Social work students to present international interviews Wednesday

Each presentation will be 15-20 minutes long. Audience members are encouraged to come and go as needed, according to Associate Professor of Social Work Rich Kenney, who has taught the class for six years. He said he decided to add the project to the class last spring and felt the event went well.

“The week after the event, students shared many positive reactions to the project,” Kenney said.

The project requires students to interview a student from another country, research the country, make cultural observations and present the project.

Kenney said the project is designed to have students develop and improve their skills in working with clients who have cultures different from their own.

“It is important for students to be sensitive to and aware of cultural differences between themselves and those they interview,” Kenney said.

Kenney said Hannah Andersen, a senior who presented last year, appreciated the project.

“Doing an interview instead of just research allowed me to learn the real facts about the culture. It also gave me a personal touch. I learned so much on every aspect because I knew literally nothing about Costa Rica,” Andersen said.

Countries represented in the 12 presentations include Curacao, Czech Republic, Ethiopia, India, Iraq, Lebanon, Nigeria, Puerto Rico, Russia and Vietnam. All interviewees are CSC students.

Betsy Goodell, a junior from Alliance, interviewed Clinton Albertus.

Goodell said Albertus, who came to CSC on a music scholarship, has observed many similarities between the two cultures and noted people are very friendly here.

Matthew Mazas a junior from Palmdale, California, interviewed Dominika Senkerikova from Czech Republic. According to Mazas, Senkerikova came to CSC on a volleyball scholarship and had previous experience living in the U.S. as a foreign exchange student at an Oregon high school.

Mazas said an interesting difference between the cultures was how holidays are celebrated, specifically Christmas.

“For Christmas, one of their favorite foods is shark fin soup. I’ve tried it. It’s good,” Mazas said.

Jessy Bale, a junior from Hermosa, South Dakota, also discovered a difference related to holidays when she interviewed Yen Nguyen from Vietnam.

“The No. 1 day they celebrate is the Vietnam Lunar New Year. It is celebrated to respect their ancestors,” Bale said.

Bale said she also was surprised at the amount of time that Nguyen and her family dedicate to spending with one another.

Presentation Schedule

12:15-12:30 p.m.          

Betsy Goodell presents her interview with Clinton Albertus (Curacao)

12:35-12:50 p.m.

Justin Hartman presents his interview with Biju Alex (India)

12:55-1:10 p.m.

Lauren Newman presents her interview with Lily Tesfaye (Ethiopia)

1:15-1:30 p.m.

Maaryn Davis presents her interview with Maya Johnson (Russia)

1:35-1:55 p.m.

Holli Turek presents her interview with Isioma Akwananney (Nigeria)

2-2:15 p.m.

Jessy Bale presents her interview with Yen Nguyen (Vietnam)

2:20-2:35 p.m.

Jazmin Perez presents her interview with Samar Ayele (Ethiopia)

2:40-2:55 p.m.

Matthew Mazas presents his interview with Domina Senkerikova (Czech Republic)

3-3:15 p.m.

Rachel Johnson presents her interview with Nina Almashhadi (Iraq)

3:20-3:35 p.m.

Danea Ray presents her interview with Jois Maldonado (Puerto Rico)

3:40 p.m.-3:55 p.m.

Kassandra Perez presents her interview with Princess Uba (Nigeria)

4:05-4:20 p.m.

Hannah Wharton presents her interview with Omar Dabliz (Lebanon)