Found in Translation

Abstract

Studying abroad entails facing a variety of challenges. Given that education is heavily based on oral and spoken language, one of the biggest issues international students face is the language barrier. As a researcher and international student, I am interested in closing the gap between what is said and what gets lost in translation. This research was grounded on art-based, participatory action research, and participatory visual research methodologies. Using participatory filmmaking, observation, and field notes as methods for data collection; this project attempts to answer how can filmmaking be used as a tool for international students to express and explore their identity in new environments through audiovisual language? At the end of the study, the participants made a 29-minute film that explored how they see themselves and their art in this new environment. Additionally, the research-creation event and the film speak to new ways of knowledge creation and sharing.