Student center now home to 'Adam's Sing Song Hour'

Bob Dylan is teaching students to speak better English here at IU. Well, at least his songs are. IU senior Adam Balbo has brought the music of Dylan, the Beatles, and many other popular artists to international students as a means of helping them with English pronunciation. \nFrom 4-5 p.m. every Thursday at the Leo R. Dowling International Student Center, 111 S. Jordan Ave., international students and other IU students alike can gather together on a breezy porch overlooking Jordan Avenue to sing "Blowin' in the Wind" and other favorites. Led by the soft-spoken Balbo, who also accompanies participants on his guitar, international students can learn how to improve their English through song.\nBalbo creates a casual and relaxed atmosphere for his international friends during his "Singsong." With his patient teaching and gentle manner of explanation, Balbo generates an intimate setting, acting as a friend and classmate who kindly gives any help needed to students whose first language is not English. While some students discovered the "Singsong" through an e-mail sent by the International Center, others said they heard about it from Balbo himself. A history major who is also heavily involved in Chinese studies, Balbo promoted his program to many of his international friends during the International Center's weekly Chinese conversation hour.\nSe-Yeong Jung, a graduate student from South Korea who is majoring in Chinese studies, said that is how she got involved with the program. Jung quietly asked questions of Adam after the group and then sang a heart-felt rendition of Paul Simon's "Homeward Bound."\n"Adam had asked me if I would like to come," Jung said. "Today is my first time. I enjoyed it very much."\nWhile music is a gift that he now shares with others, Adam Balbo didn't always take his craft seriously. He said in high school he "accidentally started playing guitar." But that accident soon grew into a passion. In college Balbo has not only mastered the guitar, but he has also begun to compose his own music, which he also shares during his "Singsong."\nBalbo said he considers music to play a large role in his life.\n"Its what I do...I consider myself a musician," he said.\nGonzalo Isidro-Bruno, coordinator of activities at the International Student Center, noticed Balbo's talents and kind nature, and inspired him to create the "Singsong."\n"Bruno plans activities for the international students all the time," Balbo said.\nThese activities include weekly conversation hours --sessions where international students teach their language to their peers -- field trips, Salsa dance lessons, International dance parties, and an International Cooking Circle, where students can meet to cook and exchange their best recipes from home.\n"We attend a lot of activities here," says John Hu, a business major from Beijing, China. "It's a good way to make friends."\nAdded as of last week to the long list of the Center's events is Balbo's weekly "Singsong," which will continue to meet every Thursday throughout the month of May and for the first two weeks of June.\nAfter a rendition of "Yellow Submarine" by the Beatles during this past Thursday's "Singsong," Balbo performed an original song entitled "Then We Will be Home." While only Balbo sang the first verse, other students quickly learned the melody to chime in with the second and third verses, "Look at the sun set, we will have eyes yet/ Then we will be home"