Engaging international and multilingual students in the classroom

A semester-long cohort program is supporting faculty and staff in better engaging international and multilingual students in their classes and across campus. 

Offered by the Office of Curriculum Internationalization and the Minnesota English Language Program, the Fostering International and Multilingual Student Success (FIMSS) program explores how to support cultural adjustment and inclusion, foster ongoing language development, create effective and equitable assignments and assessments, and address the whole student. 

Ann Smith and LeeAnne Godfrey, FIMSS co-facilitators, believe institutions must be prepared to uplift the unique skills and strengths of all admitted students while eliminating barriers to learning. 

“Our campuses’ global and linguistic diversity offers students a powerful chance to build intercultural skills, appreciate differences, and form friendships across backgrounds,” said Smith, program director for International Student Academic Integration at the University of Minnesota. “FIMSS helps participants better understand international and multilingual students' experiences and strengths, while building tools to create more equitable, successful education for all.” 

Godfrey highlighted the FIMSS program’s commitment to fostering an asset-based mindset toward multilingual learners of English. 

“We want multilingualism to be recognized for the superpower that it is. For this to happen we need to create linguistically inclusive and affirming spaces—a Multilingual U, where all language learning is promoted and linguistic variation and difference is valued,” said Godfrey, Professional Development and Custom Programs Manager at the Minnesota English Language Program. 

A total of twenty-eight instructors completed the first two cohorts, in departments ranging from biology and chemistry to forest resources, history, and business. 

Smith says that building a community around teaching is a key goal of the program. Edgar Arriaga, Northey Professor of Chemistry and Assistant Dean of Faculty Initiatives for the Graduate School, said the community he gained from the cohort program will be a valuable resource. 

“FIMSS provided a network of professionals who together strive to improve the climate and learning strategies for students from multicultural backgrounds,” Arriaga said. “It is difficult to do this work alone.”