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| Identifying
and Meeting the Needs of International Students On Campus By Brian Treece,
Coordinator for Housing and Residence Life Imagine
boarding a plane and flying twenty-seven hours to a country you’ve
only read about. Imagine saying goodbye to all of your family and friends,
unsure of when you’ll return. Imagine arriving at a campus where
you can not read the signs, have no idea where you need to go, and are
hungry, tired and ready to get back on the plane and go home. This is
how many international students feel as they arrive in the United States
to go to school. With so many international students attending school
in the United States to continue their education, it is important for
us to be able to positively work with this group. The first
step in working with international students is to realize how their needs
may be different from the needs of American students. By identifying both
immediate and long-term needs, we can better meet their needs. Some
of the immediate needs of international students include finding:
These are
the easiest needs to meet. Start by being friendly when you first meet
the student (especially if you are the one who checks the student into
his/her room). Show them where they can find food (either a restaurant,
convenience store, or even a vending machine), and where the nearest payphone
is. Be sure that you know where calling cards can be purchased, as this
may be one of the only ways a student can contact home. After you answer
any questions they may have, just let them go into their room, get settled,
and get some rest. After they are rested, they will be more ready to hear
the rules and regulations, fill out the necessary forms, and get started.
Be sure to be available if the student has any questions. Some
of the long-term needs of international students include:
The long-term
needs are definitely more difficult to meet than the immediate needs.
When it comes to experiencing “American” culture, one way to
do this is through programming. During the holidays (especially those
celebrated specifically in the U.S.), plan programs that will help students
understand and experience what is typically done during that holiday.
Some successful programs at our campus in this area include having pumpkin
carving during October, taking a trip to see fireworks on the 4th of July,
and Thanksgiving dinners during November. At this same time, give opportunities
for international students to share what they do in their countries during
specific holidays. Another way to meet this need is through daily interactions
with your residents. Share all you can about different things you do (from
shopping for groceries to things you do with your friends for fun). Ask
the students to go with you on some of these activities and both of you
will learn from the experience. Leaving
all friends and family behind can cause some stress to students, both
American and international. Be there for your residents to support them
as they make new friends and start their new social life. Offer to do
things with your international residents, but also show them avenues to
find other people with whom to socialize. Helping
international students when “the honeymoon is over” is also
important. International students have high expectations of what school
and life will be like. Unfortunately, sometimes those expectations are
not realistic. When students see their room is not as big as expected,
some people are not as friendly, their classes are not as easy, and as
they start to encounter some of the same day-to-day problems as do other
students, they may begin to feel disappointed, sad, and ready to go home.
This is the time staff members need to show the resident that they care
and help them through the little problems that make a big difference. Working
with international students can be an amazing experience. Remember to
be patient and understanding when communicating with the students and
be prepared to repeat and rephrase some of the things you say. Taking
the extra time to work with this population will not only benefit the
student, but you, too, will learn about a culture different from your
own. About the Author Brian Treece is the Coordinator for Housing and Residence Life at The University of Findlay. He is in his first year in this position, previously being both a Resident Assistant and House Director. He graduated with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Elementary Education and is currently working on a Master’s Degree in Education. A
side note: With the current tragedy facing our nation today, it is important to realize how international students may also be affected. Depending on where the student is from, he or she may have mixed reactions to the events. Some students have seen events like the ones on September 11, 2001 happen in their countries and know about possible future implications. Some students are not getting correct or sufficient information due to their limited English proficiency. Other students are scared because they are so far away from home and away from the sense of security families can offer. Still others are worried because they may become a target due to where they are from or what they look like. Talk to all of your residents (both international and American) about how they are feeling and work with the International Affairs office on your campus to make sure that their concerns and fears are being addressed. |
