As the academic year comes to an end and summer vacation begins, we'll take a look back at the past school year and share some of your favorite posts...and some of our favorites too! So stay tuned over the next week or so for a bunch of lists recapping the best of the past school year. Starting with...
The top 5 most viewed posts of 2010-2011:
#1) International Student in Japan Recounts Earthquake Experience: ‘I was so astonished and panicked’, by Seungmin Bang
#3) Transforming from Passive Student to Active Advocate: Shu Wen’s Story
#4) Who’s Nicer, Americans or Chinese?, by Tara Cheng
#5) Are Foreign Students Stereotyped by American Classmates?, Question of the Week
The top 5 most viewed posts of 2010-2011:
#1) International Student in Japan Recounts Earthquake Experience: ‘I was so astonished and panicked’, by Seungmin Bang
It’s like a movie, something like a disaster film. This is my very first time to undergo such a severe earthquake in Japan. Since never having experienced an earthquake like this, my other international friends and I was so astonished and panicked. On the contrary to this, other Japanese people were relatively calm.
We also spoke several times to Kana Igarashi, a Japanese student studying in California. Kana's family was in Fukushima, and she talked about their experience in the earthquake and subsequent nuclear crisis.
#2) How to Speak English Fluently?, by Nick HoangI’m not exaggerating in saying that American movies and music were my principal English teachers in 9th grade. I would buy CDs of Westlife and Britney Spears, download the lyrics and sing along to the songs.
#3) Transforming from Passive Student to Active Advocate: Shu Wen’s Story
Since I came here I’ve undergone significant personal transformation, especially in terms of my knowledge. Because before that I was very – I wouldn’t say closed-minded, but I wasn’t aware of the issues around me and the global issues.
#4) Who’s Nicer, Americans or Chinese?, by Tara Cheng
So newcomers, please take a conservative attitude when people here say you are amazing, great or something is wonderful, perfect. Most of times, it is just a habit of saying like that, the truth is you are still who you are, your worries are still out there, just enjoy the compliment for a second and then get back to real life.
#5) Are Foreign Students Stereotyped by American Classmates?, Question of the Week
I am happy to say that outright discrimination or prejudice have never been a problem for me. What I have noted most of all is plain ignorance, simply a lack of information on other cultures, religions, and traditions, a gap which I am always more than happy to close when it comes to things pertaining to Armenians.