International Education Week. November 18 through 22, 2024. Santa Rosa Junior College, Sonoma State University. http://international.santarosa.edu/iew.


International Education Week 2024

International Education Week (IEW) is coming this November 18-22 to SRJC! Each year, IEW gives us an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide, and to develop a broader understanding of different cultural perspectives. IEW is sponsored by the U.S. Department of State and U.S. Department of Education.

SRJC's participation in IEW is part of the national effort to prepare American students for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences in the U.S. This fall, SRJC and Sonoma State University are once again collaborating to offer expanded IEW programming for both campus communities! Events will be offered in-person or via Zoom.

Schedule of Events

All events are FREE and open to both the SRJC and SSU community.

Latin Dancing

Tuesday 11/19, 8-9pm in Analy Village 640

Come join us for some Latin Dancing! Attendees will learn the basic history of and movements for merengue, bachata, and salsa. All who participate will leave with a better understanding of the genres and have some dance moves to use for future social settings. 

Language Bites

Wednesday 11/20, 12-1pm on Zoom

Welcome back to our annual Language Bites! Join us for a delightful "taste" of other languages, where you will get the chance to meet international students and faculty who will generously share their languages with you through 5-minute language lessons.

Friendsgiving Dinner

Friday 11/22, 5-7pm in Polly Hall

Join the SRJC International Student Program for a special Friendsgiving Dinner! Let's exchange cultures and build community. Please RSVP here by November 15th!

Zoom Information

For Zoom events, please ensure your account is updated to the latest version prior to attending: Instructions Here

Thank you for your support!

Past Schedules

IEW 2023

View event flyer (please email us for an accessible version).

Monday 11/13

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, SSU, ARTS 102, Sexuality & Sex Education in Germany, Presented by Nathan Gerdes, Join SSU's Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA) for a conversation about sexuality and sex education in Germany. Sonoma State University is the only CSU campus to regularly host an FLTA. This year, SSU is happy to host Nathan Gerdes from Germany.

  • 11:00 AM - 12:00 PM, Zoom, Una Visita a Torino, Italia - A Visit to Turin, Italy, Presented by Cathy Balestrieri Burton, SRJC Italian/Spanish Instructor, Cavaliere dell’Ordine della Stella della Solidarietà Italiana, and Giovanna Bagnato, SSU Faculty Volunteer - Visiting Scholar from the University of Turin (Italy). In this hour session, participants will practice a little Italian, have a short photographic tour of Torino, with historical and cultural highlights, and a brief presentation about an overview of Italian wine, with a specific focus on the Torino area.

  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Zoom, IEW Kickoff + Language Bites, Presented by SRJC/SSU International Students, Join us for a live premiere of our IEW Kickoff Video! What is IEW? What international programs and services do we offer? What events are happening throughout the week? We will answer these and other questions! Join us this week for International Education Week (IEW) as we embark on a journey to explore the international education and how it impacts our students’ experiences. After the video premiere, we will jump into Language Bites where participants can get bite-sized introductions to various languages. Let's come together to celebrate the profound advantages of international education and exchange, while also fostering a deeper appreciation for diverse global cultures and languages . Zoom Recording

  • 1:00 PM - 2:00 PM, Zoom, SRJC Study Abroad, Presented by Jessica Layton, SRJC Photography Instructor, Art Department, Learn about upcoming opportunities to study abroad in Ireland in Summer '24 and London in Fall '24. Sonoma State University's rep will also attend and review their study abroad opportunities for students who transfer. Zoom Recording

  • 6:00 PM, SSU, Darwin 107, Drag Race: Germany Screening, Hallo, hallo, hallo: You heard right! We are thrilled to announce German queens on campus brought to you by RuPaul's Drag Race: German-style. Come, bring your nails, hair, hips, heels, friends, snacks and drinks for a fun night full of Königinnen des Drags (Queens of Drag) and German culture. The show will be streamed in its original language (German) but with English subtitles – 'cause reading is fundamental.

Tuesday 11/14

  • 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM, Seawolf Plaza, GoGlobal! SSU Study Away Fair & International Market, Are you curious about studying abroad? Want to spend a semester or year in another country or state? Stop by the Go Global! SSU Study Away Fair & International Market to learn more about program options and study away opportunities! Talk to representatives from the programs and hear from study away alumni! There will also be yummy food, activities, and a book sale/swap! Donated books will go to Better World Books.

  • 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM, 640 Analy Village, SRJC Latin Dance Class, Presented by SRJC Dance Educator, Jolene Johnson, Students who attend will learn the basic history of and movements for merengue, bachata, and salsa.  All students who participate will leave with a better understanding of the genres and have some dance moves to use for future social settings.

Wednesday 11/15

  • 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM, SSU, ARTS 102, Sustainability in Germany, Presented by Anna Sophie Karcher, German Exchange Student at SSU, Join SSU's German exchange student for a conversation about sustainability in Germany.

