Language Partners Program

 

I had the opportunity to become a part of the Language Partners Program during fall of my sophomore year and continued to be a part of the program through spring of my sophomore year. Through this program I was paired with an international student each semester where I helped them improve their English skills, knowledge of American culture as well as tutor them in their coursework. Alongside helping these students, I also was able to learn about their culture and home country. The two students I worked with were from Kenya and South Korea. I feel as though I better connected with the student from South Korea which allowed me to gain further knowledge on his experiences. It was interesting to me how big of a culture shock he had coming to the United States. He told me how something as simple as not being able to walk to get groceries was a big adjustment for him as there are lots of markets in the streets to shop at, so you do not have to go far. In addition, he talked about the way relationships are perceived in his home country, which is very different from the United States. Relationships here, whether with friends, family, or significant others are very open and it is acceptable to do things such as kissing or hugging in public (Self-awareness Level 3). His favorite dishes include rice and meat and he emphasized that he loves spicy food. As for the other student, she really enjoyed this dish called Githeri which is a mix of beans and corn with spices (Knowledge and Understanding Level 3). Overall, this experience was a great way for me to learn about other cultures while helping international students to become more proficient in English. It made me become more aware of my cultural practices and how they differ from those in other countries such as clothing, food choices and behavior (Knowledge and Understanding Level 3).

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