An international cooking competition and food festival; music, dance and fashion celebration; and educational presentations to local schoolchildren, are all part of the festivities planned for Indiana State University's fifth annual observance of International Education Week, Nov. 13-18. Members of the community are invited to join Indiana State students, faculty and staff in the observance.
International Education Week is a joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education in an effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.
With more than 500 international students at ISU, representing 80 different countries, activities are intended to highlight the international diversity on campus; and the importance of learning about other cultures, says Randy Green, associate director of international student services.
"For our international students, this enables them to speak about their countries, their people and customs, and to interact with those from other countries," Green said. "For American students and the local community, this is a chance to expand their horizons and learn more about other ways of thinking and living."
Several Terre Haute schoolchildren will get a taste of another culture when ISU international students visit their classrooms on Monday (Nov. 13) and Tuesday (Nov. 14) as part of International Education Week.
On Nov. 13, Keiko Nishimura from Japan, will speak to a fourth-grade class at Farrington Grove from 8:30-9:30 a.m.; and Yumiao Zhu from China, will speak to a fifth-grade class at West Vigo Elementary from 8:40-9:15 a.m.
On Nov. 14, Michael Scott, a study abroad student to Thailand, and a student from Thailand, will speak to two classes of seniors at Terre Haute North Vigo High School from 9:20-11:30 a.m.
There will be special events throughout campus each day of the week-long celebration, including exhibits and performances, panel discussions and presentations, a foreign film series, and an international trivia and Jeopardy contest.
The kick-off celebration will be at 3:30 p.m. Nov. 13 in Recital Hall of ISU's Center for Performing and Fine Arts (located at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets), and will begin with the Parade of Nations. This will be followed by cultural performances in Recital Hall from 4:30-5:30 p.m.
To find out more about the U.S. government's IEW initiative, go to http://www.iew.state.gov.
INTERNATIONAL EDUCATION WEEK SCHEDULE OF EVENTS
MONDAY, Nov. 13:
-- ISU international students present to local schoolchildren -
Keiko Nishimura from Japan, will speak to a fourth-grade class at Farrington Grove from 8:30-9:30 a.m. Yumiao Zhu from China, will speak to a fifth-grade class at West Vigo Elementary from 8:40-9:15 a.m.
-- Kickoff Celebration (Recital Hall, Center for Performing and Fine Arts, located at the corner of Seventh and Chestnut streets)
3:30 to 4:00 p.m. - Parade of Nations
4:00 to 4:30 p.m. - Cultural Booths
4:30 to 5:30 p.m. - Cultural Performances
5:30 to 6:00 p.m. - Cultural Booths
TUESDAY, Nov. 14
-- ISU students present to local schoolchildren -
Michael Scott, a study abroad student to Thailand, and a student from Thailand, will speak to two classes of seniors at Terre Haute North Vigo High School from 9:20-11:30 a.m.
-- 9:30 to 10:45 a.m., Science Building 22 - Cross-Cultural Interactive Activity (INTERLINK Language Center and LLL 200 students)
-- Lunchtime, International cuisine served (Towers Dining Hall and Lincoln Quad)
-- 12 to 1 p.m., COE Conference Room #1 - Brown Bag Informational Session - Faculty and Student Exchange Between ISU and Taiwanese Universities (Dr. Karen Liu, Dr. Chia-An Chao, Dr. Shiaw-Fen Ferng-Kuo, Ashley Cameron)
-- 5 to 6:30 p.m., Pickerl Hall Lobby - International Cooking Competition and Food Festival
-- 7 to 9 p.m., Stalker Hall 102 - International Film Series: Tae Guk Gi (Korean)
WEDNESDAY, Nov. 15
-- Lunchtime, International cuisine served (Towers Dining Hall and Lincoln Quad)
-- 12 to 1 p.m., HMSU 307 - Brown Bag Informational Session - The Mosuo Culture in China (Professor Kangming Pan)
-- 3 to 5 p.m., Stalker Hall 102 - International Film Series: Kong Fu (Chinese)
-- 3 to 4 p.m., HMSU 407 - Panel Discussion- Recruiting Students from China (Dr. Wei He, Dr. Ming Zhou)
-- 7 to 8:30 p.m., Dede I, International Music, Dance and Fashion Celebration
-- 7 to 9 p.m., Stalker Hall 102 - Francophone Film Series: L'esquive
THURSDAY, Nov. 16
-- Lunchtime, International cuisine served (Towers Dining Hall and Lincoln Quad)
-- 3:15 to 5:15 p.m., Stalker Hall 102 - International Film Series: My Neighbor Totoro (Japanese)
-- 6 to 7 p.m., HMSU 407 - International Jeopardy
-- 7 to 9 p.m., Cunningham Memorial Library - Francophone Film Series: L'enfant
FRIDAY, Nov. 17
-- Lunchtime, International cuisine served (Towers Dining Hall and Lincoln Quad)
-- 4 to 6 p.m., Stalker Hall 102 - International Film Series: The Motorcycle Diaries (South America)
SATURDAY, Nov. 18
-- 6 to 10 p.m., North Gym (Arena) and Dedes I, II, III - Indian Global Night,
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Contact: Randy Green, International Affairs Center, Indiana State University, (812) 237-2439 or aafgreen@isugw.indstate.edu
Writer: Katie Spanuello, media relations assistant director, Indiana State University, (812) 237-3790 or kspanuello@isugw.indstate.edu
ISU Communications and Marketing: (812) 237-3773 or http://www.indstate.edu/news