*formerly posted on "Welcome, International Students!" blog
When enrolling in U.S. university classes, both international students and American students need to get familiar with different types of classroom environments. While students throughout the world are familiar with lecture-based classes--where the teacher leads the classroom and does most of the talking--several U.S. university classes are very interactive, with students discussing class lessons, world events, philosophy, ethics, and other academic and professional topics. In most cases, speaking during class discussions is optional; most professors still evaluate students through exams, essay papers, and in-class presentations.
When enrolling in U.S. university classes, both international students and American students need to get familiar with different types of classroom environments. While students throughout the world are familiar with lecture-based classes--where the teacher leads the classroom and does most of the talking--several U.S. university classes are very interactive, with students discussing class lessons, world events, philosophy, ethics, and other academic and professional topics. In most cases, speaking during class discussions is optional; most professors still evaluate students through exams, essay papers, and in-class presentations.
In some classes, professors award points and give better final course grades to students who speak more frequently during class discussions. This can be an adjustment for shy people as well as any students that have only experienced lecture-based classes--challenging both American and international students to adapt to a new type of classroom environment. While this may be initially difficult, the ability to speak actively and debate during class discussions becomes beneficial for career development, as those who become comfortable speaking during class tend to have an easier time preparing for job interviews and handling on-the-job communication.
As a general approach, advanced classes--especially graduate-level classes--include more class discussions than entry-level classes. While first-year and second-year undergraduate students may experience mostly lecture-based classes, junior and senior level undergraduate students and master's degree and doctoral candidates must be prepared to do much more interacting during class. They may have debates about different topics, make presentations on researched topics, or even teach some class sessions to their classmates. These experiences help students develop necessary communication skills that are required for higher-level jobs in the professional and academic environments.
As more international students enroll in U.S. universities, it has become very common for some American students to ask a lot of questions of their international classmates. Primarily, American students are very curious to learn about their classmates' cultures, customs, business environments, governments, economies, and other aspects of daily life. While some American students have had the opportunity to travel to other countries and become friends with people of other regions and cultures, other American students have had limited access to travel and have lived in the same neighborhood for their entire lives. Therefore, they are gaining their first extended experiences of interacting with students from other states and countries while studying at the university level.
U.S. universities understand the value of international and global education; they continue to add programs to help international students adjust to U.S. classroom environments and American culture. While orientation programs are provided to help all new students, extended orientation is typically held for international students to help answer their questions. U.S. universities also have on-campus international student services to answer questions and provide help during the school year. Furthermore, universities offer opportunities for international students to meet regularly with conversation partners to help them make the transition to American life. Other university clubs and nonprofit social organizations also provide group outings and other fun activities for international students to meet other American and international students. As long as international students ask questions and use the resources available, they will get help in adjusting to U.S. university life, both inside and outside the classroom.