International Education Week (IEW), November 18-22, 2024, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education aims to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences.
IEW Goals at Wesleyan:
- Increase awareness of and promote global learning opportunities within and outside of Wesleyan
- Preserve and celebrate our interconnected cultural and linguistic heritages and shared environment
- Foster togetherness via intercultural dialogue
- Encourage interdisciplinary discourse about global pressures that threaten our shared heritage, including English dominance, forced migration, and climate change
Schedule of Events:
- Thursday, November 14
diiVe Info Session
12pm-1pm | Boger 113Join Leonard Zheve ’27 (they/them) on November 14th at 12pm in Boger 113 for an information session about their experience doing the diiVe internship program last summer. diiVe is a consulting internship experience in South Africa (or remotely) for college students across all majors interested in exploring the consulting field. Register for the event here in Handshake: https://wesleyan.joinhandshake.com/events/1633292/share_preview
FLTA Carnival
5pm-7pm | Fisk 201Join the Foreign Language Teaching Assistants and FCGS staff to play some international games! Test your fine motor skills, strategy and language skills while enjoying snacks from all over the world!
Unconventional Narratives: A Matter of Life and Death
8pm-9pm | PAC100Unconventional Narratives: A Matter of Life and Death. Where do crazy ideas come from? What kind of research is required to write about Nobel prizes and dead bodies? Is there humor in death and dying? and how do you turn your own novel into a successful TV series? How is writing Israeli fiction different after October 7th? Yedlin will take us behind the scenes of the fictional craft and show us clips from the television adaptations of her book. - Friday, November 15
Using AI to practice and develop language skills
1pm-2pm | Fisk 209
CANCELLED, RESCHEDULED FOR NEXT WEEKThis session will explore various uses of AI tools to practice language skills. While some specific tools and activities will be introduced, participants are encouraged to share examples of their own experiences.
Loy Krathong Food Event
5pm-6:30pm | ESC184 (Woodhead Lounge)We are hosting a Thai cultural food event that is open to RSVP to the whole Wesleyan Community. Loy Krathong is a Thai festival where we give thanks to the Goddess of Water and River. The official date occurs on the full moon of the 12th month of the Thai Lunar New Year, which coincides with November in most years in the Western calendar. As the festival is traditionally performed by placing baskets into the river, we instead opt to host an all-inclusive indoor food event that is more suited to the local climate. We are planning to make Krapao pork and rice and order eggrolls from Typhoon to serve at the event. Food will be prepared prior to the event.
- Monday, November 18
Self-Care Unplugged, Global Edition
12pm-1:30pm | Usdan 108Practice self care across cultures over lunch.
Teaching English in France and Francophone Countries
12pm-1:00pm | Fisk 208Want to spend a year in France or another French-speaking country after graduation? Information on two possible options will be presented during this session. The TAPIF is a program which allows successful applicants to spend a year in France teaching English in French schools through the Ministry of Education. Another option is the Fulbright English Teaching Assistant program which is open to many languages and where students pursue a community project or research project alongside teaching. This session will include presentations of both programs and the application process for each. Bailey Chapin ’24 who is currently in France through TAPIF will join the session and share her experience and answer questions from attendees.
Iracambí: Summer in Brazil!
12:15pm-1:15pm | Fisk 201Returned students and local staff share this opportunity to research or volunteer in the Atlantic rainforest
Accents in Academia
4:30 pm-5:30 pm | Fisk 201Defining “accents” and the different implications of being a non-US native English speaker or an English language learner Sharing any accent-related stories you choose – i.e. why was it important for you to be on this panel? Any advice or tips for the audience on how best to respect our “accented” peers and colleagues?
Evening of writing letters to political prisoners in Russia
4:30pm-6pm | Fisk 413The title of the event is "Evening of writing letters to political prisoners in Russia." We invite everyone who wants to support the political prisoners in Russia. Letters are one of the main forms of support for dissidents in Russia: political prisoners frequently mention that the letters help them not to feel lonely and forgotten. We will provide guidance on what you could write about, the names of people to whom you could write and options on how to send letters: electronically or as a postcard (those will be provided). For those who are not fluent in Russian, we will help with translation. We will provide treats and supportive environment.Global South Asian Studies Fall Festival
6:20pm-8:40pm | Fisk 210
Indian cultural night with some exciting events like Hindi-Urdu calligraphy, Bollywood style dance with some spicy hot tea and Kurkure, and some cultural artifacts show to present the linguistics background of India. - Tuesday, November 19
Vietnamese Street Food: Banh Trang Tron
12pm-1pm | Boger 110VSA will be preparing Bánh Tráng Trộn, a popular Vietnamese street food, to share with the greater Wesleyan community.
Careers in Global Higher Education
12pm-1pm | Gordon Career Center, Boger HallAre you interested in sharing your Wesleyan educational experience and working in higher education abroad? What is it like to work at a new global liberal arts institution? Come hear from recent Wesleyan graduates and faculty at new global universities about types of positions available, and the kinds of skills these universities are looking for in different departments. Why do they need recent graduates of US-based liberal arts colleges and what can you bring to their diverse communities? What can recent graduates do with international work experience in global higher ed?
