WEBVTT 1 00:00:16.000 --> 00:00:25.000 In 1997 – 20 years ago – the tutoring program was launched for two reasons: 2 00:00:25.040 --> 00:00:34.000 Germany had become an increasingly popular study location for foreign students. 3 00:00:34.040 --> 00:00:42.000 And most of them preferred to live in dorms because of the cheap 4 00:00:42.040 --> 00:00:53.000 rents and the chance to meet other students. 5 00:00:57.040 --> 00:00:59.000 I’ve been working as a tutor 6 00:00:59.040 --> 00:01:04.000 for Hanover Student Services for 3.5 years now. 7 00:01:04.040 --> 00:01:10.000 I enjoy helping foreign students with their daily issues: 8 00:01:10.040 --> 00:01:13.000 opening a bank account, extending their visa 9 00:01:13.040 --> 00:01:18.000 at the immigration office, or applying for health insurance. 10 00:01:19.000 --> 00:01:22.000 We employ student workers as tutors. 11 00:01:22.040 --> 00:01:29.000 They do a terrific job in the dorms, making sure that foreign 12 00:01:29.040 --> 00:01:33.000 and native students get along well. 13 00:01:33.040 --> 00:01:41.000 Commendable work and therefore well paid. 14 00:01:41.040 --> 00:01:47.000 I’m not familiar with today’s tutoring program, 15 00:01:47.040 --> 00:01:55.000 but back then it was a worthwhile cause – students helping students. 16 00:01:55.040 --> 00:02:00.000 There were only 10 people in our team. 17 00:02:00.040 --> 00:02:04.000 We hosted cooking events. We visited the opera. 18 00:02:04.040 --> 00:02:10.000 We went on all kinds of excursions. We did city trips to Hameln and Celle. 19 00:02:10.040 --> 00:02:16.000 We helped other foreign students to get their bearings. 20 00:02:27.040 --> 00:02:30.000 My name is Bihan Zhuang, and I’m from China. 21 00:02:30.040 --> 00:02:34.000 I’ve been studying in Hanover for 7 years now, 22 00:02:34.040 --> 00:02:37.000 currently in the industrial engineering master’s degree program. 23 00:02:37.000 --> 00:02:40.000 I’ve been working for Hanover Student Services for a year now, 24 00:02:40.040 --> 00:02:46.000 mostly in the tutoring program. 25 00:02:46.040 --> 00:02:54.000 We regularly conduct social surveys, also regarding the living conditions of foreign students. 26 00:02:54.040 --> 00:03:00.000 In 1996, the first survey for foreign students showed that 27 00:03:00.040 --> 00:03:08.040 they wanted to have more contact with native students. 28 00:03:08.040 --> 00:03:19.000 Now I can pass on what I received when I first came here. 29 00:03:19.040 --> 00:03:26.000 I can only recommend making use of this service, to commit yourself, and to profit from it. 30 00:03:26.040 --> 00:03:30.000 I’ll keep doing it as long as I can. 31 00:03:30.040 --> 00:03:35.000 It makes me really happy to see the project that started 32 00:03:35.040 --> 00:03:39.000 off 20 years ago continue along the same lines. 33 00:03:39.040 --> 00:03:45.000 And it’s always a true joy to witness how relations of foreign 34 00:03:45.040 --> 00:03:51.000 and native students in the dorms improve thanks to our efforts.