Transcript Where in the World is Djibouti? Confidence and Credibility

Leslie Anderson
Jeannie Bonner Simmons
Ryan Meyer
Jill Reister
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Leslie Anderson
◦ Study Abroad Coordinator – Ohio State University
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Jeannie Bonner Simmons
◦ Program Specialist – Ohio State University
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Ryan Meyer
◦ Program Manager – University of Cincinnati
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Jill Reister
◦ Program Manager – University of Cincinnati
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It’s hard to feel confident when talking to
students about places you haven’t been to
before yourself.
Pronunciation
World Geography
Staying up on current events and politics
And above all being confident, even when
you’re not sure.
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1. Phuket, Thailand
◦ This is definitely not a good one to learn the hard
way and to make it even more difficult, advice on
the correct way to pronounce it can vary. To avoid
scowls, general disdain, and possibly worse, go
with "Pu-get.“
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4. Oaxaca, Mexico
◦ For non-Spanish speakers, the chances of mangling
this one are pretty high. Just remember that there's
no "hoax" in Oaxaca and that Osaka is in Japan. The
correct way to say it is "Wah-ha-ca.“
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6. Wauchope, Australia
◦ If you want to give the locals a good laugh, refer to
this as "War-choppy." The real pronunciation is
actually "War-hope."
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7. Cobh, Ireland
◦ Even the simplest of names can be deceptive. Keep
in mind that it's on an island, not in a cornfield, so
pronounce it "Cove," not "Cob.“
*Reuters - Travel Picks: 10 of the top most mispronounced places
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Preparation is key,
when it comes to
pronunciation.
YouTube is a great
resource for hard to
pronounce words.
◦ Ex. Qin Shi Huang Di
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Language departments
and coworkers
Library videos and
documentaries
Merriam-Webster
online
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Countries change, geography shifts, and
politics can affect the names of places.
◦ Ho Chi Minh City vs. Saigon
◦ Burma vs. Union of Myanmar
◦ Kosovo vs. Serbia
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How can you stay current as the world
continually shifts?
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Geography is vital to what we do.
It’s impossible to know everything, but there
are quick and easy things to do to “fake it.”
Wikipedia and Culturgrams are great
resources for students and advisors.
◦ Constantly monitored, and kept up to date.
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Websites like http://www.sporcle.com/ can
be a fun way to stay up to date.
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Stay up to date with world news, pick a
source that is easy to access.
◦ NPR, BBC, CNN
◦ CIA.gov, travel.state.gov
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Read and use guidebooks that you would
recommend.
We are not travel agents, or experts on world
geography, but students still respect our
advice.
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Stay Current!
◦ Students aren’t going to call centers, they are using
Skype, www.skype.com.
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Don’t rely too much on your own travel/study
abroad experience
Danger of sounding outdated, rusty, or,
completely incorrect
Danger of sounding like a “know-it-all”, selfcentered or could be intimidating
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Confidence is key.
Even if you haven’t been to a particular
destination, your world expertise is valued.
Anticipate questions in advance
◦ Prepare your answers for questions you know are
coming.
◦ Is North Korea going to attack South Korea?
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Do your homework, when possible.
Age and experience can impact confidence.
◦ Seek out ways to get more experience and continue
learning.
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Rent documentaries
Audit a class
Enroll in a certificate program
Seek an additional degree
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Never underestimate the returnee experience.
Incorporating information from past students is
always important:
◦ Debriefings, blogs and websites, articles, evaluations
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Hire employees and peer advisors with diverse
backgrounds and experiences.
When all else fails, defer to someone in the office
that does know.
Bringing another advisor into the conversation
does not reflect poorly on your expertise.
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Advise by example
Don’t be afraid to tell students that you don’t
have as much experience in a certain area.
Encourage curiosity, resourcefulness, good
research habits.
It’s okay not to know everything-you’re not
supposed to, but acknowledge that
differences will exist
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Framing your programs properly is important:
◦ Framing increases the chances of achieving
goals.
◦ Framing requires initiative.
◦ Framing is for everybody.
◦ Framing opportunities are everywhere.
 Instead of a developing country, it’s ripe with
adventure.
 Instead of guinea pig, students are pioneers.
*The Art of Framing: Managing the Language of Leadership, Gail T. Fairhurst
& Robert A. Sarr
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Use language that students can relate to.
◦ Adventure, fun, once in a lifetime.
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Manage their expectations carefully.
◦ Describe accommodations accurately
◦ Don’t sugar coat it too much
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Put things in historical context for students
◦ Swine flu after SARS
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Don’t neglect promoting programs you know
less about
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Recruiting versus Orientation
◦ When is it appropriate to correct a student’s
pronunciation/knowledge base or let it
slide?
◦ What is the student’s level of comfort and
international experience?
◦ What is reasonable to expect the student to
know and what is “main-stream”
pronunciation?
“Reading” the student
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A sales approach to advising can impact
recruitment and retention.
◦ Students/parents are our customers.
Persuasive advising can impact retention.
◦ Consumer behavior: convince them that this
experience will be worth the total cost.
Info. tables are mini advising sessions.
◦ How can you impact a student in five
minutes?
◦ What is your sales pitch?
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What are the advantages or annoyances of
advising based on region?
What are the advantages or challenges of
having a generalist approach?
What are resources you use or recommend
for your students?
Pitfalls you have encountered with bad
information or lack of information?