Gadsden State Community College is holding its annual International Festival to showcase diverse cultures and give people an opportunity to interact with international students. One such student is Yi-Fen Shen, who hails from Taiwan and is taking general studies courses at Gadsden State. She plans to apply to the registered nursing program and is also the treasurer for Students Without Borders. The organization aims to create cultural understanding among international and American students.
Elise Harbin, an instructor with Alabama Language Institute, expressed her pride in the college’s vibrant, diverse, and active international student population. Gadsden State has been accepting international students since 1968, and over 6,000 students from at least 145 countries have attended the school. The International Festival offers an excellent learning opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in different cultures, interact with people from different backgrounds, and expand their worldview.
Gadsden State Community College’s International Festival Welcomes Students from Different Cultures
Gadsden State Community College is holding its annual International Festival, which has been sponsored by the college’s Division of Languages and Humanities, the Alabama Language Institute, and Students Without Borders. The festival, which has not been held since 2020 due to the pandemic, will take place on April 6th from 4 p.m. to 6:15 p.m. in the Science Building on the East Broad Campus. The event aims to bring the community together and introduce them to other cultures, as well as allow them to meet the college’s international students, including Yi-Fen Shen, who is from Taiwan.
Shen had a unique experience growing up in Taiwan. Her family was struggling, and she had a hard time with academics due to the school’s stringent schedule and lack of course options. Shen failed all her math classes and made Cs and Ds in language and science courses. She felt that the teachers did not have a student-friendly approach and taught math as if all students were going to be engineers or doctors, without teaching real-life math skills.
Shen explored other options, which led her to Thailand, where she taught Chinese language, and later volunteered at a language school in the Philippines. In 2018, at the age of 21, she came to Alabama as an exchange student, with her mother’s desire to improve her English skills and experience other parts of the world.
Initially, Shen struggled to communicate at Douglas High School, as she had limited knowledge of the English language. It took her about a year to learn to read and speak English fluently, and she eventually became more confident in speaking and succeeding in academic courses. She attributes this success to the friendly and helpful American teachers, who approached education differently than what she was used to. They started with the basics, allowing her to have a better understanding of math, science, and the language, giving her a chance to make jokes, order food, and go shopping by herself.
Currently, Shen lives in Horton with the Addison family, who are her host parents. Shen looks forward to the International Festival, where she and other international students can share their cultures with the community. She hopes that by sharing her story, she can encourage other international students to pursue their dreams and make the most of their time in Alabama.
Gadsden State Community College International Festival Showcases Diversity
Gadsden State Community College is hosting its annual International Festival, sponsored by the college’s Division of Languages and Humanities, the Alabama Language Institute, and Students Without Borders. The event aims to expose the community to different cultures and allow people to interact with the college’s international students. One of those students is Yi-Fen Shen, who hails from Taiwan.
Shen had a tough time growing up in Taiwan due to her family’s situation and the challenging academic environment. She eventually pursued other options, including teaching Chinese language in Thailand and volunteering at a language school in the Philippines. In 2018, she became an exchange student in Alabama to improve her English skills and experience other parts of the world.
Shen transferred to Coosa Christian School in 2020 and returned to Taiwan for six months due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But she couldn’t wait to return to her Alabama family, the Addisons, whom she loves and considers her own. She is currently taking general studies courses at Gadsden State and plans to apply to the registered nursing program.
Shen is also the treasurer for Students Without Borders, a student organization designed to promote cultural understanding among international and American students. The organization has organized various events, including picnics and attending Gadsden State sporting events. They have also traveled together to Huntsville.
Shen is looking forward to participating in her first International Festival, which begins at 4 p.m. with a Parade of Nations in the Science Building Auditorium. Attendees can then explore exhibits featuring the students’ home countries. The event will end with the closing ceremony recognizing the Alabama Language Institute’s 50th anniversary and its alumni.
Elise Harbin, an instructor with ALI, expressed that the event provides an excellent opportunity for the local community to interact with Gadsden State’s international students. The college has been accepting international students since 1968, and over 6,000 students from at least 145 countries have attended the school. Currently, it has 35 international students from 25 countries who speak at least 16 different languages.
Shen is thrilled to share her country with others and speak in Chinese to people, as no one really knows a lot about Taiwan. The International Festival offers an excellent learning opportunity for everyone to immerse themselves in different cultures, interact with people from different backgrounds, and expand their worldview.
Gadsden State Community College Celebrates Diversity and International Students
Elise Harbin, an instructor with Alabama Language Institute, expressed how proud Gadsden State Community College is to have a vibrant, diverse, and active international student population. These students bring immeasurable academic, cultural, and economic value to the campus and local communities. For more information about Gadsden State’s international program, visit their website.
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