A smorgasbord of strategies to help international students feel included

Teaching international students is like embarking on a culinary adventure. Every student brings their own flavourful mix to the classroom, enriching the academic experience. But to create a balanced and delicious meal, we must recognise the individual ingredients and spices each international student brings. Join me as we embark on this culinary-academic voyage together, discovering ways to build effective global classrooms!

Set the stage with a pre-class appetiser

Imagine hosting a dinner party with guests from around the world. You wouldn’t dive straight into the main course without checking their culinary preferences or for any food allergies, right? Similarly, before the academic feast begins, organise a pre-class meeting to understand your international students’ educational backgrounds and expectations.

• Create welcoming classrooms for international students
• Taking the shock out of culture shock: helping international students navigate transitions, part one
• How to help international students prepare for university life ahead of and after their arrival

From my international business experience, I vividly recall a visit to Japan when a client first understood the phrase “it’s a piece of cake” to mean “it's a simple cake recipe”. We all laughed about this incident together, but it served as a good reminder of the importance of clear communication.

Experience has shown me accurate and culturally sensitive communication within an online classroom environment, where students from diverse backgrounds interact, is a necessity. Being mindful of idioms and cultural nuances ensures all students can participate fully in discussions.

Weekly check-ins are a recipe for success

Just as consistency is key in cooking, maintaining a connection with international students is equally essential. Consider holding regular check-in sessions with them so you can ensure they remain up to speed on material covered in lessons and keep the relationship gently simmering.

Online collaborations offer an immersive educational experience. One memorable experience during my undergraduate years involved working on an international project together with students from different countries via an online forum; we shared perspectives and ideas across time zones while working on our project together. It truly demonstrated the value of global connections through technology.

Cultural differences are the spice of life

Imagine mixing spices from various cultures together into one dish; the result can be an exquisite fusion of flavours. In the classroom, identifying cultural differences such as variations in academic etiquette or citation styles can enhance students’ experiences and lead to increased understanding and mutual respect among teachers and students.

Online collaborations present an unparalleled opportunity to celebrate cultural diversity. During one online discussion, a student from Brazil shared her views on teamwork, emphasising the importance of close bonds within groups, while another from Germany stressed efficiency and task completion as essential aspects of teamwork. These diverse points of view helped to enrich our discussion and appreciate global perspectives more fully.

The secret ingredient? Open communication

Effective communication is the cornerstone of success when teaching international students, so aim to foster an environment in which your pupils feel safe expressing their thoughts and worries openly.

Encourage online students to ask questions and seek clarification, since online platforms can sometimes feel distant, and create an atmosphere of open dialogue. This “secret sauce” will help to promote knowledge transfer, while simultaneously creating space for cross-cultural discussions.

A culinary extravaganza lies beyond the classroom

Learning should not stop when the figurative class bell rings; it goes beyond classroom walls. Encourage international students to immerse themselves in local academic culture and community life.

Online collaborations offer opportunities for extracurricular engagement, like international student meet-and-greets. Students can form virtual study groups, explore academic resources together or even organise cultural exchange events online – activities that not only enrich their academic journeys but also foster lifelong global friendships.

As educators, we have the privilege of cultivating an environment for learning that transcends borders. Teaching international students can be like creating a global banquet showcasing each students’ rich cultural perspective. By setting the scene and maintaining regular check-ins with students, celebrating cultural diversity and encouraging open communication and extracurricular engagement, we can ensure our global classroom offers learning that is both enriching and deliciously diverse.

Like any seasoned chef, educators have the responsibility to craft masterpieces that satisfy diverse palates. By following these steps, you will soon become a global classroom connoisseur with cultural enrichment and academic excellence mingling seamlessly in your classes for all to savour.

Embrace the spice of diversity, encourage open dialogue and provide a global classroom experience that leaves all hungry for more.

John Sinclair is a part-time faculty member in the MBA programme at CSU Global.

If you would like advice and insight from academics and university staff delivered direct to your inbox each week, sign up for the Campus newsletter.