The last day’s course is the first class of INYO 508.

In that course, we don’t need to take care of how

to learn grammar, and how to learn writing skills. We focus on communication. As the reading by

Deardorff said, Story Circle is a tool and method that helps intercultural people develop the

competencies of intercultural competencies. This course seems to want to use this Story Circle to

help our international students to have a great improvement in communication. We already have a

small group interview yesterday. Three students formed a circle, and each one interviewed one

student who sit on his/her left side about the basic information. In my opinion, I think the method of

interview is very good to let unfamiliar people be familiar with each other. We asked about the

country, favorite food, major, and favorite festival. Then, we have to introduce whom I interviewed to

others. I really like this way as the introduction part. Even, I think it’s the best way I have ever

experienced. There are a few reasons why I think it is good. First, it gives more chances to interact

with others. As you know that introducing is trying to let other people know who you are, what your

background is, and what you are interested in. So that people can find out whether there are some

students with the same major and hobbies as him/her. After that people can use this background

information as the foundation to find others and begin a new conversation. For example, I’m a student

with a bioinformatics major and have interested in tennis. If there are any other students who are also

in bioinformatics major. I know that we will have the same topic, and I can go to talk with him/her.

However, the way we began to know each other is an interview. This way let us combine self-

introduction and conversation together. Thus, I think it is more efficient to know others. Second, an

interview is funnier than others. When I was asked to present a self-introduction in the course, I felt

very bored and a little embarrassed since I can not get any feedback, such as “Wow, you also come

from China? Wow, I like tennis very much!” Nevertheless, an interview gives us a more comfortable

way to get exchanging with others. I still remember that when I was asked by another about “what

your favorite food is”, I first said that the food I most like is bean curd, but he don’t know it. Therefore,

we were discussing which food he might know, and I also really like it. That’s a very funny process in

order to get other people’s answers. In these few times of asking and answering, I can quickly catch

others’ talking styles. That’s very great. Third, an interview can make you have more impressions

about your teammate. Because you not only have to interview your teammate, but you also need to

replace the people whom you interviewed to present his/her basic information, you will need to record
it and be familiar with it. It causes you will treat it more carefully. You don’t want to lose any

information that he/she has said. Therefore, you will have a great impression of your teammate.

All these three reasons cause I to prefer to do an interview instead of just doing a self-introduction.

Also, it has another reason that makes me think an interview is great. I’m not an outgoing person. I try

to be more confident and outgoing. Thus, this is also a good experience to help me open my mouse to

speak with others.