internationalisation higher education and educators' perceptions of their practices
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Internationalisation, higher educationand educators' perceptions of theirpracticesJeannie Daniels aa Academic Language and Learning Unit , La Trobe University ,Melbourne , AustraliaPublished online: 03 Sep 2012.
To cite this article: Jeannie Daniels (2013) Internationalisation, higher education andeducators' perceptions of their practices, Teaching in Higher Education, 18:3, 236-248, DOI:10.1080/13562517.2012.719158
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Internationalisation, higher education and educators’ perceptions of theirpractices
Jeannie Daniels*
Academic Language and Learning Unit, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia
(Received 15 December 2011; final version received 14 June 2012)
Internationalisation of higher education is big business in Australia, yet, despitethe growing body of literature informing learning and teaching of internationalstudents, challenges remain. While language and pedagogical differences are welldocumented from the students’ perspective, less known are the challenges toeducators and their practices in responding to these named issues. This articleexplores some implications for educators and their practices, when internationalstudents come to study in an English-language university in Australia. A smallresearch project focusing on educators’ perspectives reveals the pedagogicalchallenges, difficulties and differences in approaches to teaching large numbers ofinternational students. Implications for educators are discussed, focusing on theneed to respond to policy and institutional demands to participate in theseinternational collaborations, and to engage in building sound and equitableeducational provision.
Keywords: international students; higher education; teaching practices
Introduction
Internationalisation of higher education is big business in Australia, as it is in other
English-speaking countries offering a Western-style education (Guruz 2008). In an
educational context, this phenomenon refers to the global perspectives developing
across higher education teaching and learning and within the curriculum (Rizvi and
Walsh 1998; Ryan 2003) in line with ‘the role of international markets and people
exchange in education, [and] coupled with the rise of global networks in information
and communications’ (Marginson 2000, 98).
Of the four main groups involved in developing and sustaining international
education collaborations (governments, institutions, educators and students) the
focus here is on educators and some issues they face in creating mutually beneficial
connections within the educational environment, with their students, and, impor-
tantly, for their practices.
Despite the growing body of literature informing international teaching in
Australian higher education, challenges remain (see e.g. Carroll and Ryan 2005;
Rizvi 2010; Sawir et al. 2007). This article constitutes an exploration of the
implications for educators and their practices when international students come to
study in an English-language university. Findings from a small research study
provide insight into how educators, faced with teaching international students,
*Email: [email protected]
Teaching in Higher Education, 2013
Vol. 18, No. 3, 236�248, http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/13562517.2012.719158
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perceive both their own practices and the challenges to sound educational provision
in light of the changing purposes of higher education and the resulting expectations
and aims of different participant groups.
The Australian context
The perceived status of a Western-style education and degree, along with a more
mobile student population, has attracted many students from countries in which
English is not the first language, to study in Australia. While the majority of these
students come from mainland China and India, a large number of other, mostly
Asian, countries are also represented (Guruz 2008).
Given Australia’s claim of being ‘the world’s most diverse multicultural society’
(Victorian Multicultural Commission 2011), welcoming international students into
the educational system seems a natural consequence of such diversity. This
phenomenon is not a new one, however, having begun in 1950 with the Colombo
Plan and its aim of encouraging development across the Asian region. Since then, an
active student recruitment programme in place for over two decades has seen some
universities becoming financially dependent on the business of educating these
students.
Differences in purpose and aims amongst participant groups can impact on the
structures and the effectiveness of these international connections; they may also
impact on the confidence of educators to do their work well. While there are some
common aims amongst the various stakeholders, Marginson (2006, 2) notes that the
priorities informing their positions differ markedly, with ‘doggedly persistent
differences’ creating potential conflict on a number of levels.Points of difference in these international exchanges can be complex, yet
educators are expected to respond to this complexity of student needs, while already
operating within an � at times � unsupportive environment shaped through policy
decisions. They must also contend with institutional expectations of successful
participation and completion of their students. In a number of ways, these educators
are subjected to what Ball (2008, 50) calls measures of performativity, through
‘a flow of changing demands, expectations and indicators that makes one continually
accountable and constantly recorded. And yet it is not always very clear what is
expected’. Responding to the various requirements of policy, individual institutions
and students, educators can find themselves faced with challenges to their capacity to
deliver equitable and effective learning opportunities.
