Things I didn't always think about before...

In the bustle of school and work and everyday life, it is easy to forget that some people have to juggle the same responsibilities - with the added challenge of doing it all in a language they didn't initially learn growing up. Being a chat cafe leader has opened my eyes to struggles that international students potentially face in their daily lives. When a group member told me that he misread an exam question and made a silly mistake as a result, I marveled at the obstacles the student had had to overcome: math is hard enough, word problems easy enough to misinterpret for a native speaker, but throw in the additional difficulty of being unfamiliar with the language the question is posed, and you have an exponentially more challenging problem on hand. I asked if he had received extra time from his professor, and he said he did not nor did he ask. I was impressed by how hardworking and determined the students are to challenge themselves even further and not ask for special accommodations.

Additionally, they expressed confusion over how to order coffee initially, which I understood as I also did not really understand what half caf soy nonfat really meant before I started drinking coffee. But these shortened, colloquialisms make it extra difficult for people who did not grow up speaking the language to pick up and utilize.

I think as chat cafe leaders, we can make session an open and welcoming space to voice concerns, problem solve as a group, and make sure each individual feels as though they've been heard. If a problem surpasses the jurisdiction or reach of the facilitator, it is important to recommend point people that the student can contact. For instance, if a student needs more time for a test, they can speak to their professor and fill out a form to potentially gain this extended time to complete an exam.

I think solutions can be worked out in these cases to ease the transition for international students.