Kaylah Griggs - Madera, California
Allowing opportunities for foreign exchange students to share their culture and integrate into schools allows both foriegn exchange students and local students to build cultural awareness throughout both their school and community. I believe programs such as the foreign exchange program, helps to tie together students with not only bonds of friendship between those that might never have had a chance to meet, but also allows for their traditions and customs to transcend their borders into ours. Since culture is such a significant part of a person’s life, I find it crucial that both local and international students are able to have a space that allows them to interact with outside cultures, while simultaneously can give them a chance to discuss their own culture and traditions.
One important way to provide opportunities to share a student’s culture is by establishing a culture club within your school. I find it a topic of sharing cultures very close to my own heart, as I am the Vice President of the Multicultural Club at my high school, and strive to do my utmost to promote friendship and memories which will last a lifetime. In the Multiculture Club, we focus on the aspect of allowing students to learn more information on a variety of cultures, as well as raising awareness within our school about other cultures’ customs through our club activites.
Additionally, I believe another important way a school with foreign exchange students can integrate and interact with their students’ cultures is by having the student body government plan a school-wide culture day, which can give international students a space to discuss their culture. This can be executed in many different ways, such as a school-wide potluck which includes foods and refreshments from a variety of cultures, as well as providing a summary describing the food, its country of origin, and the significance of the food to its country.
Another way of planning a culture day within your school is by hosting activities based on a country or culture, that is accessible to all students and allows any student to participate. My school’s Multicultural Club has hosted their own versions of these activities at our school, such as a salsa-making competition and hosting a piñata activities for students to take part in during Hispanic Heritage Month.
Finally, schools can help foreign exchange students integrate into their new environment by establishing a mentor system within their school and pair the exchange student with a current student with similar classes or interests to the new students. This can allow the two students to build a connection and gives the exchange student the opportunity to build a bond with someone who is already knowledgeable on the school and its environment. Additionally, mentorship can allow foreign exchange students to learn about activities, such as clubs or sports, that they may be interested in joining, which can allow them to continue to connect with their peers and build bonds with students that have similar interests, no matter the differences they may have.