Language and pedagogical differences in the international classroom are well
documented in the literature, but mainly from the students’ perspectives (Bretag
2007; Dawson 1998; Dawson and Conti-Bekkers 2002; Tran 2009). What are less
known are the challenges to educators and their practices in responding to these
named issues and to the broader cultural differences that operate within these
overarching concepts of language and pedagogy. More obvious student needs, such
as those relating to language differences, are well understood by educators. There has,
however, been little discussion of the implications to student�teacher relationships of
the cultural, social and personal (Sawir et al. 2007) or even broader contextual
frameworks (Rizvi 2010) of pedagogy, cultures, knowledges and expectations.
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Background to the research
Educators in the Faculty of Business, Economics and Law at La Trobe University in
Victoria, Australia currently work with substantial numbers of international
students. Of the 6000 undergraduate and 2000 postgraduate students in the faculty
35% are international � from 40 different countries � and comprise 72% of the
university’s international student population. Students are admitted with an
International English Language Testing System (IELTS) score of 6.5 or 7.0; this is
classed as Competent to Good, and is an average of the reading, writing, speaking and
listening scores. The result is that many students may read capably in English, but
write at a much lower level than is acceptable for academic work. Students may also
have a good level of aural communication in Standard English, but some teaching
staff, too, come from countries other than Australia so that students are exposed to
English spoken with many different accents, including Australian, Kenyan, Iraqi and
Scottish.
English language fluency of international students is a major area of concern.
Many students come from Mainland China to complete their final undergraduate
year here after studying in their own country at an affiliated college where only
Standard English is spoken and little is taught about western style-educational
practices. These educational cultural differences are evident, with Chinese students
tending to congregate in peer groups (their preferred learning style; and probably
also a strategy that lessens their linguistic and social isolation). Other, educational
differences are evident too: educators are baffled when students claim never to have
written an essay using citations � not required in certain educational cultures � or to
have presented orally to an audience.
In my role as Academic Language and Learning lecturer working with both
students and staff in this faculty I identified high levels of confusion and frustration
in some teaching staff faced with the challenges of teaching students whose
understanding of both English language and Australian higher educational processes
is limited. As part of my work in developing staff capabilities, I set out to explore
ways in which these educators might respond to the challenges of their present work
environment, develop a reflective approach towards addressing their concerns and
re-shape their practices in ways that would accommodate the changing environment
and satisfy their own professional needs as well as those of their students. I wanted to
know:
� How do educators re-shape or adjust their practices in response to changing
student demographics?
� How can educators offer an educational experience that responds to
international students’ desire for a Western-style education, yet, at the same
time address quite pronounced cultural differences within the classroom?
� How do they respond to/contribute to policy and institutional demands on
them to participate in these international collaborations?
A small research project
These ‘guiding questions’ (Cox 1996) informed the design of a small interpretive
research project undertaken in the Faculty during the latter half of 2011.
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Interpretivism understands reality as socially constructed, and while within any
organisation workers will identify with shared symbols, structures and texts of their
workplace, as individuals they may interpret differently the value and the significance
of these (Putnam 1983). Using an ideographic analysis in which ‘explanation centers
on reasons why individuals create and interpret their world in a particular way’
(Putnam 1983, 41), the aim was to focus on educators’ own perceptions and
experiences, that is, how educators ‘see’ and interpret their world.
A questionnaire was constructed (see Appendix 1) and distributed to approxi-
mately 140 teaching staff within the Faculty. The questionnaire format was selected
due to known time constraints of educators during teaching periods; this format
would facilitate quick and easy completion and therefore also a reasonable response
rate. Both closed and open questions were used (the latter were optional).
The questions were organised to obtain data in three areas of practice. First,
I sought to elicit their thoughts about teaching international students, and how
effective they felt in their teaching; for example, how clear they were about their
purpose in teaching these students. The second category of questions asked about
their relations with the institution: did they know what their institution’s expecta-
tions were and did these expectations match their own? Finally, staff perceptions of
shared difficulties were investigated by asking if they knew what teaching strategies
their peers used; if they shared these ideas with each other; and if they believed other
staff felt as they did when it came to teaching international students.
These categories emerge from the literature that reveals little existing research from
educators’ perspectives; an increasing managerialism of both higher education and of
educators (Ball 2008; Zipin and Brennan 2003) and concerns over this
climate of academic managerialism that emasculate educators, ‘imposed upon to
realign within forceful overlays of new managerial govern-mentality’ (Zipin and
Brennan 2003, 363). Responses were arranged on a scale from very much to not at all,
although the precise wording (see Appendix 1) altered according to the question asked.
