About International tutoring
The exchange students peer tutor is the International tutor; a degree student in JAMK, whos job is to help the exchange students in their arrival. The board member responsible for International Student Tutoring groups the tutors in advance based on the exchange student list received from JAMKs International Office. Every exchange student will receive contact from a personal tutor prior to the arrival to Finland in order to help the exchange student to plan the trip.
The Job Description of an International Tutor
The International tutors help the exchange students with practical matters related to their arrival and school usually long before the student arrives to Finland.
The exchange students arriving to Jyväskylä are usually picked up from the Travel Center of Jyväskylä or the Jyväskylä Airport. The tutors also guide the exchange students to their apartment, which key the tutor has possibly obtained prior to the arrival. In addition the International tutors bring the exchange student the Survival Kit if the student has requested for one.
An important job for the International student is to familiarize the exchange student into the Finnish culture, help adjust into the study and general habitat and the student life and organize different free time activities.
The International tutors take part actively in the International tutor team work run by the relevant JAMKO board member. This work ensures the actualization of events and creates community spirit to the old and new students. In addition the International tutor team deals with current issues; plans tutor activities and shares experiences. The International tutors also work closely with their study field student organizations and tutor-teachers. The English degree programme Degree and International tutors work closely together.
The international exchange students tutoring presents an excellent opportunity to develop lingual skills, networking and domestic internationalization. While working as a tutor the student increases skills useful in working life: presentation skills, problem solving, ability to function in different situations and loads of other skills.
How to take part in the International Student Tutoring?
International tutoring is possible for every student in JAMK. It does not matter whether you study in Finnish or English degree programmes as long as you are interested in international atmosphere and can speak English in a decent level.
JAMKO recruits dozens of new International tutors annually. The recruitment starts during the spring period so if you are interested follow JAMKO news. During the recruitment period an application form is open in the JAMKO website. After the recruitment a personal interview is organized for the applicants. The JAMKO board member and the Sport and Tutor Secretary conduct the interviews with an aim to get familiar with the applicants and think together how to improve the International tutoring and what the candidates have to offer as tutors.
After the new International tutors are selected JAMKO organizes a four week long training in which the new tutors are familiarized into tutoring and each other. The training culminate in an overnight camp after which the tutors are ready to continue the tutoring tradition and welcome the new exchange students into the school, Jyväskylä and Finland.
Exchange Students Survival Kits
Survival Kits are for the foreign exchange students to help them with their first days in Finland. International Student Tutors deliver kits with the help of Tutor Secretary and Student Secretary.
More info: survivalkit(a)jamko.fi
