Different Pond Different Fish


Issue 11	April 2005

Academic Roles and Relationships - Survey Results

Easy to make friends?

Despite these problems 43% of respondents said they found it easy to make friends with Westerners. Several said they liked the way Westerners, don't pry into your personal life, and you don't have to explain why you are not married. Many commented they found Westerners were easy-to-approach, friendly, helpful, and easy-going. Students who had been to Australia said they liked the mind your own business style of people there and commented that more people are respectful than disrespectful. Curiosity and openness were also commented on although one student noted there was an openness to discuss everything but religion.

10% of students however felt making friends with Westerners was just the same as making friends with Indonesians. It was easier if you were an easy-to-smile person and were willing to just accept the way they are. One student noted that in Australia, everybody is very busy but in their spare time it's ok. Another student commented that to mix and make friends successfully in Australia, it's better if there is a medium such as a student organization.

Not everybody found it easy to mix with Westerners, however. 35% of respondents said they found it difficult to socialize with them. The main barriers identified were lack of self-confidence and knowledge of everyday informal language. Students admitted they found it difficult to find conversation topics and to be sufficiently 'assertive' in their communication. They were also aware of cultural differences which took time to adapt to, for example, feeling worried about invading Western people's privacy and finding it difficult to interact with much older people except in a formal way. A few students felt that Westerners preferred to keep to themselves in exclusive groups and one student said he found Westerners sometimes wary and suspicious. Another issue for one student was his perception that so many social occasions in Australia revolved around hard drinking and music.

Studying in a Western educational setting - What was valued and what students had found difficult to adjust to

40% of students commented positively on the teaching and learning methods. They appreciated the way Western teachers act as facilitators and encourage students to be active, disciplined and independent learners. Many students
felt this style of learning was exciting and not boring and also appreciates the student by encouraging them to speak

up. Many students liked the way they could give opinions and freely criticize other people's opinions without appearing arrogant or overly self-confident and without fear or shame, because there is no right or wrong answer. Many also noted they found their teachers well prepared and professional.

41% of students praised the good facilities and learning materials. These were they felt, well-prepared, easy-to-understand and in good order as well as being comprehensive and holistic and connected with needs and current issues.

50% of students said they appreciated the well-organised, on-time schedule with clear targets/objectives. One student's comment was typical, the timetable was well planned yet flexible and matched the course objectives.

In response to the question of what they found hard to adjust to about studying in a Western educational setting, 20% of students admitted at first they had experienced problems adapting to a different teaching and learning style. Students acknowledged it was hard for them to adjust to a teaching/learning situation where the majority of class time was spent discussing not lecturing and where teachers expected students to be active and to always have to have a personal position on everything. Lack of background knowledge and lack of self-confidence were two problems frequently mentioned. Several students noted that they found it difficult to adjust to studying in a Western academic setting because you are expected to work in a very independent way and you have to be self-reliant and self-motivated. Some said they found it difficult to learn how to follow a study plan. Other students admitted they sometimes couldn't understand what the teacher expected and felt shy to ask. A few students felt there was sometimes not enough lead-in to lessons.

21% of students admitted having difficulties adjusting to the amount of reading, homework and assignments and also to the number of rules and regulations especially about assignment deadlines in Australia.

An adjustment problem mentioned by a small number of students (5%) was their perception that Western teachers tended to judge that their system is always better than the Indonesian system. One student said that their biggest problem in adapting to a Western educational setting was dealing with the stereotypes that Asian students are rote learners, cannot express their opinion and are not able to be punctual.

On to the next page for more Cross Cultural Fun ...

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