Fri 21 Dec 2007
The challenges and benefits to being an international student at Indiana University
When walking across Indiana University’s campus, one can see students from all over the world. There are different clothing styles, ethnicities and languages. Together, the different components help shape the diverse atmosphere that is characteristic of IU.
China is one of three major sources of international students at IU, which makes Chinese students a group that cannot be ignored. They have their own unique characteristics, wants and needs, which can differ from other international students.
Why come to America and IU?
For many years, the United States has been the top destination for Chinese students seeking higher education overseas. Many students are motivated to come here because of the high regard for an American degree and the need for a challenging and fulfilled new life.
”An American master’s degree is a great chance for getting a job,” said Tian Ming, a Chinese graduate student at IU. “Besides, learning and practical experience are not closely correlated in the Chinese educational system. A lot of Chinese students end up doing something that has nothing to do with their major after graduation.”
Although some people may believe that living and studying in a new environment is synonymous with adversity, many Chinese students are far more optimistic.
“I try not to think I’m ‘suffering.’ As a matter of fact, I think studying abroad makes my life fulfilled and allows me the opportunity to experience a totally different life,“ said Cindy Jin, a Chinese graduate student at IU. “I oftentimes imagine that I’m on vacation.“
According to Amy Reyolds, the associate dean for research and graduate studies in the School of Journalism, more and more Chinese students are coming to IU every year. “We have far more Chinese students than any past years,” said Reynolds.
Despite the increasingly large number of Chinese students pursing college degrees, the students continue to face challenges such as financial pressures, language barriers, differing educational systems, cultural differences, lack of transportation, loneliness and the debate over whether or not to stay after graduation.
Financial pressures
”An American master’s degree is a great chance for getting a job,” said Tian Ming, a Chinese graduate student at IU. “Besides, learning and practical experience are not closely correlated in the Chinese educational system. A lot of Chinese students end up doing something that has nothing to do with their major after graduation.”
Although some people may believe that living and studying in a new environment is synonymous with adversity, many Chinese students are far more optimistic.
“I try not to think I’m ‘suffering.’ As a matter of fact, I think studying abroad makes my life fulfilled and allows me the opportunity to experience a totally different life,“ said Cindy Jin, a Chinese graduate student at IU. “I oftentimes imagine that I’m on vacation.“
According to Amy Reyolds, the associate dean for research and graduate studies in the School of Journalism, more and more Chinese students are coming to IU every year. “We have far more Chinese students than any past years,” said Reynolds.
Despite the increasingly large number of Chinese students pursing college degrees, the students continue to face challenges such as financial pressures, language barriers, differing educational systems, cultural differences, lack of transportation, loneliness and the debate over whether or not to stay after graduation.
Financial pressures
Attending an American university can be expensive for Chinese students. Tuition is equivalent to approximately $150,000. Because of the high cost, many students tend to enter at the graduate level because they are often able to qualify for assistantships and fellowships.
In addition to tuition, rent and food must also be taken into consideration. To cover these costs, many Chinese students work while enrolled in school.
“Most Chinese students are very hard working, more hard working than other students. They try really hard to find jobs in school,” said Reynolds.
Language barriers
In addition to tuition, rent and food must also be taken into consideration. To cover these costs, many Chinese students work while enrolled in school.
“Most Chinese students are very hard working, more hard working than other students. They try really hard to find jobs in school,” said Reynolds.
Language barriers
Unlike students from Canada or India, where English is their primary language, Chinese students are challenged to speak and read a secondary language upon their arrival at an American university or college.
Most Chinese students learn English in middle school. They receive further training at New Oriental School, which is considered one of the most renowned private language teaching schools in China.
By taking advanced courses in English, students are better prepared for the proficiency examinations, which are required for international students wishing to attend a school in America.
Every year Chinese students continue do well on exams such as the TOEFL and GRE.
However, comprehending the English language is not a “fill in the blank” or a multiple-choice question. It’s much more difficult.
“The good thing is nobody laughs at your accent, but it’s annoying when I can’t articulate what I really want to say in class and get misunderstood by others,” said King Hu, a Chinese student majoring in education at IU. “Sometimes it’s intimidating starting a conversation. … I’m not sure whether they will understand what I say.”
