Tips for Faculty Teaching International Students (F-1 visa students)
One of the goals of Sinclair’s 2012-2017 International Education Strategic Plan is to increase enrollment of international students. As we continue to build global partnerships and recruit students from abroad, the college’s classrooms will have a different look and feel than they have ever had in the past. The college benefits in numerous ways from the knowledge, skills, and perspectives brought by students from different parts of the world. However, this cultural diversity also poses real and significant challenges to faculty.
This document provides information and advice concerning teaching in an increasingly multicultural setting. Since it is impossible to list all cultural variations or offer solutions for very complex issues, this document aims to raise awareness about the types of challenges, mainly cultural and language issues, that international students face, and provides some examples, suggestions, and strategies you can use to address these issues. Please note that being aware of cultural differences does not require faculty to lower their standards or apply a different set of performance criteria for international students than for other students. We can use some of the following pedagogical practices to improve students’ learning.
1. Be very explicit, more than you may think is necessary, about your expectations and give examples of the kinds of work you want your students to accomplish.
2. Include clear written organizational guidelines in assignment descriptions as international students often depend on printed materials rather than their listening or writing skills.
3. Initially, as much as possible, focus on meaning and the content of the writing first and grammar and style later. Many international students cannot focus on both grammar and development of ideas at the same time.
4. If there are consistent problem areas, correct and provide a rule for that area and ask the student to correct that mistake throughout the paper.
5. Offer a clear statement on plagiarism in your syllabus and explain it in detail. Not all international students have the same understanding of what constitutes plagiarism. In some traditional cultures in Asia and the Middle East, students are encouraged to memorize and quote common knowledge or given information, thus it is unnecessary for students to cite documents. In other cultures, student’s ability to reproduce what was presented to them is highly valued and they were taught that only the expert’s opinion is authoritative, therefore it is appropriate for the students to present that idea instead of their own idea or using their own words.
6. Explain what kinds of collaborations are and are not acceptable in your course. Explain the difference between helping a friend with homework vs. helping him with a take-home exam, or the difference between collaborating to determine strategies for the assignments vs. submitting similar-looking work without producing the paper or result on their own.
7. Ask to see assignments and papers at various stages of development (i.e. early project proposals, first drafts of papers, etc) to help identify the problems students may have with paraphrasing, citing sources, compiling bibliographies and so on.
8. Utilize straightforward and specific feedback on papers. Instead of using “write more clearly” or “awkward”, try to encourage students to express their ideas directly in their written work and give them specific instructions for the direct style you prefer. An example can be very instructive.
9. Avoid idiomatic expressions and slang that international students may be unfamiliar with (i.e. “give me a ring”, “get the ball rolling”, “up in the air”).
10. Let students who hesitate to speak in class contribute in small groups first or provide assignments or questions ahead of time so that students can prepare beforehand.
11. Make it clear to your students when you are available for help outside of class and explain what kinds of help you are willing to provide or what kinds of help you are unable to provide.
12. Provide students information about resources available to them, i.e. Writing Lab, Center for Student Success, Tutorial Services, etc. Always refer them to the International Education Office if the problems fall outside your purview.
13. Please do not simply advise students to withdraw from the class. International students on an F-1 visa are required by U.S. Immigration Law to pursue a full time course load in order to maintain their legal status. Always refer them to Meng Lu at the International Education Office first. Her contact information is , or 937-512-4606.