FOREIGN STUDENTS
I had two of them in last class and by being slow and talking about subject and then showing them was a big help
Wayne,
yes, the assistance we can give outside of the normal parameters can make a significant difference.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Wayne,
yes, the assistance we can give outside of the normal parameters can make a significant difference.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Wayne,
yes, the assistance we can give outside of the normal parameters can make a significant difference.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
It might be interesting and helpful for the foreign student to show us how something works in their country and then compare it to ours-pros/cons, differences/similarities,etc. This way you are incorporating who they are and where they come from into the current teaching strategy.
laura,
I really like this idea as it will probably also help the foreign student to retain more of the information on the concept.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
They are new to the American learning and class room culture. If some instructor take time and work with them, they can over come this weakness.
Mahmood,
this is so true & a great point to be made. There are not learning disabilities (generally) in these situations, but it a new environment, language & culture at play.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Foreign students can be a challenge for an instructor. They do no have learning disabilities however the language barrier can cause you to have to have to do some things differently in order for them to grasp the material. It is important to understand their culture and background as it relates to the course material, terms used and their ideas and/or experiences as it relates to the subject matter. You can use this to find a common ground and method in which you can teach the course material.
Aleatha,
this is a great point & I would add that understanding the cultural background can also provide insight into why a student may not feel comfortable approaching you as the instructor for help or with questions.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I had a student who his High School education was from his country. I teach technology and he knew the material very well. But was a challenge for him to process the material and converted to English. He will at times will try to explain himself in Spanish since I am Hispanic but the problem there was that I myself will also have a hard time since I was educated in the states. So the technical words in Spanish I do not have much of a grasp. I then felt his frustration. So, I will try to get him to break things up or provide and examples.
Carlos,
while frustrating its nice that you can identify with his frustration with the translation of the terms. I think the idea of breaking things into smaller chunks is a great idea.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
I have had experiences with students for whom English was their second language. I was able to get another student in the class who was bilingual to help out with translating information. This helped immensely.
Roger,
yes, if you can find someone who can translate, especially the more difficult concepts or terms, this is a great step to helping these students.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Working with foreign student are both challenging and rewarding. On one hand the obvious communication problem, this will require patience and maybe help beyond normal class hours. At the same time it is rewarding to know I have helped someone overcome a language barrier and help them succeed.
Clyde,
and the value of having the diversity of students in the class is also great.
Ryan Meers, Ph.D.
Working foreign student is very frustrating mainly because of the language barrier.
Yes, it is difficult to handle students with difficult backgrounds and cultures, but I think is positive thiw enrich the area of knowledge and gives them the chance to open themselves to other cultures and traditions.
