It took two years of negotiations to arrange for 25 Japanese women to come to Iowa State.

The women, from the Tokyo Stewardess School, wanted to come to ISU to learn English and computer skills. After two years of budget and curriculum negotiations between the Tokyo Stewardess School and ISU, the women finally arrived in Iowa on May 13.

“Iowa State is the only school in the United States that they’re sending students to this year,” said Patricia Morgan, director of the Intensive English and Orientation Program. Morgan is in charge of planning the curriculum for the Japanese women.

“It’s quite an honor. There’s potential for building a great relationship with Japan,” said Duane Litwiller, computer applications instructor for the Intensive English and Orientation Program.

Tokyo Stewardess School sent their students here because of ISU’s strong academic and technological reputation.

“ISU is in the forefront of computer technology, and we have a good English program,” Morgan said.

Educating the women required developing a new program.

The focus of this program “is to learn as much speaking English as possible,” Morgan said. Most intensive English programs center on reading English, she said.

The classroom materials are non-academic, Morgan said. One text is entitled Telephoning in English, which will help them work with people by phone, she said.

Aki Nakamoto, one of the Japanese students studying in Ames this summer, said she likes living in the U.S.

“I love it here,” she said. “There are few people and there is a lot of space.”

Nakamoto said her favorite part of her experience in Ames has been the people.

“The people is very kind,” she said.

Nakamoto said she was excited about coming to ISU. Since arriving in May, she said she has learned English