"A foreign TA can get along with his buddy in a free and friendly way."

"I feel more confident now that I'm getting more familiar with the students."

"Only if a TA totally knows the true situations of the University and truly understands the students, the TA can efficiently teach the students. The Buddy Program exactly provides the chance for new TAs."

"I didn't know (the students) were so concerned about GPA. ... I'm greatly amazed at [their] social activities."

"To me, it's a continuous learning process."

"I can understand better what's happening in my class. Students come from many departments, different academic backgrounds and interests and different preparations for the class."

"Knowing the pressures of the job market, graduate school acceptance will help ITAs understand the MSU classroom."

Comments from Undergraduates Buddies

"The Buddy Program opens the minds of both the undergrad and the ITA. A strong relationship develops as you share personal experiences and discuss pertinent issues to the improvement of the ITA-student relationship."

"It was interesting and refreshing to hear about a different place from a person who could talk first hand about it rather than reading it from a book."

"You really never think about your culture until you try to explain it to somebody. We understand the American culture better."

"In the end, although our cultural backgrounds and experiences are different, in many ways we are more alike."

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