International Studies Network

Another amazing bgsu blog

International Studies Photo Contest

December23

The International Studies Photo Contest Winners have been announced. See Facebook for the results and to view the beautiful pictures!

Tyler Way Shares His Experience in China

August11

Please read. The following is from International Studies major Tyler Way. Tyler was kind enough to share his thoughts on his time spent studying in China. This is what the International Studies program is all about!! Thank you for sharing, Tyler!

I just completed a semester in Chengdu, China, which is the provincial capital of Sichuan located in the southwest of China near Tibet and just south of the ancient city of Xi’an. I was studying at 西南民族大学 (Southwest University for Nationalities) from mid January to mid May. My time there included many trips to neighboring provinces and the capital city of Beijing.

If I were to say one thing that I got out of the whole experience of studying abroad I would say it was a sense of confidence in myself that I didn’t have before. Studying a language can be a difficult and daunting task, but with the right determination it is not impossible. I worked hard my first three semesters at BGSU and I am proud of myself for the amount of progress I made in that time, but nothing can compare to the progress I made once living in a city with little to no English speakers. This was the most fearful I have ever been, but with the help of the other people in my program and some new found Chinese friends I did not just get used to that fear I obliterated it. I began to feel at home where once I had felt scared. It took time, but I soon realized that The Chinese people were so happy to see someone trying to learn their language that they wouldn’t even care about mistakes, they would only ever tell you new ways to say things more colloquially. You would say something as simple as “nihao (hello)” and they would be overjoyed and rave about how amazing at Chinese we were. This journey of learning Mandarin gave me valuable language skills, but also it gave me the confidence to soar to new heights and to reach for things that one seemed impossible.

Studying abroad is the best decision I have made since arriving at BGSU. The friends I have made while abroad are, and will always be, some of my closest friends. I encourage anyone who can, to study abroad at some point in their time here at BGSU. Go somewhere outside your comfort zone because only by pushing the boundaries of what we think we can handle, can we ever truly grow. (Someone probably said that, but I have no idea).

BGSU Online Journal Showcases Undergraduate Articles

November25

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“BGSU undergraduates published in International ResearchScape Journal, an online, open access journal created by the International Studies Program. The journal was created with two key goals: publishing outstanding undergraduate research with an international focus by BGSU students from all disciplines, and fostering mentorship and research collaboration between faculty mentors and undergraduate students”

Read the full article featured on the BGSU website below:

http://www.bgsu.edu/news/2014/11/writing-the-world.html

BGSU Recognizes Presenters at inaugural Embracing Global Engagement Undergraduate Research Conference

October30

ISP Winnerrs

 

Congratulations to International Studies students in recognition of your presentations at the inaugural Embracing Global Engagement Undergraduate Research Conference last month. The highlight of the conference was learning about BGSU students unique study abroad experiences.

The students were featured Zoom News. You can read the article here. 

Congratulations on your success! Keep up the great work!

A close up look at White House~

October21

International Studies Program Intern, Alexis Martinez, tours White House during visit to Washington, DC!

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Read full article from Zoom News Here

ISP Student Spotlight: Zachariah Kervin

October16

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Master Chemical Corporation Intern (ational) Student

By Alexis Martinez

PhotoSenior, Zachariah Kervin stayed in close proximity of BGSU but managed to keep ties with a number of different countries around the world.

This summer, he interned at the global headquarters of Master Chemical Corporation in Perrysburg, Ohio.

Master Chemical Corporation is a global network that expands to the United Kingdom, and Asia. According to the company’s website, Master Chemical has consistently been a world leader in the scientific research and development of cutting and grinding fluids.

Kervin interned in the Supply Chain Management department. He is a BGSU International Studies major and Economics minor.

As one of the world’s largest companies, he operated internationally and benefited from a limitless range of opportunities. He gained knowledge from the brightest minds of an array of different fields and contributed to the success of the company.

“I got an understanding of how an entire global corporation works- I got to experience working in both the factory floor and the offices,” he said. “I spent time with the CEO, CFO and Vice President to get an understanding what the staff does.”

Prior to receiving the internship, Kervin hoped to network and create professional connections both inside and out of the industry. He was aware that the connections he made in the summer would one day be his references after college.

Successfully, he gave one hundred percent every day and suggests that students who plan on interning in the future should do the same.

The most profound change was working a full 8 to 5 work day. Unlike some undergraduate internships, Kervin worked independently in the supply chain department and his mentors utilized his decision making abilities.

“I had a real job, I was not a coffee getter or paper boy. I went from college to a professional environment every day,” he said.

His success with the supply chain department led to him to his next opportunity—sitting in business conference calls from China and India. Also, he was chosen to participate in a seminar in Detroit.

Kervin learned how various and diverse aspects of supply chain can be leveraged. His International Studies knowledge incorporated itself into his internship when he communicated and connected with business partners around the world.

“I was able to see how a division halfway around the world was able to successfully coordinate with the Perrysburg headquarters,” says Kervin. “That was challenging but it was satisfying to understand how to excel in a professional manner.”

His hard work in the summer paid off. His success as an intern lead him to continue working part-time for the company as he finishes his final year at BGSU.

“I have been working part-time with Master Chemical Corporation while I am still in school and it has been an incredible experience!”

 

September 30, 2014

ISP Student Spotlight: Del-Vaunté D. Scott

October2

BGSU Graduate Brings the World into the Classroom

By Alexis Martinez

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Del-Vaunté D. Scott, a BGSU International Studies recent graduate, spent his summer in US boundaries but had the sense of an international experience though the eyes of young children.

Scott interned as teacher assistant at International Montessori School located in Durham, North Carolina.

International Montessori School prepares students, Pre K to 4rd grade, to succeed in a global society while maintaining their own bilingualism and heritage. Scott’s summer involved teaching children who were native and non-native speakers of French and Spanish.

With the rise of cultural exposure in the US, it is necessary for young students to gain knowledge of the world to engage with people from many cultures and countries. With the classroom globalizing and integrating students, the role of teachers internationalizing teaching methods has never been clearer. Scott used the skills he earned in the BGSU International Studies program to bring the world into the classroom.

“Part of being an International Studies major is being able to step outside your comfort zone to experience other cultures and parts of the world,” he said.

Scott accepted the teaching assistant internship eager to make connections and to network. He also made the goal of advancing his language skills beyond English. At the end of his international internship experience, these set goals were indeed accomplished. Looking forward, He hopes to expand his international experience by using what he has learned in his International Studies classes and his internship to apply them to his long-term career goals.

“I got the opportunity to advance my studies and experience real life instances that helped expand my international knowledge,” said Scott.  “It benefitted me personally because I grew as a person and learned new things about myself.”

He found that internships and volunteering were beneficial in guiding his career aspirations of educating foreign students. Scott’s long term goals include permanently moving to Spain, continuing his education, and sharing his knowledge to young students all over the world.

Scott has set out five to seven years of his life to enroll in classes and earn multiple degrees and certificates. During this time, he hopes to travel and spend every year in a different country teaching English to children. His internship as a teacher assistant was a great step in achieving his long-term goals. He emphasizes the importance of all students having an international experience.

“You to get a taste of how the world functions from an international perspective,” he said. “Taking the opportunity to have an international internship experience will help the step from the college world to the adult world. “

Scott has just relocated to Spain. He is turning these dreams into a reality.  He has used the International Studies program as a way to propel himself into a global sphere.

“It encouraged me to continue to go abroad and to really dive into the cultures and languages that the world holds,” said Scott. “My international internship experience definitely helped me with achieving such abilities.”

 

September 17, 2014