While open-ended questions in questionnaires can add to the time needed for
analysis (Bradburn, Sudman, and Wansink 2004; Creswell 2002), these responses add
depth to the data and, as such, are a ‘potentially valuable part of any survey
questionnaire’ (Bradburn, Sudman, and Wansink 2004, 153). The invitation to
provide additional comments gave respondents the opportunity to identify issues
outside the scope of the researcher’s experience, as well as to stimulate reflection on
action (Schon 1983), encouraging educators to expand and reflect on some
consequences and implications of their concerns within their teaching practices.This reflective aspect is an important one, as it introduces the notion that
participants first of all need to engage with their experiences before they can begin to
make sense of them (Boud 2001). Reflection means returning to experience: that is,
remembering ‘how it was experienced at the time’; recognising the feelings that
accompanied the experience; and re-evaluating that experience, and involves:
that which is already known, seeking relationships between old and new ideas,determining the authenticity for ourselves of the ideas and feelings that have resulted,and making the resulting knowledge one’s own. (Boud 2001, 14)
Reflection, therefore, is about understanding what is happening or has happened,
and taking charge of the experience and feelings that accompany it. The educators
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with whom I work feel disempowered by the decisions made about their teaching;
opportunities for reflection may assist them to better understand what is happening
around them, and to them.
Analysis of the data revealed both similarities and differences in educators’perceptions. Additional comments were categorised according to the framework used
for the questionnaire, adding depth to the findings as well as identifying particular
areas of concern for some individuals.
The findings � what the educators say
The data from the questionnaires provided useful insights into educators’ percep-
tions about their teaching, about the students they teach, and about the institutional
directives that inform and steer their practices. There was a range of viewpoints on
the aspects of teaching that were the focus of the questions. Differences of opinion
were to be expected, as the faculty academics are diverse in their educational, social
and ethnic backgrounds. Some of the findings, however, showed consistency ineducators’ perceptions, particularly in relation to negative features of their practices;
particularly lack of support, or concerns not being addressed.
Teaching practices
Educators in the Faculty clearly enjoy working with and teaching international
students. Asked about their own teaching practice, 93% of respondents claimed to
usually, or very much, enjoy this aspect of their work. All, to some degree, enjoyed
working with these students. They were equally positive in their confidence levels in
teaching international students, with over 82% responding usually or very much,
indicating a high level of confidence. Despite having such a positive approach,
educators are clearly aware of the challenges facing them, and facing these students.More than 90% of those questioned recognise that their international students
encounter language problems, and of those, more than half (61%) believed these
language differences were also problematic for them as educators.1 For one
respondent this connection was obvious, prompting them to explain, ‘if the students
have a problem understanding me, then clearly I have problems’. Similarly, there was
an awareness of the challenges caused by the different educational cultural
conventions: a lesser number of educators (63%), but still a majority, understood
that their students also faced cultural challenges due to the different educationalprocesses; for example, one respondent recognised that ‘so-called cultural differences
in understanding of plagiarism [are] deeply problematic’, while another described
how they took time with students to ‘explain how cultural conventions might differ
here, particularly in relation to learning compared to their own expectations’.
In fact, respondents identified a number of strategies to accommodate these
difficulties (although most addressed language rather than cultural concerns),
including speaking more slowly, repetition, emphasising important points and
simplifying written material. One educator, however, maintained that the samestandards of language and educational conventions should apply equally since all
received the same qualification on completion. Such lack of shared understandings
indicates that educators also experience challenges of management and professional
guidance.
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Relationships with the institution
It appears that, in this faculty at least, educators have significant concerns regarding
decision-making at upper levels of institutional management: many expressed their
views with some cynicism, particularly when asked what they believed was the prime
motivator for enrolling international students, who of course pay full upfront fees.
Whilst fee-paying overseas students are now, for many universities, a necessary
component of continuing financial viability, it is clear that some respondents felt that
financial gain is the institution’s major incentive � and this at the expense of
educators. The strength of this perception is evident in the comments of some staff
members, one of whom suggested that the institution ‘panders to poor quality
international students just to get money [and] has little interest in academics’.
Another individual supported this view, claiming ‘the focus is on money not staff ’.
Yet, others felt students’ educational needs were not being considered either, and that
‘the institution does not see students. It sees $ signs’. In fact, all but one named
money as a major, if not the only, consideration, with one educator making the
strength of their feelings known by writing ‘money’, and in the section named other,
writing ‘the money, oh and the money. By the way, did I mention the money?’
The most vociferous comments were reserved for policies that they see as
misguided, or non-existent: one respondent, asked about the institutional policies
governing international students, claimed: ‘I didn’t know we had any’. Responses
revealed a high level of dissatisfaction with over half of the respondents (59%)
claiming the institution does not understand their needs for teaching international
students. In addition, 64% of the teaching staff who responded claimed not to feel
supported by the institution’s policies and guidelines.
