4 Ways International Students Can
Participate in Class
Practice some standard opening phrases to make jumping into a
U.S. classroom discussion easier.
By Jia GuoAug. 22, 2013 | 9:30 a.m. EDT+ From U.S. News and World Report
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Memorizing talking points and orally articulating ideas alone first can help international
students prepare for classroom discussions.
It is challenging to live in a new country, where people speak a different language and
have different cultural values. Most people would try to stick to the rule, "When in Rome, do
as the Romans do." But for many international students, following that rule may not be easy
when it comes to getting involved in classroom discussions.
Even though most international students have passed the TOEFL English proficiency test
before being accepted to a U.S. university, many still find it difficult to speak up in class. This
is not because their language skills aren't up to par or because they are not interested in the
subject. Rather, it's because many are used to lectures in which they behave more like
passive receivers of new knowledge rather than active participants.
In the U.S., however, a student's grade is often determined in part by class participation,
which by definition requires the student to contribute to classroom discussions. For many
quiet international students, the "silence is golden" cultural attitudes they're used to simply
don't translate to a U.S. classroom.
So how can you get involved in classroom discussions?
[Learn how international students can cope with difficult classes.]
First, learn some basic ways to open a conversation. Picking up these specific conversation
starters will help you get involved in a discussion naturally.
For example, if you want to express your own thoughts, you can begin your statement with
phrases like "I think that," or "It seems to me that."
To follow up on an earlier point in the discussion, you could use "I would argue that," or "Just
to go along with what you said." If you want to express your disagreement, you can start your
phrases with "Correct me if I'm wrong, but," or "That is one way to look at it. Another way to
look at it might be."
The best way to learn English expressions is to listen to what your American classmates say
and then write it down. Next time, you can use what you have learned to express your
thoughts in an American way.
Second, be bold. If you have different ideas or suggestions pertaining to the subject, say
them out loud in class. Don't be shy about speaking up. It's OK to hear a different voice in a
classroom environment.
Even if you say something incorrect, as long as the answer is thoughtful and shows effort, it's
unlikely your classmates or teacher will laugh at or criticize you.
When I first came to the U.S., I was a little bit nervous about speaking up in a big class. I
worried both that my English might be misunderstood, and I wasn’t confident about my
answers.
I spoke with my instructor after class about my concerns, and she encouraged me to express
myself freely. I challenged myself to speak at least once in class.
Try listing your talking points in your head before you raise your hand to speak, as this will
help you organize your thoughts. Third, understand what others have said before you offer
your opinion. Speaking out is important, but so is listening. It isn't polite to interrupt when
other people are talking, and, understanding what others have said will help develop your
own thoughts.
What if you speak up, only to say same thing your classmate just did? Learn to be a good
listener.
[Explore the common challenges new international students face.]
Fourth, form your own points. Critical thinking is an important component of an American
education, where students are taught to question the validity of certain claims on the basis of
their knowledge and life experience.
As international students, we have different life and cultural experiences than our American
peers. Don't hesitate to offer your unique perspective.
You never know how others will react to your viewpoint. Mine was always appreciated by my
classmates during discussions about China. Whenever I contributed to those discussions,
my American classmates were interested to hear about China from a Chinese perspective.
It might take international students a semester or two to feel comfortable getting involved in
the heated debates or discussions in U.S. classrooms. Often, what international students
really lack is a little courage to take the first step.
Jia Guo, from China, graduated from the University of Minnesota—Twin Cities in 2012 with a
bachelor's degree in broadcast journalism after transferring from Shandong University of
Political Science and Law in Jinan, China, where she studied law. Guo is currently a
graduate journalism student at New York University.