The Benefits of Making Friends with OTHER Students from other courses.
I am going to give you a perspective of a teacher in this post (because I am a teacher) but with no doubt you can apply several benefits and aspects of this concept to you as well even if you are student, we can call this “networking”
Making friends with students who are not in your class can be a rewarding experience, especially when you are in a new environment or city. Not only does it provide an opportunity to interact with people from different backgrounds and cultures, but it can also help avoid any concerns about favoritism or bias towards particular students.
As an educator, it's important to maintain a professional relationship with your students, but building friendships with non-students can be a great way to explore and experience new things. For example, Phoebe, who is not my student, recently invited me to go to the museum with her. It was a wonderful opportunity to see a new exhibit and learn more about the culture and history of the city.
Moreover, I have found that interacting with students outside of the classroom has helped me to discover new places and experiences that I might not have otherwise found. For instance, my students have taken me to Lushan mountain in Jiujiang, museums, city theater, Buddhist temples, and other fascinating places. It has given me a deeper appreciation for the area and its culture.
As someone who doesn't speak the local language and is not familiar with the city, I feel a lot safer exploring with someone who can speak English (translates for me) and knows the area well. By participating in activities with my students, I have also had a lot of fun and made many wonderful memories.
In conclusion, making friends with students who are not in your class can be a great way to broaden your horizons, explore new places, and experience different cultures. It can also help to avoid any concerns about favoritism or bias towards particular students. So, if you have the opportunity, don't hesitate to connect with students outside of your class and see where it takes you!
Even though I spend almost 5 years in China already (May 2018 – March 2023),I still enjoy so much my experience here. I am still here in China as this book below is being published, there you can see my illustrated story in China. You can see some of my Youtube videos in China here.
Book: https://mgameirollc.uteach.io/products/5
Article by Marcelo Gameiro
Published 10 Mar 2023