International Students & Scholars

Student Handbook

International Activities

There are many ways to meet people and get involved in the community. Some of the best ways are listed below.

Conversational English Program

The Conversational English Program is a voluntary program that matches international students, scholars, and spouses with American volunteers to have conversations sharing information about each other's cultures. Partners meet for one hour per week in an informal, one-to-one setting.

The three main goals of the program are to:
  • improve the international's English communication skills,
  • promote cultural exchange between internationals and volunteers, and
  • foster friendships.
Application forms are available in ISS lobby.

International Student Council

The International Student Council (ISC) is made up of elected representatives from 19 international student organizations on campus. The Council provides a forum for open exchange among its members and the university community. Some of its activities are listed below:

  • Organizing International Week to "bring the world" to ISU through cultural programs, panel discussions, movies, and shows.

  • Organizing transportation from the Des Moines airport to Ames for students arriving for fall and spring semesters.

  • Appointing representatives to various university committees.

  • Allocating funds to member organizations through the budget process of the Government of the Student Body.

  • Taking part in the annual spring VEISHEA celebration.

  • Organizing Awards Night to recognize those who have contributed to the success of the council and its member organizations throughout the year.

For more information, call any of the council's officers, or contact ISC President, telephone: (515) 294-2387; or by e-mail: isc-exec@iastate.edu.

Friends of International Women

The Friends of International Women organization welcomes all international women to Ames. This community organization provides a social environment through which international women can become acquainted with U.S. women, learn about activities and services for themselves and their families, and practice their English conversation skills.

English conversation groups are organized by Friends of International Women and each group consists of six to ten international and U.S. women. Groups meet one or two times a month in members' homes. More information about the organization may be obtained by calling ISS at 294-1120.

International Friendship Fairs

International Friendship Fairs are held during ISU vacation periods. International students visit elementary and secondary schools and share their cultures with U.S. children through discussions, slides, songs, and items from their countries.

The YWCA, in Alumni Hall, coordinates the International Friendship Fairs. Application forms with the specific dates for the fairs will be available in ISS and in the YWCA, 15 Alumni Hall. For more information, contact Judy Dolphin at 294-1663.

Other Opportunities For Involvement

A good way to learn about the U.S. is to become involved in ISU and Ames community. ISU has approximately 500 campus organizations for students and faculty who have similar interests. Participation in an organization can be a rewarding experience not only for yourself, but also for U.S. and other international students you will meet. You are encouraged to join and participate. These groups may meet for fun (for example, the cricket or table tennis clubs), for special interests (for example, Adult Students on Campus or the Institute on World Affairs), or for involvement in a program of study (for example, the Accounting Club or the Zoology Club).

For a full list of campus organizations, contact the Student Organizations and Activities Center, Room B6, Memorial Union or visit www.sodb.stuorg.iastate.edu/.

Adjusting to U.S. Culture

The following information may help you adjust to your new surroundings:

Dealing With "Culture Shock" Many new international students and scholars at ISU experience initial excitement and curiosity about their new home in Ames. After a few weeks or months, however, their excitement may be replaced by frustration and anxiety as they deal with the challenges of adjusting to a different way of life. Everything--the language, food, weather, students, professors--might be different from home. The physical and mental stress that people feel during the transition from one culture to another is called "culture shock."

Although adjusting to life in a new country can be difficult and confusing, three attitudes can help to ease the difficulties:

  • Be receptive to new experiences. Your culture shock will be less severe if, instead of measuring U.S. culture against your own, you visualize and understand that you are now in a different environment. You can then share, enjoy, and--most importantly--adapt to new situations easily. You will not feel as homesick if you focus your attention on studying this new culture instead of dwelling on what you left behind.

  • Get involved! ISU offers many activities. Find organizations and clubs--religious, athletic, social, or professional that share your interests. Joining clubs is a great way to meet people, make friends, and relieve stress. Certainly you want to study hard, but take time to meet U.S. students and share the richness of your knowledge and culture with others.

The secret of success, then, is to keep yourself busy. When you share your life and culture with others, you will enjoy the greatest benefit.

(Remarks regarding culture shock are taken from articles by Michelle Echevarria, from Guatemala and Carmen Vergara, from El Salvador.)

Time

It may seem that Americans are ruled by the clock. They seem to be in a hurry, always "on the go" (running from one place to another). Because many Americans are very time-conscious, they value punctuality. Therefore, it is always a good idea to be on time for an appointment, whether it is formal (for example, a meeting with an adviser) or informal (such as meeting a friend for lunch).

Academics

The following information may help you with your coursework at ISU:

Methods of Instruction

The classroom lecture is the most common type of instruction. Lectures are usually supplemented with discussion sections, reading assignments, and written assignments.

Seminars are small classes, usually at the graduate level, devoted entirely to discussion. Students usually make presentations in these classes based on independent reading and research.

In laboratories ("labs"), students apply theory to practical problems. Labs are required for some courses.

Examinations

You will have tests during a semester to measure how much you are learning. Every course usually has a "mid-term" and a "final exam," as well as additional tests and quizzes.

There are two general kinds of tests:
Objective tests measure your knowledge of facts. In these tests, you have to be particularly careful of language, as there may be subtle differences in meanings. There are five different kinds of questions commonly found on objective examinations:

  • Multiple choice--you must choose the most appropriate answer from among a series of answers.
  • True and False--you must read a statement and decide whether it is true or false.
  • Matching--you must match related words, phrases, or statements from two columns.
  • Identification--you must identify the significance of a name, term, or phrase.
  • Short-answer or fill-in-the-blank--you must fill in a blank space in a sentence with the word or words that will make the sentence correct.
Essay questions test a student's ability to organize and write about his or her knowledge of a particular subject.

What To Do If You Are Having Problems With A Class

If you are not doing well in a course, or do not understand the material, you should seek help immediately. Here are some suggestions for obtaining academic help:

  • Consult your instructor or Teaching Assistant (TA). He or she may be able to suggest ways to improve your performance.

  • Consult your academic adviser.
  • Consult the Tutoring Office located in Room 10, Pearson Hall. Financial assistance to pay tutoring costs is available to international undergraduate students. (Certain restrictions apply.) Check with an International Student Adviser concerning financial assistance.

  • Visit the Academic Learning Lab located in Room 10 Pearson Hall.
  • Consult with an International Student Adviser in ISS for suggestions to improve your situation.

At Your Convenience

Be sure to stop by ISS to investigate other resources and services for international students, such as:

  • the walk-in adviser schedule;
  • application forms for various programs;
  • information handouts;
  • bulletin boards with information about academic programs, housing opportunities, study abroad possibilities, campus organizations, etc.; and
  • for soon-to-be graduates, information about home country reentry,
  • a friendly chat with the ISA and Peer Assistants, to learn more about ISU and the Ames community.

HAVE A GREAT YEAR!