  • 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM, Zoom, Crazy and Funny Translations from English to Spanish and Vice Versa from Signs and Popular Movie Titles, Presented by Dr. Araceli Osorio, SRJC Spanish professor, World Languages Department, Learn why some translations from English to Spanish and vice versa are very challenging and why sometimes the only tool you have is to find the closest equivalent or explain the main concept to get the correct meaning. Learn some recommendations to get a better English to Spanish translations and vice versa. 

  • 5:00 PM - 7:40 PM, SSU, Physical Education Building 1, SSU African Dance Workshop, Presented by Philip Agyapong, Global Perspectives in Dance (DANC 271) is intended to give the student a broader perspective of how dance reflects and shapes cultural values. This course looks at differences and commonalities in dance forms across the globe and examine why people dance, who dances, where, when and how they dance, audience/performer relationships, movement forms, and roles of dance in their culture. All dance ability levels welcome! 

Thursday 11/16

  • 1:30 PM - 2:30 PM, Zoom, Snapshot: Francophone Presence in the United States, Presented by Professor Elyse Petite, Do you know French is the fifth most common non-English language spoken in U.S. households? Whether you are a member of a Francophone community, a language enthusiast, or simply curious about the rich diversity in the United States, join me on Zoom to learn more about the presence of Francophone communities in the United States.

  • 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM, Zoom, Coffee & Culture: LIVE, Presented by SSU and SRJC international students, Come and listen to a roundtable of our international students discuss their experiences studying in the United States and compare the cultures in their home countries! Zoom Recording

  • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, SSU Overlook, International Faculty and Staff Reception, Come and meet faculty and staff from other countries, hear about their journeys to SSU/SRJC, and enjoy delicious wine and refreshments!

Friday 11/17

  • 2:00 PM - 3:00 PM, SRJC Doyle 146, Sign Languages Around the World, Presented by SRJC World Languages Faculty: Don Bangs, Dolph Rehkop, and Sara Stallard, Come learn about the origins of sign language in the United States and the relationships between American Sign Language and other sign languages around the world. Discover inspiration for career advancement or volunteer work with educational programs serving Deaf people around the world.

  • 5:00 PM - 7:00 PM, SRJC Polly Hall, Great Room, Friendsgiving Dinner, Join the SRJC International Club for a special Friendsgiving Dinner! Let's exchange cultures and build community. We will explain the history and origins of the Thanksgiving holiday in the United States, discuss the cultural traditions that are celebrated on this day, and encourage students to share their own traditions around the holidays. Please RSVP here by November 12th!

Weeklong Events

  • SRJC Doyle Library Display, Celebrate International Education: Come to the SRJC Libraries to learn more about International Education Week (IEW) events using books on display from our collections.
IEW 2022

View event flyer (please email us for an accessible version).

Monday 11/14

  • 12:00pm, Zoom, IEW Kickoff Video Premiere: Join us for a live premiere of our IEW Kickoff Video! What is IEW? What international programs and services do we offer? What events are happening throughout the week? We will answer these and other burning questions! (Zoom Recording)
  • 7:00-8:30pm, Tauzer 951, Master Dance/Drumming Class with African Diaspora Artist: Come Join Us to celebrate the Wonder and Beauty of West African dance, our Dance Master Tyehimba Kokayi has studied from some of the Best West African Dancers and Drummers from Senegal, Mali, Guinea, Liberia, Ivory Coast and more!

Tuesday 11/15

  • 12:00-1:00pm, Zoom, Language Bites: Join us for a "taste" of other languages like French, Mandarin-Chinese, and Khmer. Meet international students who will share their native language in Zoom breakout rooms. 

Wednesday 11/16

  • 11:00am-1:00pm, Bertolini Quad, SRJC International Club Tabling: Learn more about the International Club at SRJC! They will be tabling at Club Day - drop by and find out how you can get involved!
  • 12:00pm-1:00pm, SSU Ballrooms, Let's Talk about Race in France: Rejecting Race and Ethnicity Surveys in the Hexagon: Presented by SSU's Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant (FLTA), Annabelle Alibert.
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm, Zoom, Interesting Facts about the French and Spanish Languages: Presented by SRJC World Languages Faculty: Rocio Menendez, Mai Nazif, Elyse Petit, and Araceli Osorio
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm, Zoom, F-1 Employment Workshop: Learn how to find an on-campus job, an off-campus internship, and work authorization to earn $ in the U.S. Presenters: Jamie Longnecker, Lauralyn Larsen, Becky Petrow (Zoom Recording)

Thursday 11/17

  • 1:00pm-2:00pm, SSU IH 107, Life in Germany: A presentation about geography, political structure, education and transportation systems, and the way of life in Germany. A report of the first-hand experience of Laurin Ritter, visiting Semester at Sonoma student from Germany.
  • 5:00pm-7:00pm, Bertolini SAC, International Faculty & Staff Reception: Join us for our 1st annual IEW Reception for international faculty and staff! Come and meet your international colleagues while enjoying delicious food and drink accompanied by special cultural performances and guest speakers. Wine donated by SSU's School of Business and Economics.

