Utica Academy for International Studies Promotes Literary Proficiency

For the past 10 years, Dr. Christine Johns has served as superintendent of Utica Community Schools in Michigan. As superintendent, Dr. Christine Johns oversees several specialized programs, such as the Utica Academy for International Studies (UAIS).

The UAIS’s mission is to develop an appreciation for both personal and academic growth. In addition to exploring other nations’ cultures, the school requires advanced participation in the study of Western literary traditions.

UAIS students must complete six credits of English language arts, beginning with Honors English 9. In that course, they develop an appreciation for literary expression by reading such classics as Romeo and Juliet and Of Mice and Men.

As they develop analytical writing skills, students move on to Honors English 10, in which they study foreign authors, focusing on works such as The Kite Runner, Brave New World, and The Prophet.

Speech/Production Teams 9 and 10 facilitate speaking and listening abilities as students give formal presentations and practice informal communication. They also begin to develop research skills for their Extended Essay, which is required for graduation.

Juniors and seniors graders must take IB English HL/SL, which includes material crucial to earning the school’s International Baccalaureate. Works translated from other languages provide insight into cultures of other societies, which students learn to understand by research and oral presentations.