5 ways to welcome international students to your school
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International students make schools more diverse and interesting! Follow these tips to ensure their inclusion from day one.
International students make a more representative, diverse learning experience for everyone.ÌýYet in the current climate, international students may feel less welcome in schools. The US hasÌý, and there’s been an increase inÌýÌýin some parts of the world. These behaviours make it more important than ever to reinforce that international students are welcome in education.
It’s a moral duty for school leaders to make international students feel at home. Doing so shapes young people who are more tolerant, empathetic global citizens, and institutions that are truly inclusive.
Ways to welcome new international students
Here are some ideas for welcoming international students at your school.
1. Region/country-specific social clubs
Curiosity is a powerful tool to welcome international students. You could engage interest in places overseas by encouraging student-led clubs that teach about the culture, language, and politics of international students’ home countries.
The clubs could be hosted by domestic students who are enthusiastic about learning about communities beyond their own, and might include cooking classes, learning popular songs and how to play traditional instruments, or sharing historical snapshots of significant events in the country’s history. It’s a nice opportunity for international students to share their experiences and culture with their new classmates.
2. Set up buddy systems
Starting a new school can be overwhelming, especially if you’re arriving from a different country. A buddy system can give new international students a dedicated support person. This buddy can be a local student in their year group who knows how the school works and is able to offer advice and include the international student in their social activities. The buddy can show them around campus, explain processes, and provide information that can only come from peers.
In an ideal world, the buddy would become the international student’s friend, but this doesn’t have to be the end goal. The focus is more on giving international students an approachable, knowledgeable guide for their beginning days at the school.
You could also pair up international students with other international students who have been at the school for a long time. These past students will be able to relate to the new arrivals, and share how they felt and navigated situations in their early days at the school. Where possible, try to put students together based on shared interests or similar backgrounds/cultures, so there’s a foundation of empathy from day one.
3. Make physical spaces inclusive
Physical spaces like classrooms and hallways play a big role in how students’ feel and behave – it can even that supports social comfort and academic performance. For international students, the aesthetics of your school can therefore make their transition to a new school a little easier, and alleviate some of their anxieties.
To get started, display welcome signs in multiple languages on the day of international students’ arrival. You could also hang flags from their home nations, and carry out any customs from those locations that are used to welcome people. For example, in Tibet, people stick out of their tongues to greet others. In Zimbabwe, it’s common for a person to clap once, and the newcomer to clap twice back, as a sort of call-and-response meeting. By being aware of these actions, you’ll demonstrate to international students that you’re informed about their culture.
In the library, research and stock books from around the world, or that are particularly well-known in international students’ countries. You can then have reading sessions where internationals may want to add more context about the stories.
Corridors and art displays could feature decorations that recognise holidays and important figures from across the globe, too. For instance, you could ask students to make paintings that celebrate the Indian festival Holi or share their favourite quote from a role model from another culture.
4. Offer sign language classes
International students might arrive at your school without knowing the local language (or having the confidence to speak it fluently). At a time when they’re hoping to make friends and settle into a new academic school, they need a way to communicate with people.
Sign language can be a fun, neutral form of communication between international and domestic students. Especially if students start learning at the same time, it creates an equal learning experience that allows them to get to know each other. And, for students who are particularly shy, sign language is a non-vocal way to join in life at the school.
Moreover, sign language is a great skill to have in life. It enables students who have hearing or speech impairments to be part of all conversations, and it can boost students’ employability, as well as their and .
5. Support families
It’s not just international students who experience a big culture shock when moving overseas. Their extended families will also need help adjusting to a new environment. Offering resources to families helps to establish your school as a trusted partner, and ultimately benefits international students because they have a healthier, happier home base.
You could compile a list of useful local resources to share with families, such as schools for English proficiency, how to register with a doctor, where to buy groceries, the cost of gym memberships, and information about parking and other daily activities. Naturally, share tools and tips about the school too – dates for parents’ evening, book lists, and examples of email communication between teachers and parents. You could even organise social events for families of international students to meet one another.
Be sure to ask families what they need at this time, and how the school can accommodate those needs. Remember that a translator might be necessary to begin with.
Aiming for inclusion
International students should feel incorporated into your school routine and social sphere as soon as possible. It can be tricky trying to give them a genuine welcome without singling them out too much, but with the tips above – and a sincere desire to be inclusive – you can create a welcoming and inclusive environment.
Further reading
Learn more about building international school environments. Read What school traditions from around the world teach us about different cultures, Social learning: What it is, and how to encourage students to participate, and Boosting inclusion in the young learner classroom.
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Maria Di Mario
Maria has a PhD in writing from the University of Glasgow. She moved to Barcelona just after she finished her PhD and, like so many people, went into English teaching. She did that for a year and it was fun, but she quite quickly realised she didn’t want to pursue it long term. She now writes for a living, specialising in education and social media.