Setting a Routine.
August 25 begins the first week of the semester routine. As international students, your educational background is very diverse and different from the educational system in the United States. The classroom routine and the expectations of your professors may be different from the routine and expectations that you have experienced in your homelands. What makes a successful university student?
Be Prepared.
The first priority is to be prepared for class. Bring your materials and have your homework completed for that day. Professors expect you to be able to discuss the material that they have assigned for that day. It is expected that students will ask questions in class about the material they do not understand.
Go to Class.
Attendance is mandatory (required) in almost every university class. This rule is very different from other university systems in other cultures. Professors use classroom time to give you extra information that you cannot find in your textbook. They expect you to remember this information. In a language class, it is vital (very necessary) for you to be in class so that you can practice the language as well as hear the content.
Go Early.
Go to class a few minutes early, find a seat, and take out your materials. You should have a notebook for each class. At the top of the page, write the name of the class and the date. When the lecture begins, write the topic of the lecture on the top line of your notebook. You are ready at this point to take notes for the class.
Classroom Etiquette.
Etiquette refers to the behavior of a person in a certain situation. For example, when you attend a wedding or some other social event, you behave in certain ways because of the event. It is the same for the classroom. Professors expect you to be on time. If you are late, it shows disrespect for the professor and the other students. Do not leave the classroom during the lecture. Again, this behavior is disrespectful. If you need to leave early, tell the professor before class; if it is an emergency, simply make eye contact with the professor and leave quickly. Turn off any electronic equipment. Ask you professor about the rules for having food and drink in the classroom. Sometimes they will allow this, but sometimes they do not.
Review the Material.
As soon as you have time, review the material from each class. You should read over your notes, look at the handouts, and write down any questions that you have about the material or the vocabulary. Ask a classmate what they remember about the class and compare your notes with theirs. A "study-buddy" (someone you can study with) can help you with a review.
Homework.
Most university class require a lot of reading, but a language class also requires a lot of homework in order to practice the language. You will have homework almost everyday in all of your IEP classes, so you should make it a habit to do your homework the night before the class. Most of your instructors will collect your homework at the beginning of class because homework is a way to prepare for the day's lessons. Please note that some professors will not collect homework after class. This can affect your grade, so make sure that your homework is complete and ready to submit (turn in) to your professors on the due date.
Former Students
Send News from Afar.
Planet IEP has received news from several "graduates." It's always nice to hear from students who have moved to another state or country or have returned home. Maggie Velazquez is still in Conway and at UCA and sent a message about her promotion to Co-manager at Cato's. Congratulations, Maggie! Rachid Bagana checked in from Alabama. He's studying at a community college as he prepares to transfer to Auburn and study for his Bachelors in Social Work. Susanna Tristancho is back in Spain and working at her university in the marketing department. Dr. Souidi Anasse graduated from the University of Arkansas Medical System in Little Rock this spring. Congratulations, Doc! Anastacia Khomenko is back home in Russia and says she misses UCA a lot, but she will take her final exams at the University of Moscow this year. Good luck, Anastacia! Shoichiro Yamaguchi is about to go on a bike holiday and then go on to visit another IEP student, Juyoung Park, in Korea. Sibila Groueva is now married and just had a birthday party for her one-year old son, Sydney. Many of you have read Yukiko Hayata's stories on Planet IEP. Yuki is a UCA graduate student in music and is currently working on another story about Japanese high school for the website.
A Wedding in Japan.
Check out Dispatch from Afar for a new story by Level Three IEP student Ryohei Tanaka. He recounts the trip he made in the spring to attend a wedding (no, not his!). Former IEP student and present graduate student in music, Yuki Hayata, is currently writing a story about the secondary education system in Japan. Looks like the Japanese students are taking the lead in writing about their homeland. Anyone else want to tell our readers about their country? Email the webmistress with any news or stories at freddieb@mail.uca.edu.
Got Boredom?
Check Out the Important Dates.
If you are getting cabin fever (boredom), then read the Important Dates information below. Several opportunities are offered on campus for students to get involved and beat the ennui.
Free admission with UCA student I.D. Adult tickets are $7.00 and children tickets are $4.00.
