The excitement for this fall’s 2014 International Education Tour has now intensified after I taught international students from Shanghai Ocean University at Sierra Nevada College. These students are visiting Nevada, USA for three weeks to get a feel for the U.S. educational system and learn professional development skills.
For two hours, I had the pleasure of teaching these students for their first U.S. college class. The lesson focused on entrepreneurial strategies to brand themselves or a product using social media platforms (AKA: Social Business). The cross-cultural instruction and learning was accomplished through student surveys, reflections, lecture, demonstration, and activities. Although language was an initial concern, the international students surpassed all expectation and showcased amazing talent to adapt to the U.S. learning style and apply their new knowledge in small group activities. It was a lot of fun!
As an international speaker, I’ve developed curriculum for Eastern Asian students to learn cultural knowledge and skills so they can adjust faster during their transition into the U.S. culture and succeed in U.S. classrooms. I look forward to traveling to China this fall (after a 16 day stop in South Korea) to teach U.S. college success skills and cultural competencies. I invite other Shanghai and Beijing schools to contact me via Twitter (@DrTaraMDent) or in the comment section below to collaborate while I’m visiting abroad.
Here is one example of an upcoming U.S. College Student Success seminar held in Seoul, South Korean on Sept. 15:
Study in the U.S.A.
Tara Madden-Dent, Ph.D. 