Most staff (82%) said they had received no professional development on teaching
international students, although one had received this elsewhere. Of these respon-
dents, almost half (48%) of those who responded stated they would attend workshops
or some form of training if offered (with some qualifying their response with the
proviso that these had to be ‘useful’, ‘relevant’ and ‘convenient’, and not just, as one
cynically put it: ‘the usual bullshit’. Most of those who said they would not attend
workshops alluded to the lack of time available for professional development, while
others explained that the problem was students’ English levels and not a teaching
problem.
Collegiality and peer support
Fewer than 50% of those who completed the questionnaire knew what teaching
activities their peers use to engage, and engage with, international students, although
almost 62% agreed that sharing teaching ideas with their peers does or would help
them develop tools and skills for teaching international students. Overwhelmingly,
however, staff members believe that their peers share much the same perceptions
about teaching international students as they do. This is despite the responses to the
various questions revealing some quite diverse perceptions about student needs,
where skills were most lacking, and how identified issues should be best dealt with.
Such disparate views and beliefs have emerged, it seems, from a culture in which
many of these educators know little about their peers’ teaching practices.
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Additional comments
This section allowed respondents to have their say about any issues that they felt were
not addressed by the questions, or simply to add any comments they thought were
pertinent. Additional comments relating to the questions focused mainly on two
aspects:
� Language difficulties and/or the lack of adequate language skills of interna-tional students; and
� Perceived disinterest or reluctance on the part of the institution to recognise
and address the substantial difficulties faced by some respondents claimed to
be facing in their attempts to meet the educational needs of their international
students.
One response in this section focused on the academics’ capabilities, alluding to the
range of Englishes and accents spoken by the lecturers themselves (who come frommany different countries). That respondent expressed concern suggesting that
international students come to Australia with expectations that they will be taught
by ‘non-migrant Australians’. While this sentiment may be somewhat unrealistic,
given that Australia is a nation mainly of migrants, the comment draws attention to
the need also for educators to have a reasonable command of the language in which
they communicate with students.
Discussion
A major concern identified in the literature is ‘students’ lack of language skills’
(Carroll 2005, 36). The inadequacy of English language capabilities of some
international students was, unexpectedly, a frequently identified concern within
this study also. International student entry requirements are policy decisions, and the
frustration of educators, faced with having little part in the decision-making, yet,
being expected to respond to the situation that eventuates, was evident in their
responses.
In dealing with language issues, and other aspects of teaching internationalstudents, it seems these educators, while trying hard to address students’ needs, are
left to their own devices. The quality and scope of teaching provision would thus vary
according to each individual lecturer’s approach, with students having quite diverse
experiences of learning � and quite possibly also learning outcomes, as Ryan and
Carroll (2005) explain:
Many lecturers, faced with unfamiliar student characteristics and needs, are unsure howto respond whilst at the same time meeting what they perceive to be the academicexpectations of the institution . . . Such tensions can lead to ad hoc decisions byindividual lecturers and a ‘lottery’ system for students as to how well their needs aremet. (5)
Remarks in the two major categories of additional comments suggest there are
ongoing concerns about problems that reach up to (and in some cases, emanate
from) higher institutional levels, suggesting that much of the process of inter-
nationalisation of education has happened to the academic staff. They have been
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offered little preparation and support to enable them to accommodate these student
characteristics, which can be very different to those of domestic Anglo-Australian
students. One respondent summarised the situation thus:
My colleagues in our department try very hard to provide assistance to internationalstudents, however often feel that additional support from ‘upstairs’ is not provided tocater for their needs . . . I feel they are accepted into our courses sometimes not with thelevel of skills (language and academic) and then left to their own devices or those of thelecturers. I feel it’s not fair on these students or the lecturing/academic staff.
The sense of professional isolation was clearly evident in the responses, and it
seems some educators experience isolation from their peers as well as from policy-
makers who make decisions that impact on their practices. Whilst no additional
comments related directly to the sharing or knowledge of peers’ teaching strategies,
responses suggest that little collaboration in the form of peer support/review or team
teaching, occurs. Any sharing of teaching ideas with peers seems to be undertaken on
an ad hoc basis. None of the responses suggested that the institution had any policy
regarding peer collaboration, yet, such strategies are known to improve both
teaching quality and morale, with Dunn and Carroll (2005, 136) affirming that
collaboration is ‘a significant contributor to better experiences for teachers and all
students’.
