Angelina Wu has been studying Japanese at MIT since her freshman year of college.
“It was a great experience to study Japanese at MIT, meet my classmates, and interact with the Japanese community,” said Wu, now a fourth-year computer science and engineering major.
“It was an essential part of my MIT experience, complementing my other technical skills and giving me the opportunity to meet many people outside my field that I probably would not have met otherwise. I feel like I have a broader, more complete understanding of MIT as a result.”
Now, Wu is sharing her experience and enthusiasm as a Global Languages student ambassador. At a recent Global Languages pre-registration fair, Wu spoke to other students interested in studying Japanese.
“We’re thrilled to help expand these experiences to curious students and the entire MIT community,” Wu said.
Global Languages Student Ambassadors are a group of students who lead community outreach efforts to raise awareness of the program.
In addition to distributing information and promotional materials to the MIT student community, Student Ambassadors will be tasked with organizing and hosting informal gatherings for Global Languages students around language-related and cultural exploration topics, building community and creating opportunities for learning and fun outside of the classroom.
Director of Global Languages Per Urlaub isn’t surprised that the Student Ambassador Program has proven popular with both students and the MIT community.
“Global Language programs bring people together,” he said. “Providing a caring learning environment and fostering a sense of belonging is central to our mission.”
Critical to Global Languages’ mission is a focus on student engagement and creating a space where language learning helps build connections across disciplines. Language students develop a deeper understanding of the cultural dimensions that underpin intercultural communication and open new worlds to them.
“Engaged communities that foster a deep sense of belonging don’t just happen naturally,” Urlaub points out. “Stronger communities improve students’ language skills and make language learning more meaningful and enjoyable.”
Each student ambassador will work in their language focus area for one academic year, and they will work closely with MIT academic administrators to plan, communicate, and run the event.
“I love exploring the richness of the Arabic language, especially how it connects to my culture and heritage,” said Heba Hussein, an ambassador student studying Arabic and majoring in electrical science and engineering. “I believe that a greater understanding of the language and culture will allow me to work effectively in diverse teams.”
Student Ambassadors, along with other language learners, explore how other languages, cultures and countries influence how we communicate with others and understand the world.
“My Spanish classes at MIT have been the highlight of my college experience so far. The opportunity to connect more deeply with other cultures and get out of my comfort zone in conversations was important to me,” said Katie Kempf, another student ambassador majoring in climate systems science and engineering and Spanish.
“As a native speaker, learning Chinese is a way for me to connect with my culture and roots,” said Liu Zixuan, a bioengineering and biology major and Chinese student ambassador, who said that as a native speaker, learning Chinese is a way for me to connect with my culture and roots.
“I highly recommend diving into the language and culture at MIT, where the support and community really enrich the experience,” Liu says.
