Bemidji State University will hold a week-long celebration of the transformational educational opportunities available to its faculty and students through study-abroad programs during International Education Week, Nov. 17-21.
Sponsored by the Office of Academic Affairs and the International Program Center, the week will allow faculty, staff and students who have participated in international opportunities over the last two to three years to share their experiences.
More than 20 sessions will highlight a broad spectrum of international experiences, as students and faculty discuss the benefits of study-abroad programs and the opportunities available to BSU faculty and staff; personal reflections on experiences traveling to places such as England, Switzerland, China and Germany; presentations by students from other nations who are studying in Bemidji, both at BSU and at local high schools; and educational workshops on topics such as the Chinese language, teacher training in Switzerland, and more.
International Education Week kicks off on Monday, Nov. 17, with seven presentations hourly beginning at 10 a.m. The week continues with four hour-long presentations on Tuesday beginning at 11 a.m.; a five-activity schedule on Wednesday that begins at 8 a.m. and concludes with a two-hour presentation by residents in BSU’s Open Borders Learning Community; a pair of presentations on Thursday and a trio of Friday-afternoon activities featuring presentations from four Chinese scholars visiting BSU as part of the Northstar Scholars Academy.
Highlighting the week will be a live video conference with BSU students Erika Duley of St. Michael, Minn., and Kendra Kennebeck of Coon Rapids, Minn., who are currently studying in Weifang, China. The conference will begin at 8 a.m. in BSU’s HD video-conference classroom located in Bridgeman Hall 301.
A complete schedule of the week’s activities is included, and a printer-friendly schedule is available on BSU’s website. All activities are scheduled to be held in BSU’s lower Hobson Memorial Union, unless noted.
Contact
• Amna Al-Arfaj, international recruiter, BSU International Program Center, (218) 755-2400, aalarfaj@bemidjistate.edu
Online
• International Education Week downloadable schedule (PDF)
Complete Schedule of Events
Monday, Nov. 17:
• 10 a.m.: Sandra Emmenegger, Maya Sabathy and Tanja Marty, “Teacher Training in Switzerland,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 11 a.m.: Gio Maglo, “The Effect of Colonization on Western Africa,” Scandinavian Room in HMU
• noon: Dr. Thomas Beech, “CIEE Faculty Development Seminar- Germany and Poland,” Scandinavian Room in HMU
• 1: Dr. Martin Tadlock and Cherish Hagen-Swanson, “Spending an Affordable Semester Abroad,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 2 p.m.: Dr. David Smith, “EuroSpring: A study abroad adventure in England,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 3 p.m.: Komron Mardoni, TrekNorth Senior (ASSE FLEX Program), “My home country, Tajikistan,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 4 p.m.: Sergey Timakov, Bemidji High School Senior (ASSE FLEX Program), “Russia,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
Tuesday, Nov. 18:
• 11 a.m.: Dr. Halbana Tarmizi, “My experience of growing up in Indonesia, studying in Germany and working in the Middle East: Encouraging BSU students to look for opportunities in other parts of the world,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• noon: Christopher Boone, “Our differences make us similar” activity and presentation. Scandinavian Room in HMU
• 1 p.m.: Dr. Jim Barta, “Teacher-2-Teacher – International: Instructional Math Coaching in Rural Communities Throughout the World,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 2 p.m.: Stephanie Serres, “Volunteering and Teaching in Japan,” Scandinavian Room in HMU
Wednesday, Nov. 19:
• 8 a.m.: Erika Duley and Kendra Kennebeck, “Skype with BSU students in Weifang,” Bridgeman Hall 301
• 11 a.m.: Toni Hull, “Living and Teaching Abroad,” Ozawindib Room in HMU
noon: Dr. Marsha Driscoll, “An Education in Weifang,” Gathering Room in AIRC
• 1 p.m.: Samantha Asper, “Tigers, Lions, and Baboons: Studying Abroad in Thailand and Kenya,” Ozawindib Room in HMU
• 5-7 p.m.: Residents of the Open Borders Learning Community, “ Open House: What it’s Like to be Part of the Community,” Birch Hall Lounge
Thursday, Nov. 20:
• 1 p.m.: Stephen Berard, “Teaching English Overseas,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
• 2 p.m.: Christopher Brown, “BSU and Weifang,” Crying Wolf Room in HMU
Friday, Nov. 21:
• 1:30 p.m.: Dr. Denise Meijer, “Opportunities for Experiential Learning in South Africa,” AIRC Gathering Room
• 3 p.m.: WANG Hongxia, LI Wei, XIANG Fei, TAO Jun, “Travel and Food in China,” AIRC Gathering Room
• 4 p.m.: WANG Hongxia, LI Wei, XIANG Fei, TAO Jun, “Chinese Language Workshop,” AIRC Gathering Room
Bemidji State University, located in northern Minnesota’s lake district, occupies a wooded campus along the shore of Lake Bemidji. Enrolling nearly 5,000 students, Bemidji State offers more than 50 undergraduate majors and nine graduate programs encompassing arts, sciences and select professional programs. BSU is a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system and has a faculty and staff of more than 550. University signature themes include environmental stewardship, civic engagement and global and multi-cultural understanding.