By on May 2nd, 2016

Understanding Educational Differences to Help Your International Student Succeed

When a student comes to study in America for the first time, there are many things that they will have to deal with. In addition to homesickness and culture shock, educational expectations are very different in America than in other countries. They may find it hard to maintain their GPA if the educational system doesn’t make sense to them at first.

Low GPAs can affect their ability to get scholarships or even remain in the program. As a host family, you aren’t directly responsible for your student’s education. They will deal with the campus advisors on these matters. However, it’s never a bad idea to understand where they might be coming from. As you develop a close relationship with the student thanks to your daily exposure, you may find that you are one of the best people to help them understand how they can approach the American educational system for success.

Classroom

In the classrooms of American universities, students are generally expected to have some part in the discussions led by the professors. Participation is often part of the grade, and remaining silent throughout all classes can be seen as a sign of laziness or disrespect. However, in some cultures, particularly in Asian countries, silence during a lecture is the only acceptable state.

One of the big differences in American classrooms is that there is no uniform style. Students are expected to adapt to different professor’s teaching methods, and to learn what is appropriate behavior in each class. Some professors prefer first names and casual seating while others insist on formal arrangements. In other cultures, all classes are taught by strict uniform means that allow students to anticipate exactly what is coming no matter what the topic of the class may be.

Writing Assignments

Writing assignments are one of the areas that frequently cause the most trouble for international students. American students have been taught from a very early age that plagiarism is a big no-no, and that personal thoughts and expressions are acceptable among facts and data in their reports. In many Asian cultures, copying words directly from masters in the topic is perfectly acceptable, because the emphasis is on proving that they can find and report the correct information on the topic. Other cultures do not allow the addition of opinions or personal annotations to a paper, because the point is not how the student interprets the data, but rather how well they can dig up and report facts.

In some classrooms, particularly in subjects like Logical Thinking and Debate, extra points are given for drawing personal conclusions and making leaps in written assignments.

Grading

Much like classroom style, grading is specific to the professor in American universities. Without a uniform method of grading, an international student may find themselves confused on how one style of project earned an A in one class and a C in another.

Another point is that American professors give grades far more often than other countries, where grades are usually only given at the end of a semester or a year. The frequency may alarm a student, who wasn’t expecting to see any reports until much later.

All of these issues can be resolved with just a bit of explanation. Learning to adapt to professorial styles is a great way to prepare for a career, and you as a host parent can help your guest to see the benefits of learning new styles. You can also encourage a student to approach a professor, especially if that is not a common practice in their home. By clearing up these misunderstandings early, you can help your guest on their way to success.