Strategies for Lectures

Even in highly student-centered classes, most instructors at some point will include lectures. For non-native English speaking international students, lectures can be difficult to follow. Making this even more challenging is the fact that few students will let you know when they are confused or have questions. There are, however, several strategies you can employ to help your international students. 

• Write down keywords and concepts as you speak. 
• Provide students with an outline of major points.
• Be aware of cultural and historical references you use. 
• Avoid idioms (e.g. “in a nutshell,” “read between the lines,” “hit the nail on the head”) or rephrase the ones you use. 

In addition to using the above strategies during your lectures, consider incorporating classroom assessment techniques. For example, you could ask students to write down the part of class that was most confusing or difficult. Or, you could ask students to summarize in one long sentence the most important point in class. This can help you identify what you may need to clarify during the next class.

What other ways have you adapted your lectures to meet the needs of international students? Comment below and let me know!