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► SCAN - Your Friend in Newcastle (Befriending Project)

• Would you like to make some international student friends and help them to make the most of their university life?
• Would you like to show people around the city and the University and help them to settle into life in the UK?
• Would you like to be a friend and a source of valuable information to students who are thousands of miles away from home?

International students studying on courses at INTO (which is preparing them for undergraduate or postgraduate study at Newcastle University) often feel isolated and don’t get the chance to integrate into university activities or to practise their English with native speakers like you.

So, SCAN in partnership with INTO are looking for people to help us run a pilot scheme to encourage international students aged between 17 and 40 to make friends with home (British or European) students – their new Buddies!

The role:

A buddy should be:

• positive about the university experience
• make their student friend aware of the opportunities and services available to them in Newcastle and the UK.
• will help international students become more confident with their use of English by encouraging them to speak when they meet.
• offer their students friendship and encourage them to join in university activities.

What will I be expected to do?

Meet with an international student (s) and do different activities.
Activities could include simply meeting for a cup of coffee and a chat, arranging trips around the city and the country, taking students on a shopping trip, playing squash or badminton, a trip to the cinema or inviting students to join and accompany you to a Student Society of which you are a member. Other suggestions of activities are of course welcome¬
This would involve a commitment of between 1 – 3 hours, once per week/ fortnight at a time and date to suit you and the international students from the end of October until the end of December.

What will I not be expected to do?

Buddies do not have to personally solve issues, they just need to be able to point students in the right direction and be a reassuring friend when needed.

Who can apply?

We are looking to recruit outgoing, friendly students to help us with this project who can display the patience and sensitivity needed to communicate with international students. We need you to commit fully to the project, in return you will receive training and ongoing support.

Why get involved?

There are plenty of reasons why you should become a Buddy. If you are studying a language at University, it could give you the opportunity for you to improve your own language skills as well as help others improve theirs. You would begin to build up your very own network of friends around the world, plus it looks great on your CV too!

How can I find out more and what’s next?

Please contact Phil at SCAN 1st Floor, Students Union as soon as possible.

If we feel you are suitable to help us in this project, you will be given training with regard to how to deal with the buddies we assign to you and we will expect you to start work on the project during the last week of October up until the end of December.