International Student Experience Essay

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Introduction It is seldom that education in the English- speaking nations manifests itself as the copious intercultural experience as portrayed by the marketing brochures. For most international students, establishing substantive friendship with the local students is an arduous task in as much as the international students may be assailable to new experiences. This paper is bent on discoursing some of the challenges which the international students experience and how they can undergo personal transformations which may help them during their sojourn overseas. Research context There is a far-flung disposition to comprehend international students as a homogenous group. This perception is flawed mainly because it falls short of treating them as individuals. For instance, it is a common notion that Asian students, Chinese students to be precise, bring with them cultural difference in style and methods of learning, and are thus deficiently prepared for analytical and critical thinking in the American learning institutions. Additionally, students from South East Asia are deemed as surface learners and passive non-participants in class or in study groups. Such cultural perceptions have the potential of obliterating the fundamental needs or requirements of most international students. Unimpeachably, language barrier is the greatest hurdle for most international students in their adaptation to life overseas. However, they can overcome this obstacle by apprehending the academic expectations, standards and conventions in the American schools. Methodology This research focused mainly on international students from Asian countries such as China, South Korea, Japan and India. Some students from the USA were also incorporated in this research... ... middle of paper ... ...in an effort to ameliorate the experiences of international students during their stay in America: • It is cardinal to carry out rigorous orientation or induction exercises to make crystal clear what is expected of the international students in American learning institutions. • More platforms, in which the international students interact with the home students in groups, should be established. This will assist the international students to make rapid improvements in effective communication. • The staff in most US schools should undergo developmental activities which will help them provide the much needed support to international students. Of essence, language barrier and cultural differences are incapable of deterring international students from success but anxiety can. Anxiety makes us retrogressive and restrains us from challenges, eventual progress and success.

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