Educational Values During the first week at North

Educational Values
   Good morning, everyone. Today we’ll talk about the educational values of American universities. Life is rather hectic for students during the first week at North American universities. Before classes even begin they must do a number of things in preparation. They barely have time to think about what will actually take place in the classroom. If you are a foreign student, you have the added pressure of adapting yourself to new educational expectations which may be very different from those in your own country.
   Students will find a lot of differences in classroom dynamics from course to course throughout their university careers. Each professor has his or her preferred teaching method, and the curriculum that is used is frequently non-standardized so that each course is distinctly unique from the others.
   Active student participation is required in the majority of courses offered at North American universities, with the exception of formal lecture courses in which the professor is the focus of attention and students arc required to simply listen and take notes. Oral participation is very often graded and included in the final mark a student receives in a course. Courses are frequently designed to include a large amount of discussion and questions. In graduate seminar courses the students usually take on the traditional role of a teacher, giving presentations and leading discussions, while the professor acts as a facilitator to ensure the class runs smoothly.
   Many teachers hold to the idea that a relaxed, informal classroom provides an excellent learning environment. It is not unusual for professors to have friendly, casual relationships with their students, treating them as equals. Such people are still excellent and respected teachers and also hold a position of authority in the classroom. A class of students may meet socially with their professor for coffee one day but are still required to submit research papers or take an exam the following day. Deadlines and requirements are expected to be upheld. The professor often has different levels of relationships with his or her students besides simply that of a teacher, but the professor’s first and foremost role is that of an instructor and he or she has the responsibility to conduct the course according to the school’s standards and regulations.
   At North American universities, students are generally expected to be responsible for their own learning. Reading assignments may be given but not discussed, or written assignments may not be given a grade, but in each case the students are expected to complete the work. This may be frustrating to students who are very concerned about grades and who believe all their work should be marked and rewarded. Instead, in North America, students are encouraged to learn for the sake of learning.
   When a professor gives a research assignment, he or she assumes that the students will independently complete it with minimal assistance. Students should take the initiative to discover all the resources available to them in the library and make use of the appropriate ones for their purposes. There are reference people in the library who can teach students how to make best use of the library’s facilities, and students should not rely on the professors to help them in this aspect. That is not to say that a professor will not help students who really need it. Most professors establish office hours which are designated times for students who need help.
   Another characteristic of the teacher-student relationship at North American universities is that of trust. There is an "honor system" which has long been established at all North American post-secondary institutions which demands honesty on the part of all students. Any kind of behavior such as cheating on tests and assignments, or plagiarizing is unacceptable. Dishonesty is considered a very serious thing. Young people have also experienced difficulty in their relationships with fellow students once they have been caught cheating. Many students have no patience or respect for those who gain by dishonest means what others earn by hard work and diligence.
   One will find both a cooperative and a competitive spirit among students at North American universities. International students will find many students willing to help them and should not be timid to ask for assistance if they need it, whether it be for difficult lecture material, or simply finding their way around campus. The competitive aspect shows itself in courses where student performance is graded in comparison with the others in the class. In such a situation, students will often be more guarded in the amount of help they give their classmates about the actual course material.
   What has been so far mentioned gives you a glimpse of the educational system in North American universities and hopefully gives you a head start in your adjustment if you do have the opportunity to study abroad. As well, should you en- counter North American students or professors in China, you will be aware of the educational atmosphere to which they are accustomed. This will help you communicate and understand them better.