By Shawn Hutchinson
As students across the nation head back to their respective
campuses, there will be some new faces around. While most of these students are
American, as many as two thousand international students from 90 different
countries are represented as Washington State University’s Pullman campus.
One of the biggest challenges facing international students
is adjusting to the language, said Ryan Chen, an international student from
Taiwan. Chen said the language barrier is particularly noticeable in classes,
where professors teach in English. Chen said it is tough to talk and engage in
class because of his limited English ability.
Another international student, Ehsan Mohandesi also said
the English language can be difficult to adjust to. “Sometimes it’s difficult
to keep up with the speed Americans talk at, and some words can be confusing,”
said Mohandesi.
International center intern Esmeralda Murua said language
is one of a few common issues international students face when they come to the
United States. “Some come with a small amount of English knowledge, and some
have more,” said Murua.
Murua said culture shock is another common issue for a lot
of international students. Murua said the way that people interact with each
other in the United States is very different. This culture shock can make some
international students scared to break away from their groups of other students
of their own culture.
Mohandesi said the American culture is different in some
ways, but also shares some similarities to his native Iran. Mohandesi said
singers like Shakira, Katy Perry and Enrique Iglesias are all popular in both
Iran and the United States. Mohandesi also said that a lot of American movies
are popular in Iran.
At WSU, international students have a resource called the
International Center, where they can interact with other students from many
cultures and have a safe place to go. Murua said one key part of the
International Center is the Campus Friends and Family program, which allows a
structured interaction between American and international students. “It allows
international students to immerse themselves easier,” said Murua. “It also
helps them to get involved in multiple cultures.”
Mohandesi said the International Center had a program in
2013 that allowed American students to interact with international students by
playing board games and have conversations on a weekly basis, but that program
is no longer active. Mohandesi said he liked this program as well as the events
that get international students involved with Americans because it helped him
to integrate with the culture.
As much as international students want to interact with
Americans, the process goes both ways. Americans also need to be willing to
accept the difference between themselves and international students. “Americans
should learn and know the boundaries for interaction,” said Murua. “The
getting-to-know process is mutual and respecting other cultures is important.”
Murua said the best way to make international students feel
welcome is to initiate interaction and befriend them. “They want to know
Americans and practice English, but some can be shy,” said Murua. Chen said
having American friends talk to him and go out to dinner with him made him feel
more welcome in the United States. Mohandesi said being roommates with three
Americans helped him to feel welcome and adjust. “They taught me a lot about
American culture and interaction,” said Mohandesi.
Sources
Ryan Chen, (509)-339-4110
Esmeralda Murua, (360)-620-4546
Ehsan Mohandesi, (832)-417-8639
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