By Jamie Funk
In its beginnings, International Language Programs consisted of 30 volunteers teaching English in Russia but now more than 400 volunteers travel to locations including Russia, Ukraine, China, Taiwan and Japan with ILP to volunteer.
In 1992 Steve Brayton, ILP program director, traveled with the first ILP group to Moscow.
'All 30 of us who were in that first group in Russia felt like we were definitely there for a reason. Those of us who didn''t realize this before definitely knew after we returned.'
ILP was originally organized as a BYU study abroad-type program under the direction of Professor Trevor McKee. When BYU cancelled the program, Brayton, along with four others from the original group, determined to work toward preserving the program. They observed the positive effect teaching English had on Russian children and wanted to continue to send volunteers to participate in this program.
But now, along with volunteers, ILP offers paid positions in China and Taiwan for college graduates who are less enthusiastic to work without pay.
'We have a city in China that has requested to have teachers with four year degrees,' said Brayton. The airfare is provided and teachers receive $350 a month.
Despite the temptation of a paid trip and small stipend, Lisa Bodily, a senior at Utah State majoring Elementary Education and Early Childhood Development said she would still rather volunteer than accept a salary.
'By volunteering you are more appreciative,' she said.
International Language Program has operated as a non-profit organization for 12 years. Though independent from BYU, the program aligns itself closely with the aims and values of the university.
Volunteers sign a code of conduct similar to the Honor Code and agree to abstain from alcohol, dating and lewd behavior, among other things.
The differences between ILP and study abroad programs are clear, however. ILP Volunteers pay $1,900 to give service, but do not receive college credit for their time and work.
Some might wonder why college students willingly sacrifice five months of their time and such a large chunk of money. Allison Enslin, a junior from Salt Lake majoring in Elementary Education volunteered in China last year. She agreed it is a big time commitment but says the dividends are well worth the cost.
'It''s a big time commitment but dropping all of the things that you have going on with respect to your own timeline is so rewarding,' Enslin said. 'You''re going to gain more from this than you ever could from those classes that you didn''t take that semester.'
The lessons learned while abroad are invaluable, said Brayton. He said students grow spiritually while gaining independence and progressing academically.
'A lot of people have a real spiritual experience when they go,' he said. 'They struggle with culture shock and things like that, but because of their beliefs and upbringing they turn to prayer and they really grow. It has a seasoning effect on them.'
Bodily said that it was a great experience to realize what it is like to be part of a worldwide church. When General Conference aired, she and the other volunteers listened to the broadcast via the Internet in the middle of the night in their dorm room in China.
Despite being away from family and friends, ILP volunteers said the experiences they gained were well worth the sacrifice.
'I went and loved it and I never talked to anyone who didn''t love it,' Enslin said. 'You learn so much. It is hard, but it''s so rewarding.'