Tutorials and Laboratory Sessions

An African student describes another very common feeling:

It takes time for an overseas student to take part in tutorial at first all he does is to study other students contributing to the discussions.

Finally, a Chinese student points out a cultural problem in his atti­ tude to public argument:

The seminars and group discussions always upset me, especially when everyone tries to argue on a certain topic. I find it hard to concentrate on the whole discussion and hence very seldom can I enter into the argument at all.

With time, however, most overseas students do manage to over­seas their reluctance to join in these practical sessions. Here is the .way a Thai student tackled the problem:

At first I did not speak at all. Everyone else speaks so fast and I didn't want to interrupt, speaking slowly and holding up the dis­cussion. Then I got my plan. Each week before the tutorial I read the articles on the subject and write down some opinions in English about it. I learn them and when everyone else is quiet, I can give my idea, speaking almost as fast as my classmates. This gives me confidence. Then one day I could state my ideas without writing it down - it just came out. I still have a problem when they ask me questions. But it is get­ting easier now.

Writing foreign students use a different strategy : they invite some classmates to meet for an `unofficial' tutorial before the official sesion In this more relaxed and friendly setting they can practise their ideas. Here they need not worry that they might be delaying the rest the class or sounding stupid. After these practice tutorials, the students claim it is then much easier to answer questions and forward ideas in the real group discussions.

Questions about points

Cost overseas students