Conference Recap • Welcoming Remarks • Judicial Branch Education • Observations on the Role of the Judicial Educator • Which Level of Evaluation is Right for You? • Experiential Learning • Experiential Learning in the Garden • Where We Were, Where We Are & Where We're Going • Making the Most of Teachable Moments • How to Host and Provide Learning Experiences for International Visitors • Regional Reports

Conference Recap
How to Host and Provide Learning Experiences for International Visitors
by Robin E. Wosje

At the NASJE Annual Conference, Track III included a roundtable discussion about what has been happening in the states with regard to international visitors. The roundtable was lead by Judith Anderson. On the panel were NASJE members Richard Reeves, Ellen Marshall and Claudia Hernandes and Hon. Russell Canan, Lelia Mooney, Women’s Legal Rights Initiative and Mira Gur-Arie, Federal Judicial Center. The goal of the session was to discuss ways that NASJE could assist in states who wish to host international visitors. Out of the session came several helpful tips.

Tips for Hosting and Teaching People from Abroad

• Research the country visitor prior to the arrival of the guests.
  The amount of research should be based realistically on the amount of time you have until the arrival of the visitor and how much time you plan to spend with the visitor. Research should include some “social context” education, the legal system of the visiting country. Some great resources for this information include: CIA World Factbook and U.S. Department of State.
  
• Learn greeting in visitor’s language.
  Using a visitor’s own language even if it is just one phrase can make the visitor feel at ease as well as give the visitor the impression that you have done some background work about their country. A place to get foreign words is www.foreignword.com.
  
• Choose experiences which will show the visitors how state court systems work.
  For example, if the visitor is interested in case management, provide sample forms and a sample docket and take the visitor to the clerk’s office to see how the cases are actually managed.
  
• Hold host accountable.
  If you receive unrealistic requests for the amount of information or type of information that the visitor wishes to gain, require the hosting party to work with the visitor to determine more specifically what the visitor wants. For example, it is difficult to provide a valuable learning experience to teach visitors about the “administration of justice.” Also, find out what other places the visitors will be visiting and what they plan to experience at those places.
  
• Know expectations of the visitors.
  
• Meet the visitors for dinner prior to teaching them anything.
  This will provide the perfect informal opportunity to gain a needs assessment from them to determine if the program that matches their needs.
  
• Be aware of cultural differences.
  
• Ensure that the interpreter is providing appropriate translation.
  Some court words and concepts are difficult to translate. If you find that what you are saying is not being properly translated, find out if another translator can be used.
  
• Require the host or visitors to bring their own translaters.
  
• Require, if possible, that the implementers attend rather than the policy makers.

Mira Gur-Arie, Director of the Interjudicial Affairs Office of the Federal Judicial Center offered her services to anyone who had questions or needed guidance. The Federal Judicial Center is the main entity who handles visitors who wish to receive education/information about the federal system.

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