Discourse Community Research

Discourse community is an abstract conception, because people who say same language can be in a discourse community or people who have same habits also can be in a discourse community (Gee 449). In other words, if people have common features or targets, they can be in one discourse community. The International Advisory Committee (The abbreviation is IAC) was built for helping international students to fit into the university of Oklahoma campus and collecting various cultures and showing these customs to native students (“IAC”). This committee has an office on campus, which is on third floor of the Oklahoma Memorial Union near other offices of student organizations. Moreover, since members in this organization are all students, their working …show more content…
Gee has explained what were real Indians in his article, and he said that a real Indian should have participated Indians’ conversation in their language and joined activities (Gee 444). The IAC does not have special requires to be one of them, but it is not easy to be one of them. Students always start as volunteers in the IAC. A person who just involved an activity once will not be regard as a member of this community for this person does not get into this organization deeply. Students participate into more events; they will get more familiar with this community and become a member of this committee. After that, these students will have experience and they will have chance to join group meeting and give their advices about activities. Miss Saif who is Core of Volunteer Chair said that the only thing could help newcomers get into this committee quickly was joining their activities. Joining activities is the best way for people who want to know an organization, and it is also a fast method to get into this community. Mr. Le who is a native student and as a treasurer of the International Advisory Committee said he joined this committee three years ago and as time went by he participated into more and more events and he could have good ideas to help this community become better. Moreover, because the IAC collaborate with these international student associations closely, there is an important thing that members of the IAC also need know which is understanding general affairs of these international student associations. To a member of the IAC is a challenge because passion is not always enough to be a real member of the International Advisory Committee. People who want to join the IAC need spend a lot time to know this committee well and learn its spirit and