Thy Dng
Hong Long
inh Tho
Thanh Tuyn
Reading Text
* Diversity in Higher Education * Active Participation * The Teacher-Student Relationship * Trust, Honesty and the Honor System * Competition and Grading * Student Stress and Coping * International and Immigrant Students in the U.S
Comprehension Questions Discussion Questions Vocabulary Exercises Conversational Activities Cultural Notes
"For a young student who comes from a small place, the American college or university is like a Big Mac. It's too big to eat it all."
The American way is not the only way
Diversity in Higher Education
Degree granting Institutions: Four-year colleges or University Two-year colleges or Adults school
Non-degree granting Institutions: Vocational school Courses to pursue interests
Diversity in Higher Education
Diversity in
Institutions
Student participation in the classroom is not only accepted but also expected in most subjects.
FORMAL CLASSES
INFORMAL CLASSES
STUDENTS HAVE A PASSIVE ROLE
STUDENTS HAVE AN ACTIVE ROLE
IN VIETNAM
IN THE USA
Comprehension Questions
1. According to the authors, international students and immigrants attending schools in the United States may experience: [A] a. multiple culture shocks. b. a large culture shock. c. no adjustment problems.
Comprehension Questions
2. According to the authors, what does the diverse student population on campuses help some Americans to appreciate? [A]
The diverse student population on campuses helps some Americans appreciate that there are different habits, customs, and attitudes, and that the American way is not the only way.
Comprehension Questions
3. If students are not going to school to get a degree, why might they be taking classes? [B] Because they want to receive specific vocational training that will assist them in their jobs and to pursue interests for which they were too busy when they were younger.
Comprehension Questions
4. There is a belief in the American culture regarding ages at which people can learn. According to this belief, when are people too old to learn? [C]
People You are never too old to learn
Comprehension Questions
5. Student participation in the classroom is not only accepted but also expected in most subjects. However, this is not generally true in: [D] a. small classes that have many discussions. b. informal lecture courses. c. large classes with formal lectures.
Comprehension Questions
6. Students pursuing advanced degrees are expected to: [F]
a. critique the professor.
b. formulate models.
c. critique theories. d. both [b] and [c].
7. Educational trends that have influenced teaching in the humanities and social sciences as well as in mathematics and the hard sciences have been responsible for what kind of classroom activities? [H]
Activities problem solving in groups project designing
Comprehension Questions
8. Many teachers believe that the responsibility for learning: [I] a. lies with the teacher b. belongs to the school. c. lies with the student. 9. What kind of classroom environment is believed to help a student learn? [J]
a. formal and structured
b. informal and relaxed c. easy and casual
Comprehension Questions
10. According to the authors, will a teacher who socializes with students outside of class evaluate them differently? In other words, will teachers do favors for their students with whom they have a close relationship? [J]
No - No
Comprehension Questions
11. What might be a result of a violation of the honor system? [M] a. a students failing a course b. a permanent record of the violation in a students life c. suspension or expulsion from the university d. all of the above
Comprehension Questions
12. What are the three examples of academic dishonesty? [N] Plagiarism / Cheating / Fabrication / Aiding dishonesty / Falsification 13. When international students are accused of plagiarism, is it always because of dishonesty? What is another possible cause that the authors give? [O] No It may be that the students omitted the citation out of ignorance
Comprehension Questions
14. Why might students be hesitant to share lecture notes or other information with their fellow students? [Q] Because students are fear that their own grades will suffer. 15. Give two specific reasons that a high gradepoint average is important to some students. [Q, R] It is needed for entrance to superior graduate schools and it also has effects on a competitive job market.
Comprehension Questions
16. According to the authors, who might adapt better to the stress of academic life? [T] a. older students
b. younger students c. new students
Comprehension Questions
17. Why do some students who find it difficult to cope prefer peer counseling to counseling with a school psychologist? [U] Because they want to talk to someone close in age who has had similar problem. 18. Is it likely that students will make friends just by passing people in the hallways at school? [V] No, it isnt.
Comprehension Questions
19. According to the authors, why might foreign or immigrant students be disoriented during the first few weeks at a new school? [W] Because they dont understand the system and are not willing to ask questions.
