While I do get to have great travels, people looking to be an international educator JUST for travel should know 2 things: 1. The DIRECTOR mostly travels (unless you are in admissions or a program rep for a region, in which case you may have travel to specific areas of the U.S. or world) 2. Site visits are usually quite work intensive and so... THEY AREN'T VACATIONS! Granted, it does depend on where you are - with my old work, I would get maybe 1/2 day of free time in a 10 day trip abroad; now, I have more free time although it is still only about a day or two...
But, I wanted to respond to the request to write a bit about how students coming into the U.S. view the culture and their experience. My responses are going to be a bit over the place as my current job deals more with students going for study abroad OUTSIDE the U.S., although I'm still in constant contact with many of our international students through the office and then other international persons in my private life. Now, for most of my comments - they are coming from students who came from Africa, Asia or the Middle East. Many of the comments is same from the Europeans, but there are some differences that I'll try to point out.
U.S. schools:
*There is a general amazement at the causal atmosphere of U.S. schools. Such as talking during class, eating/drinking during class, group discussions... This is pretty much across the board, whether the students are from Europe, Latin America, Africa, MidEast or Asia. People will focus on different things that they find more relaxed, but the general impression is that class in general is more relaxed than at their home universities/high schools.
*Often, students initially think that the classes are easier (probably because they are relaxed). That usually stops by the first quiz or paper. Many international students are not used to have to take small quizzes/papers so often, but rather used to the one big paper/exam for the entire semester grade.
* Plagiarism is a HUGE deal - many of our students don't understand what it is and/or why it's bad. This seems to go a few ways: 1. if you get the work done, what does it matter? 2. no one has original thought, so why should you have to cite everything you take from someone else? Doesn't that end up being the entire paper? A friend of mine from Switzerland had to always adjust her mindset coming in because she was used to a French system that figures you will argue a point and the reference don't matter as much because it's assumed you didn't come up with the ideas out of thin air (ie, you're not that smart).
*Professor/student interactions - many students find it hard to adapt to the causal relationship initially. (they like it, it just can be hard to get used to from certain places) Also, the idea that a good relationship does not necessarily equal a good grade.
College life:
*Social scene - unfortunately, many students will join cliques within their regional groups. It IS VERY hard for many international students to 'break into' the U.S. social groups - language ability and general social skills/laid back attitude certainly helps.
*Dating - always a tricky situation at first; we had a great discussion about this at a student meeting where they talked about 'dating' back home and 'dating' here. Many students find it fascinating how Americans don't want to commit AT ALL to a relationship or even think about marriage and kids. Many do view it as mostly disrespectful to the women in the U.S. that they don't put any standards on their relationships and future family idea.
*Clubs - most international students are either VERY involved or VERY not; there doesn't seem to be much of an in-between.
*Religion/morals/family - Europeans usually find the U.S. very pushy about religion and feel like we are very conservative with our moral views (even in 'liberal' areas like California and New York area cities). MidEast/Asians and parts of Africa find us very lose in our morals and often view the culture as not putting much respect/consideration to the family. (keep in mind, these cultures often are in the 'group think' category and have HIGH family consideration in every day life) Other parts of Africa/Caribbean/Latin America have mixed views depending on the topic.
Hmmmm - I have a head cold that is killing me and I can't think right now of any other topics. Comment if you have any categories and I can tell you what I have seen, although please keep in mind that my observations are OBSERVATIONS and can be particular to my area and the groups of international students I come across.
I've noticed here that many local students don't understand about plagiarism. They don't footnote and they don't understand why profs are so angry about such forms of cheating.
ReplyDeleteI've also noticed about people only find friends within their regional circles. Of course, many expat adults do the same thing abroad. *shrug*
Yea; it's not unusual for students to only find friends in regional circles, but we try to get them incorporated as much as possible. It does require A LOT of work - most of the 'study abroad' students (here or outside the US) don't have the time so much to get incorporated, but some seem to do just well. It seems the more outgoing and basically 'uncaring' almost of how they are viewed, the better at incorporation they are... Like good self-confidence makes others want to be with them :)
ReplyDeleteAt the same point, I've had international students go abroad and say they have had more of an 'American' college experience because they hang out with more Americans abroad than at home! :)