own spiritual lives and leads them to deeper conversion.
Building bridges in an international community
The Kartause is a place that witnesses to peace among nations. Often when our students arrive at the LCI, it is their first experience abroad. Some come with prejudices, mistrust, and even hostility toward people from “enemy” nations. Over the course of the year, indeed within the first few weeks, walls are torn down and barriers are broken as students pray, live, and work together. As one of our students said, “Living in a country where there was no ability to travel abroad and meet people – you cannot meet and understand other cultures, you treat other people as strangers. In Gaming all these prejudices were erased almost on the first day – at the moment of the first common prayer” (Dariusz Ratowski, LCI 1993, Poland).
The international community in the student residence, St. Francis House, is a benefit not only to the LCI students but also to the Americans, who experience the richness and universality of the Catholic Church. Following are comments from professors and students:
Supporting the New Springtime in Central and Eastern Europe and China
The year spent in Gaming has been for many a year of strengthening, both intellectually and spiritually, and has given them the practical tools necessary to help the bishops and the Church at large. The work our students have done since they left Gaming is in many respects immeasurable. Pope John Paul II once wrote, “As the third millennium of the redemption draws near, God is preparing a great springtime for Christianity, and we can already see its first signs”(Redemptoris Missio, 86). Among these “first signs” are the graduates of the LCI, who are spreading a missionary zeal from Gaming across all of Central and Eastern Europe and China.
How LCI Graduates Are Serving the Church
“You have helped the Latvian Church to raise a new generation of dedicated Church workers. We are thankful for it.”
Anton Justs Bishop of Jelgava, Latvia
“I am working in my Bishop’s office, and also at a new Catholic publishing house. Together with another LCI student, Anna Shilova, I work with teenagers in my parish. We have prayer meetings, and we started visiting an orphanage to help the children there. My Bishop also wants me to start a center for marriage and family. I am very busy!”
Irena Silenevitch LCI 1996, Belarus
“I am working in the ‘St. Ignatius,’ a center for spiritual retreats, meetings, training for the laity and priests of the diocese. I am responsible for the programs. From last year beside this besides this I am teaching catechism at school for 130 students of fifteen to sixteen years old, and I prepare a group of 60 children for First Communion at my parish. I regularly lecture at a Catholic seminar for adults in different theological subjects. And my future plans: in my free-time to work in Catholic broadcasting…”
Erika Trepszker SJC, 1994, Romania
“Since I left Gaming I have worked full-time in the Church in different ways – leading the choir, as a catechist, in the Catholic newspaper, and for the last three years as an editor of the catechetical magazine. I am sure it was a good idea about the language program in Gaming. It can help a lot to widen one’s vision and understanding of faith and Church and their richness, and healthy pluralism, about oneself and other people.”
Lola Ibragimova 1994, Russia
“We are working in a community with single, married, and divorced people, both Catholics and Protestants. We organize summer camps for young people and monthly retreats for all who are ready to listen to God’s words.”
Kristine and Guntars Paeglis
1997 , Latvia
Why English Is So Important? “The language of international communication is more and more English. We get letters written in English from all over the world, even from Austria, Germany and Italy.
Our guests speak English rather than other languages. We can get more and more books and teaching aids in English. In our office there is nobody who speaks English and in our diocese there are only a few priests and lay people who can understand English. So we are very grateful to LCI for organizing English courses."
Gyula Marfi Bishop of Veszprem, Hungary
“It is absolutely necessary to have a good command of foreign languages to be able to reach readily for new challenges and to fulfill new tasks and obligations brought on by a
new age of cooperation and integration of Europe.”
Jan Glasa LCI 1992, Slovakia
“Really, the LCI program is excellent. After two semesters in Gaming, I was able to communicate fluently with English-speaking people, I am able to read English books and articles,
to write letters in English,
short articles, etc. It is very useful for me and my professional life.”
Ladislav Bucko LCI 1994, Slovakia
Spiritual Life
in Gaming
“We have sent several people to the Language and Catechetical Institute, and it has changed their lives. One of the students entered the seminary after his return and was ordained this year. Another one entered the order of Franciscan Missionaries of Mary in Slovenia. Most of the others actively help the Church in other areas. Therefore I believe in the importance of the LCI program and recommend its continuation.”
Franc Kramberger Bishop of Maribor, Slovenia
“Many of us came to Gaming from the secular world, having not much connection with church, not having Christian experience and knowledge, and returned to their homes renewed and with more or less clear vision of Christian life plus the knowledge of English. As for me personally, I always tell my friends that the year I spent in Gaming was the best year of my life, and it’s true… God touched my soul in a very powerful way.”
“Many of us came to Gaming from the secular world, having not much connection with church, not having Christian experience and knowledge, and returned to their homes renewed and with more or less clear vision of Christian life plus the knowledge of English. As for me personally, I always tell my friends that the year I spent in Gaming was the best year of my life, and it’s true… God touched my soul in a very powerful way.”