Touch of Spice: Greek Film and Desserts
4:45pm-6:45pm | Fisk 201Wesleyan’s Modern Greek class will host a screening of A Touch of Spice (2003; Greek with English subtitles). The film follows the journey of a young Greek boy “growing up in Istanbul, whose grandfather, a culinary philosopher and mentor, teaches him that both food and life require a little salt to give them flavor. Complimentary Greek desserts will be available first come, first served.
Fulbright Info Session
5:00 pm-6:15pm | Fisk 208 & Zoom (hybrid)Teach English, earn a Masters degree, or do an independent research project abroad through Fulbright. This event features national program staff & alumni. If you need to join to join remotely: apply.iie.org/register/GPS1
- Wednesday, November 20
Vietnamese Cup Dancing workshop
4:30pm-6pm | Fayerweather 106Vietnamese Students’ Association’s Dance workshop is back! This year, we would like to introduce Cup Dancing, a special dance form originating from the Royal Court of Huế Imperial City, central Vietnam. Cup Dancing involves skillful control of ceramic cups by dancers’ hands to create unique sounds that complement musical rhythm. We will learn the basis of cup dancing, then apply it into a choreography to “[Gối Gấm](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4SFEYNJyYaE)”, a song by Vietnamese singer Phương Mỹ Chi. Phương Mỹ Chi is a talented young singer trained in folk music techniques, and is known for assimilating traditional sounds and Vietnamese literary references into her modern pop albums. In the song ¨Gối Gấm¨, she not only pays tribute to cup dancing in the choreography, but also honors her roots by singing in Southern Vietnamese accent. We will dive into all these artistic and cultural choices in the workshop! This workshop is free, ceramic cups will be provided to participants, so show up with your friends for a great time!
Bollywood Movie Night: Baahubali 1
5:30pm-8:30pm | Fisk 201ISAB x FGLIAB Info Session
6pm-7pm | Fisk 101This information session will provide an overview of the support and advocacy efforts for students led by the FGLI Advisory Board (FGLIAB) and International Student Advisory Board (ISAB). The session will also connect students with resources specifically designed to assist FGLI international students in navigating campus life. Attendees will have the opportunity to meet the members of both ISAB and FGLIAB and enjoy free bubble tea!
Discover the Richness of Arabic Culture!
6pm-8pm | Fisk 209An interactive Arabic event where the Maryem Ajbouni, Wesleyan's Arabic FLTA, along with some of students, will share insights and experiences related to various Arabic countries. Attendees can enjoy local food and participate in games designed to teach about the history and culture of these nations.
- Thursday, November 21
Sláinte
12pm-1pm | Usdan 108Sláinte is an Irish word that is a call to health and a very common toast. So in a figurative sense, it's a call for the Irish language to be healthy and stay alive despite the current challenges that preserving the language currently faces. Jacqueline Soloveychik will shed light on the sociolinguistic status of Irish Gaelic in Ireland as well as how it's taught in schools in Ireland. This will involve discussing the role of education in preserving endangered languages like Irish Gaelic and then the speaker's presentation will evolve into a more general discussion on the role of education in language preservation and learning.
Ciencia y Fantasia de los Caribes (Pirañas) de Venezuela
4:30 pm-5:30 pm | Fisk 201World Mythologies: Japan, Ukraine, Bulgaria
4:30 pm-5:30 pm | PAC 107In a brief student presentation, we will talk about our native mythologies and folklore stories. As a part of the Wesleyan International Speakers Program, we will share stories, followed by an interactive activity and a Q&A session.
ASL Game Night!
5pm-7pm | Fisk 209Winter on Fire: Ukraine's Fight for Freedom Documentary Screening
7pm-8:30pm | PAC 100A screening of a documentary capturing how peaceful student demonstrations in Ukraine, initially stated to support European integration, over 93 days escalated into a violent revolution, calling for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovich and a full-fledged civil rights movement.
- Friday, November 22
Study Abroad QnA!
1pm-2pm | Fisk 209
QnA and information panel with the study abroad student ambassadors! Ask us questions about things like housing, workload, social life, etc while abroad.Engage Radio
1 pm-1:30 pm | WESU 88.1 FM
Tune in to listen to stories of community engagement from Middletown and beyond.
ASIA101: Stories and Secrets to Keep Spirits Away
3pm-4pm | Fisk 201Halloween was last month, but it’s never too late for spooky stories! Instructors from various parts of Asia, including China and Japan, will introduce scary folktales and games from their childhoods. Students will learn how to summon–and keep away–unwanted spirits. Highly recommended for those considering the Asian Horror track.
West African Drumming and Dance Fall Concert | CFA Theater
6:30pm-8:30pmAn invigorating performance filled with the rhythms of West Africa, featuring Associate Professor of Dance Iddi Saaka and Jocelyn Pleasant MA ’20, PhD candidate in Ethnomusicology joined by students in West African music and dance classes.