International students at PSU: a matter of giv by Elizabeth Coonrod In a political science class, a prof8SSOl" grants half·hour extensions on exam periods for non-native English speakers, and in an engineering dass. American students are outnumbered by international students. Pemaps less visibly, a student from Ubya Mors an American student in math, and a Kenyan grad assistant teaches SWahili and organizes an international day for a local elementary _. The presence of international students on the PSU campus Is aliemately intimidating and enridling !of American students and faaJlty. But there are many international students who go unnoticed, indistinguishable from Americans and yet isolated by the differentness 1hey feet. For fN9f'( shared ruttural experience, there are many waiting to be tapped. Colleges and universilies in Oregon are ''very fortunate" to have three to four thousand foreign students enhancing their cuntJral and intellectual environments. says Raul Martinez, PSU Director of Intemational Student Services (ISS). "We have the opportunity to know and understand different cuntJres without having to travel to their oountries," Martinez added, "ard it is bealming absolutely necessary to understand (other cuntJres) because of world mass oommunication. tt is important to recognize (people) not just as a face in a crowd, but as a person and a culture." Why PSU? There are currently 800 full-time international students enrolled at PSU. Over a fourtl1 are from Iran and Saudi Arabia, with large numbers also from other Middle Eastern and nor1hem African nations. Many students are from Malaysia and China, with a few representatives from over fifty other rountries in Europe and South America. Host family experience enriches home life with cultural sharing by Ellzabeth Coonrod There's a wooden door in Nancy Donner's house where young people have carved their names. But she doesn't mind; in fact, she's very proud of that door. Each name represents a PSU international student who has stayed in her home. "Every now and then I count the names. Last time I looked there were fifteen," she said enthusiastically. Nancy Donner and her children have hosted international students for over seven years. "I'm used to having people around me. I've had five children, we have lots of bedrooms, and when my son went to college we Invited our first Japanese student to slay with us. "He could hardly speak English. But now he's in Texas, in medical school. He's come back three or four times to visit; we've had wonderful debates. And he's like a brother to my daughters." Personable and friendly, Donner began her famity hosting experience by inviting international students for holidays. Then she opened her southwest Portland home to students. Uvlng wtth her presently are Wamldh Shaalan from Iraq, and Mldorl Sasaki from Japan. The Donners have experienced "some very charming cuttural things. I've learned to respond differently to dtfferent cultures. The Arabic race is generalty very clear and direct - you krow exactly where you stand; 10 whereas the Oriental culture is more reserved, less outspoken. The Japanese have the most innate, beautiful sense of space. They have a gentle way Of not intruding." "It's nice to know about a culture ahead of time," added Donner. ''They're willing to learn our culture but we also have to understand that they have to go back to their own culture. " Donner, who teaches classes In physical fitness and yoga, and does a lot of community volunteer work, is often away from home in the evenings, and appreciates the presence and concem of her added 'famity.' "Our phone rings at all hours. We take calls for each other and we share what's going on." "I don't know if we're a typical American family, but we try to involve them in experiences they wouldn't normally see . . . like our weddings and funerals." Donner believes there is as much to learn from her students as they mightleam from her. "For example, I now cook Japanese, Arabic, and (other) international meals. Our food trips are something else; we have a lot of tun," she added with a wide smile. Communication is usually not a problem because most students arrive with a basic command of English, but there is always room for improvement. "English is one of the nicest parts," sakj Donner. Some of Martinez has coordinated the intemational student program since its inception in 1976, when there were only 2-400 foreign students at PSU. Foreign enrollment "grew tremendously," to peak In 1980 at 1,200. The subsequent drop In enrollment can be attriblJted to higher English proficiency requirements (as measured by the TOEFL test), higher GPA requirements, fewer governmental scholarships from their home countries and restrictions on Iranian travel to the U.S. U.S. requirements for e)(change students are that they maintain full-time status and GPA standands of their particular univOfsily, and that 1hey only wot1< on campus !of part-time student assistance. At PSU, !he GPA admission requirement moved from 2.0 to 2.5 during fall 1981, which might have contributed to the decrease in foreign student enrollment. But PSU is still popular with foreign students for its large ESL program and for ijs specialized programs such as business, engineering and computer science, and the former Middle-East Studies Center, which lives on in classes offered through the social studies departments. PSU's excellent high loch programs attract students from allover the world, said Martinez. _for an There is much more to be had than a strictly academic experience, however. "Twenty years from row you'll say, sure, I went to school for math and engineering - bIJt what else did I do?" remarked Ali Mussa from Ubya, who enjoys !he intellectual stimulation of mixing wTth another culture. "You meet people with different thoughts, different ideas and different approaches, and you oornbine all those," said the math and engineering major. When Mussa came to America lour years ago, he attended an ESL instijute In Colorado, choosing the In a rare moment wHh everyone In the same room, the Donner "famlty" enjoy. a morning snack. From left, N.ney Donner, Wamldh Shaalan, Suzanne Donner, and MIdoriSaaokt. our best talks around the table have been helping to explain English," she laughed. Other teaching experiences range from the practical (showing how the washing machine wOrks) to the philosophical (explaining neighborhood politics). "What makes it work is when people can be open with each other," said Donner. "Sometimes you adjust your personality when you're getting to know someone, like being on a honeymoon." Families interested in hosting a PSU student can contact International Student Services (ISS), says Ethel Whitson of that office. "The students who want host families are those whose English Isn't very good, or they want to live with a famity (rather than alone), or they just want to get to know Americans," she explained. The ISS office will contact a student, provide him with the interested family's phone number and encourage an initial visit between the student and the family. Once they become acquainted, the ISS office works out an agreement in writing. tailored to the wishes of the particular student and family. While some students may want to do chores in exchange for rent, direct rent payment is encouraged, because there is less room for misunderstanding, said Whitson. But so far, the program has not witnessed any problems that couldn't be solved, she added. "We have never had a complaint - just good experiences...
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