The University of Illinois is celebrating International Week from March 31-April 6 to raise awareness about the breadth of international education, activities, and resources at Illinois. At GSLIS, we are proud of our international connections and our diverse student body, faculty, research fellows, and scholars-in-residence. We have developed an especially strong academic relationship with scholars and students from China, which is reflected in the activities and goals of the GSLIS Chinese Student Group.
[image1-right]About once every month, you’ll find a group of international LIS students from China gathered at GSLIS, discussing their work in graduate school, sharing their experiences in the U.S. and on the Illinois campus, and creating both professional and personal bonds.
The GSLIS Chinese Student Group was formed in 2004 with several goals in mind: establishing a strong connection between Chinese students and GSLIS faculty, alumni, and other students; serving as a learning center and practicing environment for Chinese students in American culture; and serving as a bridge between GSLIS and China in order to contribute to LIS research, practice, and education in a global context. According to the group’s current president, Minhao Jiang, the meetings are a casual affair, often including food and one-on-one chatting.
“It’s more like a social get-together than a formal meeting, aimed to create a relaxing atmosphere,” said Jiang. “We encourage people to stay a while and talk informally. Topics usually include what kinds of problems new students are encountering, in terms of both academic and daily life, and solutions other people offer to resolve these puzzles. For example, one of our group members was feeling anxious as this was her first time at a school in the U.S. She didn't know how instructors would structure the class sessions, how assignments would be evaluated, etc. We shared our experiences, trying to alleviate her anxiety, and gave her several tips on how to improve her performance in class.”
While the group isn’t particularly large, dozens of students over the years have benefited from its existence, both in their academic pursuits and their adjustment to life in Urbana-Champaign. Zhaoyu Wang, former president of the group and originally from Beijing, found the meetings to be immensely helpful, both as a newcomer to the U.S. and as a student navigating a new academic career.
“The first time I came to GSLIS was actually the first time I was abroad. So you can imagine that life in [Urbana-Champaign] was 100% strange to me. The second-year students in the group were so warm-hearted when we met; they shared their experiences with daily life in Champaign, which helped me and saved me quite a bit of time,” said Wang. “I also wasn’t certain which career path should I go the first semester in GSLIS. After communicating with other second-year Chinese students in GSLIS, I felt more aware of my options and was able to make an informed decision.”
For more information on the group, please contact Minhao Jiang at mjiang14@illinois.edu.