Teaching International Students – Case Story May 2010
Quotes from doctoral students
11 May 2010 at an Escalate event.
Students were from Malaysia, Thailand, Jamaica, Chile and Cyprus. Some were just starting, some near the end. They had an unstructured conversation with each other and I wrote down these statements.
On identity
I have been labeled as an international student in three different places: in Sweden, in London and now here in Bristol. I am called an African but I am Jamaican.
Even we are both from the same place [points to another student], we have a different view on this supervision.
I am not an international student as classified because I am European but I am not a home student.
I am doing my PhD and also I am a mother so I come here with my family and I am both.
In the first year, ‘who are you?’ is the big question. Who are you?
On choosing a supervisor
Before I came the on line information was very important, crucial, to get the grant in the first place. What are they interested?
The way to be chosen by a supervisor – I am chosen, not the other way – the way is to show I am worth enough. I have to make myself better to suit the supervisor.
I had already done a huge amount of work for this PhD before coming here, with applying for the grant, the travel and moving – so much work.
On Language and cultural adjustment
We have many things to do as well as study because we have the English and also to adjust we meet here from other students for other countries’ ways.
I am practicing English and that is why I am here and we have to break through layers of problems with it to move forward.
My supervisor when I first came said about a conference and said, ‘It would be good if you went’ and when we met next time, he said ‘Was the conference useful?’ and I said ‘I didn’t go’ and he looked surprised because ‘It would be good’ was saying ‘Go’. Now I know.
On expectations
Before I came here, yes, I had the idea that Western supervisors should be more informal with students but it didn’t happen for me and we do not talk about it and I do not call her by her first name and when we meet, we just discuss the topic and it has been like that now for all the year.
The expectation from the supervisors here is that you are not good enough and when I came I had to keep proving and showing them that they could trust my knowledge. That I am a professional. I am an expert on the research in my context so maybe the supervisor knows more in general, but [the supervisor should] acknowledge what we know.
Supervision as a two-way interaction
Her knowing me – that is what is important. Not just Hi and Bye but instead, it is a long-term thing.
Maybe we are making a relationship that goes beyond the PhD and maybe collaborating. They always have to write the references, too.
The power is not the same thing on both sides. And not the same as in my country. There, the supervisor is not the same as here but a big power. I am giving up my power when I come here.
I wanted to find a supervisor who is a real human being so I came before the start and tried to figure it out in advance.
For me, I am trying I’m trying I’m trying to understand her but it should be the other way around
Sometimes they are learning in their own area and not sharing learning. Sometimes they are very busy doing things.
Suggestions from students on how best to help them
I need detailed instructions. Detailed. I need strong and detailed guidance and when I go wrong, say ‘that is wrong’. Not trial and error by me but say it.
I need my supervisor to be frank and direct because sometimes I am reluctant to say what I am doing because we do not know and we can’t guess what they want. Sometimes, we make mistakes [as students] and then say it directly.
There is no one way but now I have learned to do it like a business meeting so I have a list. 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. That one hour is very crucial to me.
For feedback, be specific. My supervisor said ‘Brilliant’ and I had to ask ‘ What is I that brilliant?’ I want to know ‘Is it worthy?’.
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