Common academic problems faced by international students studying in the United States, and how to deal with them.

1. Cross Cultural !
Study Skills
Cultural Exchange Seminar!
Office of International Studies in Education!
College of Education!
Michigan State University!
!
October 3, 2014
By: Iwan Syahril

2. Agenda
• Group work (15 mins)
• Sharing (15 Mins)
• Slide presentation (15 Mins)
• Q & A (5 mins)

3. Group Work

4. Group Work
• Brainstorm issues/problems when
studying in the US classroom
—> reading, writing, speaking, and
listening
• Write the issues/problems on the poster
paper.
• Post it on the wall
• Gallery walk
• Sharing

5. “Different is NOT deficient.”

6. • Values, Expectations, Perceptions!
• Problems and Tips How to Deal with Them!
• Other Tips

7. Values,
Expectations,
Perceptions
• Egalitarianism vs Hierarchy
Professors are facilitators vs Professors are experts
• Less formal vs Formal
Call professors by first name is often OK vs
Call professors with a specific title
• Active Participation vs Passive Participation
Questions, comments vs Silence is golden
• Individualism vs Collectivism
Being different is encouraged vs Keeping harmony
Classmates are classmates vs Classmates are friends

8. Language
problems:
Grammar
translation method
translate
check
response!
in L1
translate
response
in L2
respond

9. Problems: Speaking
• Lack of confidence
• Lots of discussion can be intimidating
• Why discussion? Why learning from peers? Why is
the teacher not teaching?
• Irrelevant comments as a show of interest, a
teaching moment
Lack of participation as a show of disinterest and a
show of unpreparedness

10. What to do & How:
Speaking
• Rule of thumb: Silence is NOT golden!
• Tip: Be confident
How: Focus on your ideas, not your grammar.
• Tip: Prepare your ideas and questions
How: Write small notes (post-its) when reading
• Tip; Learn discussion conventions (e.g., expressing opinions, turn-taking)
How: (See handout, p. 1-3)
• Tip: Give it a try, and keep going!
How: Talk even when it sounds stupid, or maybe irrelevant. Be
apologetic, “I am sorry if this sounds stupid (this may be irrelevant), but
I think…”

11. Problems:
Listening
• Difficulties in following professors’ lectures format
• Comprehension problems

12. What to do &
How: Listening
• Tip: Improve your listening skills. Understand less formal
phrases, & subtle cultural contexts.
How: Watch TV
• Tip: Have backups
How: Record lectures if possible (ask permission); Borrow
classmates’ notes; Meet professors during their office hours

13. Problems:
Reading!
• So little time, so much to do!
• Too many readings
• Slow reading habit

14. What to do & How:
Reading!
• Tip: SKIM!
How: (See handout, p. 4)
• Tip: Read with a critical eye, not to retain and synthesize
information
How: ~ Read, stop, develop your own arguments.
Ask “What do I think?”
~ Reading with questions in mind: 5W + H
~ Interact with the readings, make it explicit:
Side notes, highlighting, post it notes

15. Problems:
Writing
• A lot of writing (essays, research papers)
• Indirectness
• Academic integrity (plagiarism)

16. What to do & How:
Writing
• Tip: Be direct
How: State main argument or interpretation directly at the beginning,
then support with evidence. The focus is to make one’s point clear to
the reader.
• Tip: Cite
How: ~ Paraphrasing skills (see handout, p. 5);
~ Citation styles (e.g., APA, MLA, etc.)
• Tip: Seek support system
How: ~ Ask professors to check one’s work before submitted.
~ Ask peers to proofread writing
~ Writing Center (College of Education, MSU Writing Center)

17. Other Tips
• Ask for second chances!
• Build relationships with faculty, advisers,
other students.
• Have a life. Do your hobbies. Explore new
hobbies. Make new friends.

18. Questions?
18

19. Thank you
19