Template: Supporting online international students

Teaching Online Module 2, Session 4: Supporting international distance learning students Use this template to guide you through various considerations for supporting online international students. Download and save this template for your own reference. Can you think of some basic communication problems you might encounter with your international students in an online educational environment? What problems or concerns do you think online international learners will have? Description:

There will be times when you must use academic language and industry jargon when communicating with your students. There will also be times when its appropriate to use plain English. How will you balance the two? Description:

This resource was created by University College Falmouth and released as an open educational resource for University College Falmouth for the Learn to Teach Online course. The free Learn to Teach Online course is funded by University College Falmouth's Learning and Teaching Enhancement Programme. 2012 University College Falmouth

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence. When repurposing this resource please acknowledge the B4EE project.

How will you support international students who find course content hard to understand or complicated due to language or technology issues? Description:

How will you address general English language issues (i.e. sayings, idioms, humour, etc)? Description:

Loss of internet connection/access, loss of electricity, natural disasters, civil unrest and similar issues beyond a students control may occur. How will you support an international student who fails to submit an assignment or complete an activity due to such an event? Which department at your institution can support you when dealing with these issues? Description:

This resource was created by University College Falmouth and released as an open educational resource for University College Falmouth for the Learn to Teach Online course. The free Learn to Teach Online course is funded by University College Falmouth's Learning and Teaching Enhancement Programme. 2012 University College Falmouth

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence. When repurposing this resource please acknowledge the B4EE project.

Not all cultures have a student-centred approach to education. Some cultures have a formal learning and teaching environment. Are you familiar with any culture where this is the practice? How will you address this issue in a student-centred learning environment (e.g. peer critiquing)? Description:

In some cultures it is unthinkable for a student to address a tutor by his or her first name. Nor is it permissible for a tutor to call a student by their first name. Are you familiar with any culture where this is the custom? How will you address this? How can you create a cross-cultural exchange or interaction from this? Description:

How will you familiarise international students with group work processes if they come from a culture unfamiliar with this practice? Description:

This resource was created by University College Falmouth and released as an open educational resource for University College Falmouth for the Learn to Teach Online course. The free Learn to Teach Online course is funded by University College Falmouth's Learning and Teaching Enhancement Programme. 2012 University College Falmouth

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence. When repurposing this resource please acknowledge the B4EE project.

How will you ensure the use of culturally inclusive language on your course? Description:

In a British lecture or seminar session, it is common to cite British examples (e.g. referencing Eastenders or Coronation Street in a lecture about television dramas or a British newspaper in a media course). Will you provide locally-relevant examples for your online international students as alternatives? If so, how will you source them? Description:

How will you ensure that your online international students feel safe from abuse, harassment or unfair criticism from their peers? How will you ensure they can freely express who they are, their own opinions and points of view? And how can you support an environment where these different cultural perspectives can be a benefit to all students on the course? Description:

This resource was created by University College Falmouth and released as an open educational resource for University College Falmouth for the Learn to Teach Online course. The free Learn to Teach Online course is funded by University College Falmouth's Learning and Teaching Enhancement Programme. 2012 University College Falmouth

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 3.0 Licence. When repurposing this resource please acknowledge the B4EE project.