Melting the Ice International Students and UMD

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Melting the IceInternational Students and UMD
Nedelina Tchangalova nedelina_at_umd.edu Reference
Instruction Librarian Engineering and Physical
Sciences Library (EPSL)

• Maryland Library Association (MLA) Annual
  Conference
• May 4 - 6, 2011 - Clarion Resort, Ocean City,
  Maryland

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Welcome
to the University of Maryland in College Park!
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Fall 2010 Student Enrollment
3, 600 international students (10 of the
student population)
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The First Days in the US
Language barriers
Cultural differences
Social isolation
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The Library Jargon
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Student s and the Libraries
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Library Orientations
Source http//www.lib.umd.edu/UES/instruction-int
ernationalstudents.html
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ACRL Standards and Student Learning Outcomes
Develop an awareness for the importance of citing
works to avoid plagiarizing.
Recognize that there are different types of
research tools, such as the Libraries' catalog,
periodical databases, and the Internet.
Identify the different ways to get help from
library staff.
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International Coffee Hour
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Employment and Mentoring
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Conclusions and Recommendations

• In the classroom

• Outside the classroom

• Gather background information from students
• Avoid idioms
• Limit the use of library jargon
• Speak clearly and at a normal rate
• Plan extra time for QA

• Greet students with a smile
• Speak first
• Be patient
• Learn about students country and culture

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References
Amsberry, D. (2008). Talking the Talk Library
Classroom Communication and International
Students. Journal of Academic Librarianship,
34(4), 354-357. Baron, S. Strout-Dapaz, A.
(2001). Communicating with and empowering
international students with a library skills set.
Reference Services Review, 29(4), 314 -
326. Evans, K. (2006). INTERLINK at Indiana
State University adventures in library
instruction for international students. Indiana
Libraries, 25(4), 8-10. Leedock, J. Roth, C.
(Presenters). (2011, July 13). Revamping
pre-arrival communications for international
students. Webcast. Retrieved from
http//www.academicimpressions.com/PDF/0711-intl-o
rientation.pdf Sackers, N., Secomb, B.
Hulett, H. (2008). How well do you know your
clients? International students' preferences for
learning about library services. Australian
Academic Research Libraries, 39(1), 38-55.
Shaffer, C., Vardaman, L. Miller, D. (2010).
Library usage trends and needs of international
students. Behavioral Social Sciences Librarian,
29 (2), 109-117. doi10.1080/01639261003742231
University of Maryland Libraries. (2010).
International Student Orientations. Retrieved
from http//www.lib.umd.edu/UES/instruction-intern
ationalstudents.html