Friday 11/18

  • 1:00pm-2:00pm, Zoom, Study Abroad Presentation: Come learn about the various opportunities to Study Abroad including Barcelona in Fall 2023 and many programs through SSU for transfer students (Zoom Recording)
  • 4:30-7pm, Sebastopol, IEW Friendsgiving: The SRJC International Club is planning a "Friendsgiving" dinner field trip. Food and transportation provided. You can also bring your favorite traditional dish to share!

Weeklong Events

  • SRJC Multicultural Museum Exhibit: Enjoy a vibrant display of art and artifacts from other countries, provided by SRJC international students and staff.
  • SRJC Doyle Library Display: Check out some especially curated written works by international authors arranged by SRJC Librarians. On display Nov. 7th-28th in the 2nd Floor Lobby. 
  • Study Abroad Stories: Check out or join the Instagram campaign #USJapanStudyAbroad and #JapanUSStudyAbroad to see the experiences of Japanese and American students studying abroad. Sponsored by EducationUSA!
IEW 2021

View PDF schedule (please email us for an accessible version).

Monday 11/15

  • 12:00pm-12:30pm, IEW Kickoff Video Premiere: Join us for the premiere of our International Education Week promo video, featuring SRJC and SSU students, faculty and staff. Explore our programs and learn how international education can benefit your life! (Zoom Recording)

Tuesday 11/16

  • 12:00pm-1:00pm, Language Bites: Ever wondered what konichiwa means? What about feliz cumpleaños? Join us for a taste of some foreign languages like Japanese, Spanish and German. Meet international students who will share their native language in Zoom breakout rooms. (Zoom Recording)
  • 1:00pm-2:00pm, SRJC Study Abroad Presentation: Learn about the opportunities to study abroad in 2022: Summer in Ireland, Fall in London. Presented by: Kerry Loewen, Dean of Arts & Humanities at SRJC. Jacqueline McGhee, English Faculty at SRJC (Zoom Recording)

Wednesday 11/17

  • 5:00am-8:00am, Link, Education USA Sub-Saharan Africa Virtual Fair: Prospective international students can visit up to 60 U.S. colleges and universities, including SRJC and SSU, at the Education USA Sub-Saharan Africa Virtual Fair.
  • 11:00am-11:50am, Zoom, What does it mean to be German? Three visiting students from Germany will interview SSU students and collect their responses to the question what it means to be German. They will record these responses in a brief video. These videotaped responses will be followed by a conversation where the German students respond to questions from SSU students. This cross-cultural interview will provide insights into their experiences growing up in Germany as Germans with multi-ethnic backgrounds, inviting participants to make connections to their own cultures and upbringing. Presented by: Yasemin Schünemann, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at SSU, Gamze Can, CSU IP student & German Peer Language Facilitator at SSU, Lydia Bobb, exchange student & German Peer Language Facilitator at SSU
  • 12:00pm-1:00pm, Gather, SSU Study Abroad Fair: Thinking of transferring to Sonoma State?! Check out all the Study Away opportunities you will have as a Seawolf! You can even use your Financial Aid and apply to Study Away for your first semester as an SSU student!

Thursday, November 18

  • 3:00pm-5:00pm, Dance Workshop: Presented by Grace Ballou, SRJC student from Cote d'Ivoire. Check out her Instagram for inspiration! Zoom Recording
  • 4:00pm, Zoom, What do Zambia and the United States Have in Common? Both Can Be Dangerous Places to Give Birth! Presented by: Austin Meyer The program begins with a short film, “With Grace,” that tells the moving story of 34-year-old Grace as she sets out to deliver her baby in rural Zambia, a country with one of the highest  infant mortality rates in the world. The film offers a moving glimpse into the difficulties of  childbirth that millions of women and girls face around the world. After the viewing, filmmaker Austin Meyer will share his experience in making the film and the  lessons it might hold for us.

Friday, November 19

  • 10:00am-10:50am, Zoom, The integration of Turkish guest workers in Germany: Presented by Yasemin Schünemann, Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant at SSU. SSU's Fulbright Foreign Language Teaching Assistant Yasemin Schünemann discusses the German guest worker program from the 60s that majorly shaped Germany's society until now. The presentation gives insight into the historical and economic impacts on welcoming foreign workers who did not only help to build the German economy but who decided to stay in Germany, too. As first-hand impressions, two Turkish immigrants answer questions about their migration journey and the question of feeling at home.