14/09/2026
[For international students]
When Words Are Not Enough: Express Yourself Beyond Language
Ever feel like your mind is cloudy, but when someone asks “How are you?”, it is hard to find the right words to explain?
As an international student living in a new environment, navigating study, culture, daily life, and emotions at the same time can feel overwhelming. Sometimes, feelings are hard to put into words — especially when you are adjusting to a new place, culture, or language.
Not every feeling arrives as a clear sentence. Sometimes it begins as tension in the body, a heavy feeling, a blank mind, restlessness, tiredness, or simply a sense that something is not quite right.
When this happens, we do not always have to force ourselves to explain everything immediately. We can begin with what is already here — a color, a shape, a line, a movement, an image, or a small piece of a story.
Creative expression gives our inner experiences another place to go. It allows us to notice what we feel without having to name everything perfectly. It can help us slow down, soften tension, and gradually understand ourselves with more kindness.
You do not need to be artistic for this to matter. A simple drawing, a few words, a gesture, or an imagined character can become a gentle way to listen to yourself when words are not enough.
This workshop offers a different way to process your feelings — without relying heavily on verbal language.
Beyond Language Barriers:
Art, movement, and imagination can become ways to express your inner world. Through symbols, drawing, and gentle movement, you can explore feelings without worrying about vocabulary, grammar, or finding the exact right words.
Safe Distance (Aesthetic Distance):
By creating stories and characters using the Six-Part Story Method, your experiences can be explored from a little distance. This allows you to look at challenges more safely, without feeling too exposed or overwhelmed.
Releasing Tension (Embodiment):
Stress can show up in our muscles, breath, and body. Simple movement and imaginative play may help release physical tension and support a calmer nervous system.
A Safe, Inclusive Space:
No acting or artistic skills are required. There are no right or wrong answers — just an open space to pause, breathe, and reconnect with yourself alongside fellow international students.
🎨 Storymaking for Self Exploration
A creative space to pause, reconnect with imagination, and explore inner experiences through drama and creative arts.
Facilitated by Prim - Papitchaya Kannaleka (Prim)
Drama Therapist
MA Drama and Movement Therapy
Registration is now full.
Thank you for your interest in this workshop. We hope to create more creative spaces for international students again soon. Please stay tuned for future workshops from CUSW. 🌿✨