‘English Conversation’ groups something to talk about
Sydney University Chaplain, Samara Coulter. (Photo supplied by Samara Coulter)
Over the past 18 months, Samara Coulter has seen her Sydney University chaplaincy role take twists and turns that she could never have imagined.
Samara became the Salvation Army Chaplain for Sydney University in February last year. She sees her role, based out of Glebe Corps, as being a representative of the Army on campus.
“We’re really there to support students during their time at university; to provide spiritual support for international and local students and to provide a network for Salvation Army students,” she says.
During her first year as chaplain, Samara found it difficult to connect with students. Not being associated with a student group on campus also hindered her work, as she was not allowed to collect students’ details.
She spent time praying. Having come from a corporate job that demanded long hours and task-orientated work, she was struggling to adjust to her new role.
“[In her previous job] I could write a list and tick it off by the end of the day,” Samara says “That sense of achievement was huge. However, I was coming into a job that wasn’t as tangible. I couldn’t contact one person each day and then tick it off my list, because there were many days where I didn’t.”
Seeking guidance, Samara organised to meet with a group of people including her Corps Officer Captain Robyn Black, an ex-student of Japanese descent, and a representative from the university’s Student Services who was concerned for international students on campus.
“She was concerned because international students arrive in Australia, they go to orientation, they go to classes, but once semester starts the university never sees them again. They know they’re passing [their course}, but they don’t know their well-being afterwards,” says Samara.
With the help of Glebe Corps, Samara began running a group for international students to practice their English. Only one person showed up for the first session, but by the fourth week the group had 13 people.
As people of different nationalities began to attend, Samara would have the original promotional flyer translated into their language and post it on social networking sites and websites.
“As far as I know, it’s in Japanese, Chinese, Korean, and Spanish. I don’t really know where it’s advertised, I just turn up the same time every week at the same place,” says Samara.
Six months on, there are two English Conversation groups running with many people attending who aren’t even university students. The first class runs on Wednesdays at a student accommodation block in the city. Samara has been given a conference room to use for free, with some of the staff now attending the classes.
The other class runs on Thursday afternoons at Glebe Corps, with the invitation to stay for a meal and Bible study. Six people now stay for dinner and attend the study.
Social outings, including international food nights, movie nights, and a tour of Sydney by night, have also started, encouraging community and further networking between English-speaking class members and Glebe Corps.
Ai, an ex-student from Japan now living in Australia, shares why she values the group: “If I attend the group, I can experience the world. I don’t even have to travel!”
Samara is very aware that her role is still as a university chaplain, even though it’s taken an interesting turn.
“People would ask me all the time what I do, and I was so confused. This is my job; I need to perform,” she recalls.“ But God told me that I didn’t need to perform, I needed to trust him. Even though the groups aren’t made up solely of university students, they are still my focus. One day I’m not going to be there, but the students will always be there.”
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