Differing educational systems
Most Chinese students learn English in middle school. They receive further training at New Oriental School, which is considered one of the most renowned private language teaching schools in China.
By taking advanced courses in English, students are better prepared for the proficiency examinations, which are required for international students wishing to attend a school in America.
Every year Chinese students continue do well on exams such as the TOEFL and GRE.
However, comprehending the English language is not a “fill in the blank” or a multiple-choice question. It’s much more difficult.
“The good thing is nobody laughs at your accent, but it’s annoying when I can’t articulate what I really want to say in class and get misunderstood by others,” said King Hu, a Chinese student majoring in education at IU. “Sometimes it’s intimidating starting a conversation. … I’m not sure whether they will understand what I say.”
Differing educational systems
Although globalization and technological advancements have made the transition to America smoother, Chinese students still find it difficult to adapt.
Because the American educational system promotes creativity, critical thinking skills and the ability to challenge authority and prevailing paradigms, Chinese students find it challenging. Many times they are required to answer questions they may not fully understand or present arguments they cannot effectively articulate.
“Chinese students are generally very adaptable, but I do have some Chinese students come to me and say that they find it really hard to participate in class like their American classmates,” explained Reynolds.
In China, students rarely engage in dialogue because professors tend to lecture the entire class time. Chinese students must then adjust to the seminar-like settings found in American classrooms.
However, Chinese students often say that the payoff from learning these creative thinking and presentation skills is worth it in the end.
Cultural differences
Because the American educational system promotes creativity, critical thinking skills and the ability to challenge authority and prevailing paradigms, Chinese students find it challenging. Many times they are required to answer questions they may not fully understand or present arguments they cannot effectively articulate.
“Chinese students are generally very adaptable, but I do have some Chinese students come to me and say that they find it really hard to participate in class like their American classmates,” explained Reynolds.
In China, students rarely engage in dialogue because professors tend to lecture the entire class time. Chinese students must then adjust to the seminar-like settings found in American classrooms.
However, Chinese students often say that the payoff from learning these creative thinking and presentation skills is worth it in the end.
Cultural differences
| Photo by Yolanda Zhang |
China is best known for its long history, rich culture and ancient customs.
When Chinese students come to America, they experience a clash of cultures, which can make it hard for them to understand their American peers. Certain language devices tend to pose the most significant problem, specifically tone, sarcasm and clichés.
“People are really friendly and also comparatively simple,” said Tian. “You always hear people saying ‘have a nice day,’ ‘have a nice weekend,’ which you cannot hear in China. But the thing is, it’s hard to get close to Americans. They are just being nice sometimes, and you have nobody to turn to when you are not having a nice day.”
Another problem that Chinese students struggle with are jokes. Because they are mostly told within a specific cultural context, students have a hard time understanding why the joke is so funny.
“I just laugh together with them, although I sometimes have no idea what the point is,” said Sarah Chen, an IU undergraduate student from Hong Kong.
Transportation
When Chinese students come to America, they experience a clash of cultures, which can make it hard for them to understand their American peers. Certain language devices tend to pose the most significant problem, specifically tone, sarcasm and clichés.
“People are really friendly and also comparatively simple,” said Tian. “You always hear people saying ‘have a nice day,’ ‘have a nice weekend,’ which you cannot hear in China. But the thing is, it’s hard to get close to Americans. They are just being nice sometimes, and you have nobody to turn to when you are not having a nice day.”
Another problem that Chinese students struggle with are jokes. Because they are mostly told within a specific cultural context, students have a hard time understanding why the joke is so funny.
“I just laugh together with them, although I sometimes have no idea what the point is,” said Sarah Chen, an IU undergraduate student from Hong Kong.
Transportation
For many Chinese students, transportation has been a nightmare because of long lines, scheduling and delays.
“The public transportation is very scarce here,” said Tian. “The interval between two buses is very long — like 20 minutes for weekdays. So if you are one minute late, you’ll wait a long time for another one. And if it’s the weekend, things are 10 times worse.”
Jin agreed. “I used to take the ‘E’ bus to school everyday, but the bus is really slow, and it comes every 25 minutes. I always get up late and miss the bus, so I finally decided to walk to school.”
Yet walking poses its problems as well.
“Walking can be a weird thing anywhere outside of the campus,” said Hu. “Oftentimes I’m the only one walking in the street whenever I go to the grocery [store]. You find nobody to ask for direction. Everybody is in the car.”
