Tips on becoming friends with international students?

Student Lounge College Life
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I’m not sure if I should have posted this in the international students category…

But anyways, the college I’m about to start this fall is quite small but we have a large number of international students. All my life, I really love learning about new cultures and even have self taught myself a lot of the languages I do know. I would love to get to know some of the international students on my campus but it seems like they tend to only associate with themselves and other international students that’s from their country. I don’t want to make them uncomfortable but I would enjoy having great friendships with the students, where we can share our cultural differences. I haven’t really approached an international student out of the blue, one reason being that they are all bound together. I understand that they may feel more comfortable with people from the same country as them.

I think I may have classes with lots of them because a lot of them are in STEM programs and so am I. How should I approach them without making them feel scared or uncomfortable? A lot of the international students know very good English so communication isn’t an issue, it’s just them not really socializing with the American students that makes me feel as if they don’t want anything to do about Americans. I wouldn’t be surprised (and have noticed) that some of the international students may just be here for the education :(…

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  1. If the option is available, request an international student as a roommate. You might soon make the acquaintance of all the other students from his/her country.
  2. Many colleges have a group that links international students with local host families in order to facilitate their transition to the US. Often, American students can participate in these groups, too.
  3. If your college has an international center/office, you can volunteer or try to get an internship there.
  4. Many international students remain on campus during holidays. You can invite one or two to spend the holidays with you and your family.
  5. Language departments often arrange for language partners or language tables that provide opportunities to for students to converse with native speakers of a language. Often, international students serve this role as conversation partners.
  6. Join international student organizations at your college. In addition to groups for individual countries/regions, often there is an umbrella group for all the international student groups. Many of these groups sponsor events (often dance performances) to highlight the culture of their countries. Sometimes they do not have enough students from their own countries to perform certain dances, so there are openings for American students to participate.
  7. Religious organizations on campus provide another opportunity to meet international students. Some regions/countries have significant numbers of members of particular denominations, e.g., Catholic students from Africa or Korea.
  8. When I was in college, I met quite a few international students simply by joining them for lunch or dinner in the dining hall.
  9. Some colleges have an international house or residential coop. You can apply to live there, instead of in a regular dorm.
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As far as talking to them, it’s the same as making a new friend with anyone else. In my experience, people tend to stay clustered in groups because both groups think that the other group doesn’t want to hang out with them. So be the bridge. Sit next to them. Say hi in class and see if they want to eat with you, or if you’re doing something fun, invite them. Eventually a friendship will form with someone.