An Opportunity for Growth

As instructors, we set the tone in our classes. If we act like our international students are an inconvenience, domestic students will as well, and an opportunity will be missed. International education is about more than just advancing learning, it is an opportunity to build respect and understanding and increase communication among different groups, all of which contribute toward a more peaceful society. 

I challenge you to be more aware of how you think about, talk about, and interact with your international students. Take deliberate steps to make them feel welcome and employ strategies to help them overcome the linguistic and cultural challenges they face. International students add enormous value to our institutions of higher education, and when we stop viewing their cultural differences as deficits, we allow that value to be seen and heard in our classrooms. 

Want to learn more about how your campus can prepare faculty (and staff) for the needs of international students? Send me a message today!