Loneliness and relationships
“The public transportation is very scarce here,” said Tian. “The interval between two buses is very long — like 20 minutes for weekdays. So if you are one minute late, you’ll wait a long time for another one. And if it’s the weekend, things are 10 times worse.”
Jin agreed. “I used to take the ‘E’ bus to school everyday, but the bus is really slow, and it comes every 25 minutes. I always get up late and miss the bus, so I finally decided to walk to school.”
Yet walking poses its problems as well.
“Walking can be a weird thing anywhere outside of the campus,” said Hu. “Oftentimes I’m the only one walking in the street whenever I go to the grocery [store]. You find nobody to ask for direction. Everybody is in the car.”
Loneliness and relationships
When traveling overseas for an extended period of time, Chinese students can sometimes experience emotional issues, which are more subtle and elusive than issues of money and school.
“I’ll overschedule myself to avoid loneliness and emptiness,” said Tian. “Sometimes I’ll call my parents, but I always tell them the good and positive things of my life … because I know they can do nothing to help since we are thousands of miles away from each other.”
For other students, finding “real” friends has posed one of the biggest challenges, along with engaging in small talk. “Once the topic is gone, you’ll have nothing to say,” explained Jin.
Tian agreed. “Sometimes I meet someone at the bus stop, and we kind of have a conversation. But after we get on the bus, the person will take out the iPod and headphones and start listening to music,” he explained. “I wonder maybe it’s because he also feels [that it’s] hard to go deep into any topic with a foreign student.”
At times, the lack of a companion with the same cultural background can also lead to a sense of insecurity and uncertainty.
“I think the sense of certainty and security is very important for me,” said Jin. “I heard that it takes at least five years for any alien in the U.S. to actually get this sense of security and feel totally at ease.”
In addition to loneliness and insecurity, “to-be-continued” relationships are also haunting for some Chinese students.
“I’m not sure whether I still have any boyfriend,” said Carrie Han, an undergraduate Chinese student at IU. “My boyfriend is in Nanking and of course we never break up, but I just feel that he is out of reach.”
Decision to stay or leave
“I’ll overschedule myself to avoid loneliness and emptiness,” said Tian. “Sometimes I’ll call my parents, but I always tell them the good and positive things of my life … because I know they can do nothing to help since we are thousands of miles away from each other.”
For other students, finding “real” friends has posed one of the biggest challenges, along with engaging in small talk. “Once the topic is gone, you’ll have nothing to say,” explained Jin.
Tian agreed. “Sometimes I meet someone at the bus stop, and we kind of have a conversation. But after we get on the bus, the person will take out the iPod and headphones and start listening to music,” he explained. “I wonder maybe it’s because he also feels [that it’s] hard to go deep into any topic with a foreign student.”
At times, the lack of a companion with the same cultural background can also lead to a sense of insecurity and uncertainty.
“I think the sense of certainty and security is very important for me,” said Jin. “I heard that it takes at least five years for any alien in the U.S. to actually get this sense of security and feel totally at ease.”
In addition to loneliness and insecurity, “to-be-continued” relationships are also haunting for some Chinese students.
“I’m not sure whether I still have any boyfriend,” said Carrie Han, an undergraduate Chinese student at IU. “My boyfriend is in Nanking and of course we never break up, but I just feel that he is out of reach.”
Decision to stay or leave
The statistics gathered by the Institute for International Education show that during the 2003-2004 academic year, there were 61,765 Chinese students at institutions of higher education in the United States.
Of these students, many have struggled over the question of whether they should stay or leave; however, many are choosing to stay in the United States after earning their degrees.
“I don’t want to return as soon as I get the degree,” said Tian. “I think it’s hard to settle for just returning and getting a job in China. I have a higher expectation for myself since I have gone this far.”
Jin agreed. “I will choose to stay, as long as I can find a job after graduation.”
Of these students, many have struggled over the question of whether they should stay or leave; however, many are choosing to stay in the United States after earning their degrees.
“I don’t want to return as soon as I get the degree,” said Tian. “I think it’s hard to settle for just returning and getting a job in China. I have a higher expectation for myself since I have gone this far.”
Jin agreed. “I will choose to stay, as long as I can find a job after graduation.”