20. What American values does the university reflect? [X] a. democracy, socialism and authoritarianism b. absolute respect, formality and tradition.
c. individual responsibility and independence
1. What is the main theme of this reading? A. academic success in schools in the United States B. behavior, attitudes, and values found in the American education system C. competition in American society
2. Student participation is expected in most subjects, according to the authors discussion in Paragraph E. Did you ever have a class in which the students did most of the talking? If so, was this classroom style comfortable for you?
3. According to the authors discussion in Paragraph K, are the roles that professors establish outside the classroom the same as the roles that they maintain inside the classroom? Have you ever become friends with a teacher? Were there any conflicts in the relationship because you were also a student?
E. Fill-In
The School Director
innovation [J] subordinate [J] egalitarianism [J] treat [K] deadline [K]
The director of the private college worked very hard at his administrative duties. Each year, when applying for financial aid, he had to meet many deadlines. Since he had already used up private sources of funding, he needed to think of other innovative ways to raise money. Sometimes his position of authority left him isolated from his staff and students. Although he wanted an egalitarian relationship with his faculty, he realized that they were his subordinates. He tried to treat students with respect, even when he disciplined them for poor behavior.
F. Phrases and Expressions:
Which statement best conveys the meaning of the italicized words?
1. If a group of people is cliquish, they: [V] a. tend to exclude nonmembers. b. are musical. c. like to have many members. 2. Peer counseling involves cooperation between: [U] a. teachers and students. b. students and students. c. teachers and parents.
F. Phrases and Expressions:
3. If a teacher wants to know whether you have any hands-on experience in the science laboratory, she wants to know: [H] a. if you have any practical, applied experience. b. if you know the current theories. c. if you are right- or left-handed.
4. To learn the ropes, you must try to: [W] a. discover rules and expectations. b. practice sailing a boat. c. get tired up in an appointment.
Conversational Activities
Teacher-Student Relationships
SITUATION:
A student and a teacher are close friends outside the class. They have coffee together often, and even go out to movies and restaurants. Nevertheless, the student receives a D as the final grade for the course. The student feels that the teacher should change the grade to a C or a B.
B. Classroom Seating Arrangements
C A B
C. Common Causes of Academic Difficulty
Problem Is this also a problem for American students? Is this problem more serious for foreign students?
1. Student doesnt understand the system (add/drop, incompletes, testing, etc.). 2. Student takes too many classes. 3. Student doesnt have a good background in the subject. 4. Student has English deficiency despite an adequate score on his or her English exam. 5. Student is experiencing adaptation problems in the new culture and is homesick.
N N N
Y N Y Y Y
N
N
C. Common Causes of Academic Difficulty
Problem Is this also a problem for American students? Is this problem more serious for foreign students?
6. Student has roommate and housing difficulties. 7. Student is lonely. 8. Student does not know how to study. 9. Student is nervous about taking tests. 10. Student cheats or plagiarizes.
N N N Y Y
Y Y Y Y Y
D. Seeking Information and Services in the University
1. When students have questions about their visas, they should go to the foreign student adviser. True 2. When students have questions regarding electives and required courses, they should ask any professor in the department. Ask the officials of the False registrar office Ask the professor teaching this course
D. Seeking Information and Services in the University
3.When students need letters of recommendation, they must ask the secretary of their departments to write the letters. Ask the professor False Ask the academic adviser 4. When students want to add or drop a course at the beginning of a semester, they must first go to their academic adviser for permission. True
D. Seeking Information and Services in the University 5. When students need to order transcripts to send to other universities, they must go to the department chairperson.
False Go to the registrar office Order the transcript online by accessing to the universitys website
D. Seeking Information and Services in the University 6. Usually, letters of recommendation and transcripts are first given directly to the student, who then sends them to another university.
True 7. Student health insurance enables students to get free medical care outside of school. False Discount / Reduce the cost
F. Cross-Cultural Questions:
1. Are subjects such as politics, foreign policy, and social problems taught in high schools or university courses? In your opinion, should they be taught? 2. Are subjects such as marriage, sex, birth control, parenthood, and divorce taught in high schools or university courses? In your opinion, should they be taught?
3. Are there any courses or subjects taught that you feel are completely useless? Are there any that should be added to the curriculum?
F. Cross-Cultural Questions:
4. When students leave high school, are they well prepared for life outside school? Explain.
5. Does everyone receive an education? Until what age is education mandatory? Is education free?
6. Is there a separation between religion and education, or is religious part of the school curriculum?
