The E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center is offering a new way to “Experience Muncie.”

Beginning March 29, the center will offer an “Experience Muncie” course specifically created for the English language learner.

This noncredit class was designed to provide stimulating intellectual opportunities to English language learners through presentations, conversations, and field trips to familiarize learners with the arts, culture, and other opportunities available locally.

Students must be intermediate-level English language speakers who possess conversational skills and have transportation to the E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center and other nearby sites.

The class will be led by Tania Said, of Tania Said Consulting, who has more than 30 years of experience in museums, higher education, government, and nonprofits. Tania worked on the Ball State University campus for nearly 17 years – including 15 years at the David Owsley Museum of Art followed by a stint at the Ball State University Foundation. In addition to earning a bachelor’s in media and art history from Ball State and a master’s in museum studies from The George Washington University, Tania completed a Ball State graduate certificate in Teaching English Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).

“Learning is social,” Said noted. “Rarely are there experiential learning opportunities specifically for English Language Learners, so I wanted to meet their English learning needs with their interests and curiosity about Muncie.”

What can students expect from the classes?

“Students can expect a high level of interactivity along with vocabulary, grammar, and cultural conversation follow-up as the class progresses in response to field trips and their learning community,” Said explained.

Diane Watters, Associate Director at The E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center, said the program will fit right in at the center.

“The E.B. and Bertha C. Ball Center has a long history of providing cultural and personal enrichment programs to the community,” she said. “’Experience Muncie’ is natural fit because it addresses a current need in our community and also complements other programs already in place such as the English as a Second Language class offered at the Ross Community Center.”

Classes will be 2-3:30 p.m. Wednesdays March 29 through May 3. Cost is $125.

This class is limited to 10 students. Register and pay online (Class listed under “Languages”) at https://www.bsu.edu/academics/centersandinstitutes/eb-bertha-c-ball/cultural-and-personal-enrichment.

Call 765-285-8975 or email ebball@bsu.edu for additional information.