International Education Week is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide.

This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our effort to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the United States.

Syracuse University
International Education Week Event Schedule
November 13-19, 2006

Guidelines for Making Presentations

Share your country and culture with others by giving presentations to:

Your classmates (history, government, social studies, political science, language classes, school clubs, etc.)

Elementary or middle schools

Local community organizations

Senior citizens

Neighborhood associations

Places of worship

Visuals can help your presentation

Show photos of your country, friends and family

Bring a map or your national flag, or make a poster with facts about your country

Share your favorite recipes, or bring in your favorite food

Read your favorite story or fairytale, or recite a national poem

Play your national anthem or song

Prepare a video or PowerPoint presentation about your country or city

Things your presentation might include:

An Introduction

Introduce yourself in either your native language or another foreign language and in English.

Give your name, where you are from and why you are here today (share a little bit about your experience as an exchange student).

A story about your home country

A day in the life of a typical teenager in your home (host) country

What school is like in your home country

What it is like to live with your host family - describe a day in the life

Describe a holiday celebration in your home country and it's importance

Describe a funny experience you had on your exchange - in school, with friends, with host family

Describe the strangest thing you have found out about your host country

Describe the biggest difference you have noticed between your home and your host country

Describe how your exchange experience has impacted you, your host family and your own family. Did you change at all? Has it shaped your plans and goals for the future?

A focus on a certain topic(s)

Government: Explain how your government is set up and functions. Discuss the similarities and differences between your government and the U.S. government.

History: Tell about your nation's history.

Culture: Discuss the different types of food, music, dances, traditions, etc. in your country. Bring in food samples, demonstrate dances/songs, or play traditional music from your country.

Language: Teach students a few simple phrases in your native language.

Important Social/Political/Religious Issues: Talk about some of the specific things that people in your country are interested in or concerned about. You can discuss family trends, economic issues, social/environmental problems, importance of religion, political changes, etc.

Suggested Activities

The following list is just a start. Be creative in planning IEW events

Host an International Career Day by inviting alumni and/or local international experts as speakers.

Organize a symposium on campus or in your community on an "international" theme.

Some ideas include:

International education as the key to homeland security

The importance of foreign language study

International exchange and study abroad opportunities

The internationalization of higher education

The global classroom: Internet exchange, distance learning, etc

Intercultural communication- Dealing with Culture Shock

Recruit local professionals with overseas experience (Fulbright Students and Scholars, former diplomats or Peace Corps volunteers, business leaders working for multi-national corporations, or journalists) to talk about international careers and the importance of international education and exchange. This can be as formal as a panel presentation or speech or as informal as a coffee hour or brown bag lunch.

Produce and/or screen a video about the experiences of international students onyour campus and/or students back from a semester or year abroad.

Organize a festival spotlighting a particular country or region. In addition to films, live performances, or art exhibits, include interactive elements such as teaching students how to cook food of a particular country, learn a traditional dance, or the basics of a foreign language.

More Information About International Education Week

You can also check the photo gallery for pictures from previous International Education Week