On Wednesday, March 25, the GCSU World Languages department hosted an International Coffee Hour event called “The Great Outdoors” in Beeson Hall from 12-2 p.m. to encourage language students to connect with one another and apply their speaking skills to an intercultural environment.
This was one of the many International Coffee Hours held throughout the semester. During these events, students from different cultures and backgrounds practiced their communication skills in a low-pressure, informative and engaging way.
The event was called “The Great Outdoors” because the question prompts consisted of outdoor and nature-related questions, including national parks and wildlife. It included refreshments and conversation starter questions for students to use when communicating with peers in different languages.
There were many students at various levels of Spanish, German and French speaking in attendance. Sarah Nogin, a freshman philosophy major, said that meeting other students from diverse backgrounds has helped her build community and practice her Spanish.
“I think it’s lovely, and I get to talk to a bunch of other Spanish students,” Nogin said. “I think everyone can get involved.”
As a first-time attendee, Nogin said she felt as if everyone was able to find a common ground despite their differences.
“Even though we all had different teachers or language classes, everybody’s nice and we’re all just doing the best we can,” Nogin said.
Aurora Castillo-Scott, an Associate Professor of Spanish, believes that inclusion and representation can benefit students not only academically, but personally as well.
“[Students] can come here and feel like we care about them, the language learning, about the language process and that they enjoy the college experience,” Scott said.
Throughout the room, there were pictures on bulletin boards with facts from different countries for students to learn about the outdoor activities in each one. Professors like Castillo-Scott have access to learning materials, and the small class sizes will further enhance the cultural knowledge gained.
“[The activities] are not just about the United States, but they are about other countries,” Scott said. “Some of those countries represent our cultures and languages. In some way, they are intercultural knowledge.”
Senior history major Avery Schock shared how the opportunity to meet people outside of her culture helped her feel more connected on campus.
“I feel like it’s always good to have a broad understanding of different languages to expand your interactions with other people, especially the exchange students on campus,” Schock said.
Schock noted how meaningful connections can be made by acknowledging and discussing cultural differences. Inclusion through diversity leads not only to connection but to a more open mindset and language learning opportunities.
No matter your major, year, background or fluency level, students like Nogin and Schock can benefit from stepping outside of their comfort zone and learning more about the diverse cultures in their community. Schock’s personal experience with communicating with GCSU’s exchange students supports this claim.
“I’m friends with multiple [exchange students], so it’s always interesting to see comparisons between languages and culture through discussion,” Schock said.
Attendees of the International Coffee Hour events feel that they have initiated conversation, fostered connection and promoted a greater sense of inclusion and belonging on GCSU’s campus. Students and professors have had the opportunity to meet people outside of their culture, providing a way of learning that extends beyond the classroom.
For more information, students and professors can find upcoming cultural events and dates on frontpage.gcsu.edu under the Department of World Languages and Cultures.