A Comparative Study of the Responses by International Students towards the Teaching Strategies Used in an Australian University

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This paper reports on a research conducted in the University of Newcastle, aiming to search for new knowledge about resolving teaching-learning problems due to the cultural differences rather than language deficiencies of overseas students in Australia. The new knowledge this research is seeking is essential to establish a theoretical framework for the improvement of the quality of existing curriculum and pedagogy for overseas students - in particular, the Southeast Asian and the Middle East students in Australian universities who are competing for an international market of higher education against other English speaking countries such as US, UK, Canada and New Zealand. Australia has been already ranked the third of the English speaking countries in attracting overseas students. While US and UK universities have conducted many researches on international students’ adjustment to new learning environment, Australian universities have not made sufficient efforts in this field, therefore, this research is timely designed and dealing with an urgent issue of quality teaching in Australian cultural context. Methodologically, international students were directly involved in the investigation as investigators as well as subjects. The most important contribution, is that the investigation is based on a reciprocal-interactive approach rather than an assimilating-accommodating view of “making guests feel at home” in Australian university by adapting Australian ways of academic life. The study is generating important insights into the development of a new inclusive academic culture in Australian universities to order to meet the needs of a rapid globalising world. Basted on research finding, it is proposed a theoretical framework as a foundation for inclusinve teaching strategies for international students.

Stream: Curriculum and Pedagogy; Student Learning, Learner Experiences, Learner Diversity

Paper: , , , , , , , , , A Comparative Study on the Responses by International Students towards the Teaching Strategies Used in an Australian University,

A/Prof. Shen Chen is currently teaching and supervising post-graduate students in the School of Education, the University of Newcastle, Australia. His research interest includes International Education, Second and Foreign Language Teaching and Intercultural Communication.