The Barometer Online

Issue date: 4/19/07 Section: News

Media Credit: Andrew Burton Saleh Alsharmah speaks with Mary Beth Trevino of the International Program, about his recent admission to OSU.

Learning English is just the first step toward their goals, but for Saudi students the first step can be the hardest. Saleh Alsharmah and Ali Ghazi Alnakhli are from the same country, but their lives couldn't be more different.

Alnakhli came to OSU to study pre-pharmacy. He spent a year in medical school in Saudi Arabia earning a 3.7 GPA, when a 3.75 GPA was required to proceed with his pharmacy training.

When Alnakhli heard about the numerous scholarships available for students studying in the U.S., he decided to apply.

Alsharmah wanted to pursue a business degree. His uncle, who is an OSU alumnus, encouraged him to attend the university.

"I will be doing my own business. My dad has two lands in the center of my city, Nagar. So, I am planning when I go back to develop the two locations, to build stores, to be the manager," Alsharmah said.

When Alnakhli came with a group of Saudi students to Corvallis he spoke some English and was able to communicate more effectively than most of the students he was with. But even he found communicating to be a struggle.

"The first few months I faced a lot of problems to illustrate what I wanted to say to American people," Alnakhli said.

"How easily it comes to people depends on their education. We took English classes back home, starting from the intermediate school until high school."

Alsharmah did not speak any English when he came to the U.S. He missed student orientation and struggled to get situated in his new environment.

"It was extremely hard for me. When I wanted to communicate with people, when I wanted to ask for something I couldn't do it, I couldn't ask," Alsharmah said. "Probably this was the most difficult thing when I came here."

Alnakhli's father is an electrical engineer and his mother is an Arabic teacher. Both parents encouraged him to study in the U.S. His brother is a senior in high school, and Alnakhli is encouraging him to come to OSU next year.

Alsharmah is one of 15 children. His tribe lived as Bedouins, an Arab nomadic pastorial group, until he was 11 years old.

Continued...

Page 1 of 2 next >

Article Tools