Nada Pena: Panel Discussion of EDSA

Panel discussion is one of the ways to discuss certain thing with some perspective of panelist. Usually, panel discussion is containing some panelists, who have prepare knowledge regarding certain topic, which is discussed.

English Department Students Association of IAIN Ar-Raniry period 2011/2012 has held a panel discussion in theme “HOW TO SURVIVE and THRIVE as STUDENTS in U.S.” Such a discussion was talkin’ about the experience of International students and native perspective toward International students in America. We had four panelists, they are:

1. Muna Muhammad MA, as the woman perspective panelist. Some points that I noted from her speech are about stereotyping toward Muslim as terrorist, how to double cross the food, and wearing clothes for woman.

2. Faishal Zakaria, MA, as the non-native panelist, that has ever been in U.S before for studying purpose. He talk about what you’re gonna feel in U.S. such as cultural shock and homesickness.

3. Jonthon Coulson, (Teach for America) one of the native panelists, who talked about what is the real situation in America, such us the diversity of culture, Muslim stuff, and movie and film is just like ours. He was trying to emphasize that American give good services and facilities to foreigner or International students. Film and movie are not what you think they are.

4. Monty Wood, ( Internship Teaching Program)one of native panelists who talk little about his experience as firstly come to Indonesia, especially Aceh. He concluded that there are four stages that you’re gonna feel abroad :

a. Stage 1 : the feeling of admiration and amazed toward the places

b. Stage 2 : the feeling of missing someone, isolated and homesickness

c. Stage 3 : the feeling of despair and tear.

d. Stage 4 : the feeling beyond of those stages, grow very fast, solving any problem, and become more mature.

Some question form audience:

1. What are your interesting experience?, hmm, perhaps such question is too standard, we need more than this.hehe

2. What are the reason of choosing America as the place to study? And why?, nice question, which is trying to ask what are the Trade mark of America to be decided as choice for students .

Answer :

1. Mr. faishal told about his traveling experience to new England, and buk Muna told about her dinner experience with her father and mother house in USA

2. Jonthon described some points, they are:

a. American University is one of the strongest University in the world

b. America has lots of professor

c. America has high diversity students

d. In short, America has large range and quality.

e. But, you need not to choose America, it is free to choose

3. Monty describe some points:

a. America is melting part of the world

b. America has more scientific research and technology, you are not going to find Bill Gate in other countries

c. America is the center while others are periphery

Actually, this is the brief resume about panel discussion we held on Saturday 10^th December 2011. Perhaps, there are something missing, I do apologized.