by Natalie Roesch
On October 19, 2024, four communication students, Brianna Carrie, Maja Dziuda, Jacqueline Faulk, and I (Natalie Roesch), presented at a panel in the 82nd New York State Communication Association (NYSCA) annual conference in Callicoon, NY, along with our professor, Dr. Yifeng Hu. The panel, titled “Music, Food, and Friendship – Exploring Intercultural Interactions Using Mini-Ethnography,” focused on cultural patterns found in various environments and groups: TCNJ Best Buddies, TCNJ i-Tunes, and an Indian restaurant in Princeton.
These projects were developed from Dr. Yifeng Hu’s Spring 2024 Intercultural Communication class where we explored how to engage and communicate effectively with people from diverse cultures. To apply what we learned in the classroom, we conducted semester-long ethnographic projects through which we immersed ourselves in cultures different from our own. Prior to this class, I had never engaged in a project like this in any other course. My specific research topic was TCNJ i-Tunes, an on-campus intercultural acapella group. I attended two, hour-long practices and conducted a 45 minute in-depth interview with one of the members. I found that TCNJ i-Tunes is a unique organization that provides new learning opportunities that lead to personal growth of the members. The group also provdied me new perspectives on cultural influences and highlighted often-overlooked connections between culture and creativity, especially music.
After the semester was over, during the summer, Dr. Hu introduced us to NYSCA, a regional professional conference. She encouraged us to be part of a panel that she organized that consisted of our individual projects. Throughout the preparation for this conference, I received feedback from Dr. Hu on how I can improve my public speaking skills and enhance the typical presentation style used at conferences. Going through this preparation made me feel much more confident heading into the event.
I found the conference to be an excellent platform for networking, sharing my work and gaining meaningful experiences. After presenting, I engaged with the audience, answering questions about my project and research methods. One of the standout features of the conference was the high level of the feedback from the respondent, who offered constructive critiques that we could apply to our ongoing work. The feedback I received was incredibly valuable to my learning and will be helpful for my future projects. One student, Maja Dziuda, noted, “Presenting at the NYSCA conference in front of an audience and Anastacia Kurylo, the author of the Intercultural Communication book was a rewarding experience for me. This experience enhanced my communication skills and my understanding of effective presentation techniques. As an adult student, I am grateful for the opportunity to participate in such an impactful event.”
The conference successfully provided a supportive environment where everyone could grow, learn, and connect. Attending this conference left me feeling inspired to further my research and explore new directions. This experience has also given me a new perspective on how to approach different projects, encouraging me to consider diverse viewpoints and methods with an open mind.