Coming and Going: Intercultural Transitions in a Liberal Arts Context (Video & Companion Booklet)

Carleton College

Global Partners Project Report & Application for Extension

Completed projects

Survey sent to 80 colleagues in the field of international education on:

• Key concepts about transitions to be included in the video;
• How could the video and booklet be used most effectively; and
• What additional information should the booklet contain.

We have taken the suggestions into consideration in our interview questions and included them in the overall project concept. (Collaborative: Response 13%)

Video Footage (V) & photographs (P)

• International Student Arrival Day 2001 (V, P)
• International Student Orientation (State Fair, Target, Welcome Dinner) (P)
• Learning & Teaching Center Event (Cultural Transitions: Strangers in a Strange Land) Students, Director International Student Programs, and Clinical Psychologist Panel (V)
• Welcome Dinner for Off Campus Studies (OCS) returnees and international students: 2 students and 1 faculty member discussing transitions and the challenges of moving between cultures (V)
• International Week Dinner (V)

Video production

• Multiple consultations with Director of Media Services

Video Footage and Photographs by Students

(Institutional Collaborations)

Interviews

• Interview Questions
• 2 First Year Students during week 3 of their college life
• 7 Student Interviews (Third Culture Kid, Seniors, OCS returnees)

I'm a Stranger Here Myself (Cross-Cultural Studies 175, required course for concentration

• Student Projects: selections to be incorporated in the booklet

• Newsletter dealing with transitions
• TCK interviews (student)
• Website
• Final Papers
• Interviews

Projects still to be finalized

Video

• 4 more student interviews (First generation immigrant, international student)
• Storyline/board to be finalized
• Editing of video footage
• Video production
• Video copying & distribution for ACM, GLCA schools

Booklet

Text to accompany video:

• Primary narrative
• Secondary sources:
• Theory & Practice
• Bibliography
• Editing and Selection of student created materials & texts

Layout & Printing

(We will hire a student to help with these tasks)

Timeline for 2002/03

• Fall Term: Interviews and re-interviews of students, storyboard and narrative development, booklet
• Winter Break: Possible staff interviews
• Winter Term: Re-interview of students returning from off-campus studies, booklet
• Spring Term: Editing final video, booklet
• June/July 2003: Printing, copying & mailings of booklet & video to partner institutions, final report

Challenges we have encountered

We found the actual process of creating interview questions, setting up interviews, and interviewing students much more time consuming than we had anticipated. Even though we have the able (and patient) guidance of Paul Hager, Director of Media Services at Carleton, we nevertheless found the extensive research and initial videotaping a challenge, but after meeting with Paul just recently we feel that we are making progress and that the video will represent what we originally envisaged: an interesting and effective portrayal of intercultural transitions as experienced by students and through student voices. We are grateful for the one-year extension and believe that the final product will justify the additional time and financial commitment.

Return to: Partners Projects