Coffee kicks off International Days November 5

The Coffee and Conversation Café on November 5, 8:15-10:30 a.m., kicks off the College’s ‘Window on the World” International Days celebration. International students will gather in the Goins Rotunda for the event to chat with visitors about life in the students’ native countries. The activity is open to the community.

“Pellissippi State has a large population of international students—191 from nearly 60 different countries, said Anthony Wise, vice president of Academic and Student Affairs. “We’re expanding our emphasis on International Days this year because of the growing interest in the internationalization of community colleges across Tennessee.”

According to Wise, the College has planned a variety of events at all four campuses to help international students interact with faculty, staff and other students, as well as to encourage students who have been abroad to showcase their experiences and provide information for students to study abroad next spring and summer.

The Pellissippi Campus is headquarters to “Window on the World.” Among the highlights of International Days is the appearance of Dr. Hsiang-te Kung, who will speak on the importance of the U.S.-China relationship. Director of the Confucius Institute soon to open in Memphis, Kung will appear on November 6 at 2 p.m. in the Performing Arts Center. The title of his address is “Crouching Tiger and Hidden Dragon: Emerging Resources, Population and Development of China.”

Also on the 6th, nationally known silhouette artist Kathryn Flocken from Florida will cut 90-second silhouettes of students in the Goins Student Lounge, 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Her specialized art focuses on the “Faces of Diversity.” Treasures from around the world will also be on display, and visitors can sample finger foods from different nations as part of a “Taste of Cultures,” 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m.

On November 8, a Study Abroad Information Fair will take place in the Goins Rotunda, 10 a.m.-4 p.m.

Then on November 9, the College will host English as a Second Language (ESL) Day, 9:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. According to Carlos Diaz, the College’s international student coordinator, ESL students from area high schools will be invited to tour the Pellissippi Campus.

Also on the 9th, a China roundtable is scheduled 12-2 p.m. in the Goins Student Lounge, featuring faculty and staff who have recently visited China. They will conduct 15-minute presentations and take questions from the audience.

The closing event on the Pellissippi Campus is a satellite recording of “Afghanistan After the Taliban,” which is part of the Phi Theta Kappa honor society and Student Life and Recreation seminar series. It will air November 12 in the Goins Faculty/Staff Dining Room at 6:15 p.m. Refreshments will be provided, and a discussion will follow.

International Days will also be observed at the three other campuses. Magnolia Avenue will host “A Taste of Cultures” on November 5, 11 a.m.-1 p.m. Blount County will host the same event November 7 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Student Lounge.

“Window on the World” will wrap up on November 14 with an International Showcase and “Taste of Cultures” 11 a.m.-1 p.m. in the Division Street Lounge.

The Council of Student Advocates is sponsoring all four food-tasting events.

For more information, contact the Student Life and Recreation Office at 694-6555.