photos by Nicole Pickens

From left, Japanese students Maiko Shoji and Rika Kambara and Somkiat Keelasuken, who is from Thailand, listen to their professor lecture in a reading class in the Learning English for Academic Purposes (L.E.A.P.) program.

by NICOLE PICKENS
online editor

The United States has been known as a land of opportunity to many people wishing for better political or economic circumstances.

These same factors bring many international students to Marshall.

"There are more opportunities in a country like mine if you study abroad," Concepcion, Chile, native and freshman Juan Rodriguez said.

Girma Kebede, a junior from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, said he is glad he came.

"In America I've had good experiences I wouldn't get otherwise," he said.

Approximately 400 international students study at Marshall each semester, Clark Egnor, director of the Learning English for Academic Purposes program (L.E.A.P.), said.

The international program's size has almost quadrupled in the last 10 years, Egnor said.

"Students who come to Marshall are mainly interested in pursuing academic study," he said.

Egnor added this is not the case in other areas. Many people who enroll in universities in New York, California, Colorado and other popular vacation areas are more interested in sightseeing.

However, one student said she sought both academic and social benefits.

"I wanted to find something new to my life," Wannaporn Jarupath, an information systems graduate student from Bangkok, Thailand, said. "I didn't want to just travel and go back home. That is not enough time. I wanted to experience life here."

One major pull factor, Egnor said, is the area's reputation for safety.

Also, Egnor pointed out that Marshall is more affordable than many other colleges.

This is a major consideration for many students. All international students are required to prove in advance that they can pay their tuition and fees and housing expenses if they plan to live on campus.

Unlike American citizens, international students cannot receive student loans in this country, Egnor said, although some may receive some financial assistance in their home country.

Another challenge for some, depending on what country they are from, is obtaining a visa and processing paperwork to get into the United States.

And international students face even more challenges after they arrive.

The Center for International Programs offers counseling and other programs for students who are having trouble.

Many international students begin their studies in L.E.A.P. classes to learn more about how U.S. schools work, Egnor said.

Also, the International Student Organization tries to help international students understand American culture and aid them in integrating themselves into their surroundings, ISO President J.P. Pham said.

The club organizes picnics, community service activities and recreational outings.

Sometimes the culture is not that much of a shock to students.

"It was easy to get used to life here," Rodriguez said. "You can find almost everything on TV."

For international students who need more help adjusting, living in residence halls or with host families can provide an insight into American lifestyle, Egnor said.

Additionally, Conversation Partners, offered by the Center for International Programs, creates an opportunity for international students to learn about American culture an American as well as helping students from non-English speaking countries to learn more spoken English.

Despite the struggles of studying in a different country, Jarupath and Rodriguez said they believe the experience is worthwhile.

"I think I have learned about life more than I would if I just stayed in Thailand," Jarupath said. "I see ... a different world."

Mollie McOwen, center, teaches students from eight countries in one L.E.A.P. reading class. These students are from Venezuela, Brazil, Japan and Turkey.