Texas Tech University

International Week Event: QEP- Communicating in a Global Society


International Week QEP

The Office of International Affairs, in partnership with the College of Arts and Sciences, Honors College, and ELS hosted an international panel discussion Tuesday afternoon at the SUB. The purpose of the event was to discuss the role of cultural awareness for communication within a globalized world. Dr. David Roach, Associate Academic Dean, Arts and Sciences, welcomed guests and discussed the university's QEP initiative. Dr. Aliza Wong, Associate Professor, Honors College, served as the moderator for the panel discussion. The panel consisted of ten international students representing China, India, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Angola, Nigeria, Vietnam, and Germany.

The panel questions included:

  1. Where are you from and how do you self-identify?
  2. Why did you decide to come to the United States?
  3. When did you arrive?
  4. What surprised you most about living and learning in the United States?
  5. What do you think would surprise Americans the most about your country of origin?
  6. Compare the educational system in the United States with the system in your country of origin.
  7. What are the strengths of the American system?
  8. What are the strengths of the system in your country of origin?
  9. What is it like to think, write, and communicate in another language?
  10. How do you define who is an "international" student?
  11. How do you define who is an "American" student?
  12. The Texas Tech Quality Enhancement Plan directly addresses communicating in a global society - why do you think this is a significant mission for the university? How do you think it will change the ways in which graduates from Texas Tech prepare for the future?
  13. What do you think is the biggest obstacle to communication and understanding in a global society?
  14. What do you think is the biggest aid in communication in understanding in a global society?
  15. What is your biggest fear/concern/worry about coming to the United States for an education?
  16. What is your greatest hope/dream/vision as to what you will accomplish by having had this educational experience in the United States?
  17. Where do you define as home?

The range of responses varied from student to student, but many of them stated that they were pleasantly surprised by our southern hospitality. Murat, a graduate student from Turkey seeking his PhD, stated that people here were very friendly.