uses its academic words. It helps improve my language”. One student said that helearned key in<strong>for</strong>mation on the subject from textbooks.(7) Do you think it’s important that a textbook emphasises theory?There were 13 students who thought that textbooks should emphasise theory, while6 students believed that both theory <strong>and</strong> practical examples should be emphasised.One student said it should vary according to the degree. He said, “It really dependson what subject you are studying <strong>and</strong> what level of study you are doing. If you arejust doing a Bachelor Degree in simpler subjects then theory can be quite daunting<strong>for</strong> your students but if you are at post-graduate level doing research, then theory isimportant”.(8) Do you think reading the textbook is a very important learning exercise?There were 14 students who thought reading the textbook is very important <strong>for</strong> theirlearning. For example, one student said, “Yes at all levels. Undergraduate is evenmore important. Be<strong>for</strong>e you go to class you are supposed to read your textbookotherwise you will not know what is going on”. Four students said this shoulddepend on whether the textbook has enough practical examples. Three studentssaid reading the textbook is not important.5.1.2 <strong>Teaching</strong> <strong>and</strong> <strong>Learning</strong> Methods(1) Which teaching methods have you come across that you find are most effective?Students’ answers to this question varied significantly. We can summarise that goodteaching methods must pay attention to the interaction <strong>and</strong> communication betweenlecturers <strong>and</strong> students. For example, one student said, “I think it is the best when thelecturer explains to the students <strong>and</strong> gives them a chance to underst<strong>and</strong>. Practicein class is very important to do every week, I know it takes a lot of time but it is veryimportant to us. I think we need to review our work in class too as that is veryimportant to students”. Another student commented, “I think when the lecturer is justsaying what is on the slides then it’s boring. I also don’t like presentations”.(2) Can you tell me which teaching methods you have come across are the leasteffective?Once again, students’ answers to this question varied. For example, one studentsaid, “I think when the lecturer is just saying what is on the slides because studentscan read it by themselves; we don't need someone to read it <strong>for</strong> us”. Another said,“The least effective teaching method <strong>for</strong> me is class discussion as I do not likespeaking too much in class”.(3) Do you think that there should be different teaching methods <strong>for</strong> Australian <strong>and</strong>international students?Four students said different teaching methods should be applied to local <strong>and</strong>international students. For example, one of them said, “Definitely yes, because theyare so different”. However, sixteen students said it is unnecessary. For example,one of them said, “I don’t think so because the international students should havethe same method because they can then learn more”.(4) Do you ask many questions in class?Five students said they often asked questions in class. For example, one studentsaid, “Yes, I do… If I need the teacher to clarify, I will ask, or if I have a differentopinion to the teacher I will…” Twelve students said they don’t often ask questions inclass, <strong>for</strong> example, one of them said, “I do not like to ask any questions, because ingeneral Chinese students prefer to keep silent in class …” Three students said itdepends on the topic: they will ask questions if they are interested in it.(5) Do you think that students should be given more opportunity to ask questions in73
class?Eight students thought students should be given more opportunities to ask questionsin class. For example, one of them said, “Every student should be givenopportunities if time allows”. Ten students think that they have already had enoughtime to ask questions. They do not need more. For example, one of them said, “Nowe get plenty of opportunities, but many of the international students are too shy toask”. Two students said they do not care about the opportunities to ask questions.(6) Do you think it is important that students should actively engage in classroomdiscussions?Nineteen students thought it was important that students should actively engage inclassroom discussions. For example, one student said, “I think so, internationalstudents need encouragement to participate though as they are a bit shy”. Only onestudent said it is not important to him.(7) Have you been involved in many group assignments since you started yourcourse at this university?There were 18 students who had had many opportunities to do group assignments.However, one of them said, “There were opportunities to do group assignments, butI chose not to do it”. There were only two students who never had groupassignments. One of them said, “I did not do any group assignment be<strong>for</strong>e…”(8) Do you prefer to choose your own group members or do you want the lecturer toassign them <strong>for</strong> you?Sixteen students wanted to choose group members by themselves. For example,one of them said, “We want to choose someone who is known well by us ...” Therewere only 4 students who wanted the lecturer to assign group members <strong>for</strong> them.For example, one of them said, “I think the lecturer should choose the group …”(9) Would you like to have more group assignments? Or do you think there were toomany?There were 11 students who thought that they had enough group assignments <strong>and</strong>did not need more. For example, one of them said, “Only one group assignment in aunit because the group assignments take a lot of time”. Four students wanted fewergroup assignments. For example, one of them said, “I do not want the university toprovide me any chance to do a group assignment”. Four students would like moregroup assignments. One of them said, “I feel it is necessary to do more groupassignments … I felt group assignments are very necessary to students, be<strong>for</strong>e theywork in a social environment”.(10) What problems have you encountered in group assignments?The answers to this question varied a great deal. Some respondents thought thatcooperation was hard in group assignments. For example, one students said, “… weare not getting to do them with others <strong>and</strong> sometimes a team member does not workwell <strong>and</strong> the others have to do most of the work <strong>and</strong> contribute more”. Anotherstudent said, “The problems involve the time organisation, differing peoplepersonalities, <strong>and</strong> the problem of language communication”. One student worriedabout the language problem, saying “The language is the main problem”.(11) Do you think you get better results in group assignments than in individualassignments?There were 5 students who said they would get the same results regardless ofindividual or group assignments. Four students said it should depend on the groupmembers. One of them said, “It depends on the quality of your group ... nice <strong>and</strong>responsible, you will get better results … not diligent, you may get lower marks”.Nine students thought that they could get higher marks when doing groupassignments. For example, one student said, “So far, yes. We haven’t had anyconflict with group assignment; we have been able to overcome all problems”. Only74
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Strategies and Approaches toTeachin
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Table of Contents0 EXECUTIVE SUMMAR
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0 Executive SummaryAustralian terti
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1 Project OutcomesThe outcomes of t
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The identification information sect
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questions aim to discover their ass
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3.2 Literature reviewCross-cultural
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4 Survey Data AnalysisThis section
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Total Count 380 632 1012Percentage
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2 Count 12 30 42Percentage 3.1% 4.7
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- Page 35 and 36: Table 38 (Question IV.4) Sufficient
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- Page 43 and 44: Table 52 shows that more local stud
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From Table 65, we can see that ther
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countries peoples. Personally, I fi
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perceived by them as something insi
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7. Arrange peer groups for those st
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covered (or not covered well) in th
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13. Ask assistance from internation
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11) • Weekly groupcase studies an
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8 Guideline for International Stude
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life. However, it is very important
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There are ways of maintaining focus
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Expect to be nervous initially and
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Avoid cheating and plagiarismAustra
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9 Disciplinary and interdisciplinar
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10 Results communication, publicati
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Visiting Professor Javier Montero f
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11 ReferencesAsmar C. (1999), Schol