WMU Home > WMU News

WMU News

International Education Week events

Nov. 10, 2008

KALAMAZOO--Western Michigan University will showcase numerous countries and cultures for southwest Michigan residents during International Education Week, which runs from Monday through Friday, Nov. 17-21.

A joint initiative of the U.S. departments of State and Education, the week promotes programs that not only prepare Americans for a global environment, but also attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn and exchange experiences in the United States.

The local celebration is being organized by WMU's Haenicke Institute for Global Education. Except for school visits, all of the scheduled events are free, open to the public and taking place on the University's main campus in Kalamazoo.

The 2008 International Education Week will include such special events as a geography bowl, a scavenger hunt and high school visits as well as cuisines and cultural demonstrations and displays from around the globe. Among the specific regions and countries that WMU's international students will showcase are Africa, Brazil, China, Egypt, France, Japan, Malaysia and Saudi Arabia.

"International Education Week is a great opportunity for the many international student organizations we have on campus to showcase their countries and cultures by sponsoring an event," says Kimberly Ritter, WMU international student program specialist in the Haenicke Institute. "Education is a shared value across the globe, and the events we have planned are sure to increase participant's awareness of different cultures, languages and customs. We welcome everyone from campus and the community to join our celebration of this important week."

A list of local International Education Week events follows. For more information about them, contact Kimberly Ritter at kimberly.ritter@wmich.edu or (269) 387-5859. Visit www.iew.state.gov for more information about the national observance.

International Education Week Events

Unless otherwise noted, all events are free, open to the public, and taking place on campus.

Monday, Nov. 17

  • Muslim student gathering--3 to 6 p.m., Room 1720, Chemistry Building. The Muslim Student Association will help increase understanding of Muslim culture by hosting a cultural display and showing videos of the group's events.
  • Japan Festival--6 to 9 p.m., Wesley Foundation. The Japan Club will host an evening celebrating Japanese culture and food.

Tuesday, Nov. 18

  • Study abroad information table--11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bronco Mall food court, Bernhard Center. WMU study abroad advisors and former study abroad students will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions.
  • Egyptian Movie Night--3:30 to 7 p.m., Room 2028 Brown Hall. The Egyptian Student Association will screen "Nasser 56," an insightful black-and-white docu-drama released in 1996. The film incorporates actual archival footage into its story of Gamal Abdel Nasser, one of the world's most charismatic political figures and the most dramatic year of his presidency.
  • Language Exchange--5:30 to 7:30 p.m., West Ballroom, Bernhard Center. Students and staff members from CELCIS, the Career English Language Center for International Students, will help attendees increase their English-speaking skills at an hors d'oeuvres reception for domestic and international students. The event will conclude with the playing of the language-based game, Language Experience.
  • About Africa--8 to 10 p.m., North Ballroom, Bernhard Center. The African Student Association will present a taste of Africa, featuring educational information, native foods, a West African dance troupe performance, and a mini-fashion show.

Wednesday Nov. 19

  • High School Outreach Day--7:50 a.m. to 3 p.m., various area high schools. Study abroad and international students will visit local high schools to talk about studying in a foreign country.
  • Middle-Eastern dance lesson--3 p.m. to 4 p.m., Room 210, Bernhard Center. CELCIS, the Career English Language Center for International Students, will present Joette Sawall, a local dance professional, who will lead a Middle-Eastern dance lesson.
  • French Club Dinner--5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wesley Foundation. The French Club will host a dinner that features cuisine from such Francophone regions as Europe, Canada, the Caribbean and Africa. Music and slide shows of these regions will be included.
  • About Saudi Arabia--8 p.m. to 10 p.m., President's Dining Room, Bernhard Center. Saudi students will host a cultural photo gallery and displays about futuristic projects being planned in their home country.

Thursday, Nov. 20

  • Study abroad information table--11 a.m. to 1 p.m., Bronco Mall food court, Bernhard Center. WMU study abroad advisors and former study abroad students will be on hand to distribute information and answer questions.
  • Brazilian martial arts dance demonstrations--3 p.m. to 5 p.m., Room 208, Bernhard Center. The Haenicke Institute will sponsor martial arts dance demonstrations by the Cordao De Ouro student organization. Three dance styles will be featured: Caporira, an Afro-Brazilian martial art that incorporates dance acrobatics and martial arts; Samba, a Latin dance; and Maculele, African stick fighting.
  • Geography trivia bowl--6.30 to 8 p.m., Room 213, Bernhard Center. The Department of Geography invites spectators to watch four- to six-person teams of students match their world geography wits against each other in a trivia bowl. Students wishing to participate should contact Maran Subramain at maran.subramain@wmich.edu to register a team.
  • Chinese Cultural Mini-sports Night--5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Wesley Foundation. The Association of Chinese Students and Scholars will serve homemade Chinese food while introducing attendees to some of their homeland's "mini-sports," including ping-pong, rope skating, blow out the candles, bowling, fishing, ferruling and darting.

Friday, Nov. 21

  • Scavenger hunt-- 4 to 6 p.m., Room 205, Bernhard Center. The International Programs Council will host a campus scavenger hunt with prizes. Following the event, the council will conduct one of its regular meetings and provide free pizza to attendees.
  • About Malaysia--5 p.m. to 8 p.m., Wesley Foundation. The Malaysian Student Organization will celebrate its home country by featuring Malaysian food, fashions and wedding ceremonies.

Media contact: Jeanne Baron, (269) 387-8400, jeanne.baron@wmich.edu

WMU News
Office of University Relations
Western Michigan University
1903 W Michigan Ave
Kalamazoo MI 49008-5433 USA
(269) 387-8400
www.wmich.edu/wmu/news