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Learning happens at the University of Dayton on a daily basis, but what makes learning at UD unique is that Flyer students have many opportunities to apply their knowledge and skills beyond the four walls of a classroom. This is no different for the nine student leaders who just completed UDI 267 Journey Towards Global Citizenship, a 6-week mini-course offered to students in the Global Learning Living Community (GLLC) by the Global & Intercultural Affairs (GIA) Center. Housed in Caldwell apartments, the GLLC is a residential community that is home to domestic and international students from different corners of the globe; thanks to their diverse roommate pairings, they are able to engage in intercultural learning organically in their day-to-day interactions. Jeslyn Singson, a sophomore from New Berlin, Wisconsin, reflects on her experiences so far in the GLLC: “One morning I woke up, and my roommates from China asked me if I wanted lunch. I responded, ‘Yes! Where do you want to go?’ They giggled and then led me to the kitchen where they had an entire meal set up–plates and bowls of delicious food from their country! Also, nearly every night, we all like to talk about our days, and one of my roommates told us she really appreciates it because she is able to practice her English and learn some new words and slang.” An active member in the Asian American Association and other student organizations, Jeslyn decided she wanted to take her intercultural learning one step further in order to acquire strategies to successfully engage with individuals with different backgrounds than hers: “I’ve had several opportunities to engage across cultural differences. I wanted to learn how to navigate these experiences in an effective way, so I decided to take the mini-course offered in the GLLC, where I learned new skills…I have already put these strategies into practice, which have helped me build stronger relationships with my peers.”

Over the course of the 6 weeks, the students completed the Global Competence Certificate offered by AFS, accompanied by in-person classes facilitated by Margaret “Mo” Burke, Assistant Director of Global Engagement. “It was really fun getting to use my teaching experience to design interactive activities and dialogues with these students; what was even cooler was witnessing their ‘ah-ha’ moments as they learned more about culture and identity and could relate the content back to their lived experiences in the GLLC and beyond,” she remarked. Ramón Bordediés Sánchez, a sophomore from Guaynabo, Puerto Rico, noted his favorite topics from the course: “One of my favorite topics discussed in the class was when we went over communication styles and cultural differences; those modules and dialogues changed my perspective as to how I look at other cultures and how different our ways of life and understanding of the world can be.” Other topics covered during the mini-course include learning styles, power and privilege, microaggressions, and spiritual diversity. To culminate the course, the students were encouraged to create a vision board in which they reflected on how they want to continue growing as global citizens and engaging in their intercultural journey. 

For Luca Tribuzio, an exchange student from Villa Nazareth (Italy), the University of Dayton has provided him with one of the most multicultural environments he’s engaged with thus far: “In the mini-course and in the GLLC, I interact with a lot of my American, European, and Latino friends, and in my Intensive English Program (IEP) classes, I interact with my classmates from Asia, the Middle East, and other parts of the world…the two experiences are complementary because I get to interact with people from many different places.” Although at first Luca was drawn to the mini-course for the opportunity it provided him to practice his English, he quickly realized the value of the topics covered in the course and how they apply to his everyday life. “I’ve noticed the different ways to interact with different people; for example, I’m more direct with my American roommates vs. with people from high-context cultures. The course has helped me in many ways, as it’s really common to encounter differences when you meet someone from another culture, especially living with them, like the time of day you cook or the different foods you prepare…For example, my roommates and I are figuring out (in a friendly way) how to work through differences such as the desired temperature of our apartment. It’s important to understand the different points and empathize with the other person, and reflect before you do or say something, because you might offend or hurt them,” he noted. 

These nine students in the mini course now feel more confident in their communication skills, in addition to being more aware of the privilege their unique identities can carry. Fortunately for them, they can practice these skills in the comfort of their own home, working to make the GLLC and the greater UD campus a community in which everyone feels welcome. 

The Global Learning Living Community and the Journey Towards Global Citizenship mini-course offer unique opportunities to UD students interested in engaging with cultural diversity. Students interested in living in the GLLC in the 2024-2025 school year are encouraged to email gllc@udayton.edu to be added to an interest list and receive information about the upcoming housing application process.