On the other hand, the absence of collaborative strategies and communication
and the associated lack of leadership have significant implications for professional
practice, such as a loss of collegiality and unsureness of professional identity (Zipin
and Brennan 2003).
Although the findings from this questionnaire have not, in themselves, addressed
the guiding questions (see 5) they provide a context that will inform further research.
The next step is to repeat the data collection, using the same questions and
questionnaire, across all faculties and including the university’s regional campuses.
Results of this data will also inform the design of professional development
workshops aimed at developing skills of reflective practice and building educators’
capacities to respond effectively to the issues they face in their daily teaching
practices as they work with international students.
Conclusion
Most educators that I speak with do care about their students, want them to succeed
in their studies, and want to teach them effectively; many, however, lack support and
are unsure of how to do so. The findings from the research support this view. There is
a need for better communication between educators, and with senior management;
clear policy guidelines must form part of that communication, and professional
development opportunities for teaching staff need to address the pressures brought
about through the changing face of the student population.
Responding to the requirements of policy, individual institutions and to students,
educators can find themselves doubting their capacity to deliver effective and
relevant education. This article has identified some challenges facing educators in an
Australian higher education setting, as they struggle with the necessary changes to
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practice required to meet the needs of international students, as well as institutional
demands and broader policy expectations.
This research project has been one small step towards addressing the differences
in purpose amongst educators, students, institutions and policy-makers in relation to
the internationalisation of education. Perceived differences about the purposes of
this phenomenon remain, and yet, these perceptions and their implications must be
addressed if all stakeholders � educators, students, policy-makers and higher
education institutions � are to be satisfied.
The development of reflective capabilities in higher education lecturers has
implications not only for their practices but also for the future of their inter-
nationalised workplaces. While it is not the role of educators to teach policy-makers
and institutional administrators how to do their jobs, developing reflective practices in
relation to the international students they teach will go a long way towards facilitating
constructive and influential participation in current debates. When educators are
confident about their role and have a clear sense of purpose; that is, what they are
doing and why they are doing it, they are better equipped to critique and debate those
policy and institutional directives that impact on them and their ability to practice.
The educators’ responsibility � and what most would like to be able to do � is
participate in developing the international learning environment to provide equitable
learning opportunities to all students. International students must of course continue
to make explicit their cultural, learning and social needs, for researchers and
educators are generally keen to understand better their point of view. What remains
is for those concerned with recruitment and constructing policy to become similarly
reflective. Further research will extend the scope of this small project, and add to that
literature focusing on the educators’ role in the growing � but still problematic �process of internationalising higher educational provision.
Note
1. As the questions did not distinguish between the diversity of nationalities of internationalstudents, any or all of these responses could relate to students from countries such as NewZealand or Canada where English is a first language, as well as those from countries whereEnglish is learned as a second or subsequent language.
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Appendix 1: Questionnaire
Teaching international students
About your teaching practice:
1. Do you enjoy teaching international students?(please circle the relevant response)
Very much Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
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2. Do you feel confident teaching international students?
Very much Usually Sometimes Seldom Never
3. Are the language differences problematic (for you)?
Yes No
4. Are the cultural differences problematic (for you)?
Yes No
5. Do you think these differences are problematic for students too?
� Language Yes No
� Cultural Yes No
6. Do you try to accommodate these differences?
Yes (optional) please say how. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
No (optional) please say why not. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
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About your relationship with the institution:
7. Do you feel prepared when teaching international students?
Mostly Sometimes Seldom
8. Have you been offered/attended professional development eg. workshops on teachinginternational students?
Yes no
If yes, how long ago?
This year within the last 2 years 3 or more years ago
Were these useful?
Mostly in part not really
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If no, would you attend if these were offered?
Yes no
Why/Why not?(optional). . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
9. Do you feel this institution understands your needs for teaching international students?
Yes No
Comments?. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
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10. Do you feel you are supported by the institution’s policies and guidelines in this respect?
Yes No
Comments?. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
11. Why do you think this university enrols international students? Is it for:
� The money
� Our good education system
� Foreign relations
� Other (please specify). . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
12. What is your greatest challenge in teaching international students?
� Language difficulties
� Cultural differences
� Educational differences, (eg, lack of referencing skills, speaking up in class)
� Level of education
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About you and your peers:
13. Do you know what activities other lecturers use to engage/with international students?
Yes No
14. Would you/do you find sharing ideas helpful when teaching international students?
Yes I don’t know No
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15. Do your peers share your perceptions about international students?
I think most do I don’t know No, I think I’m in the minority
Any comments you’d like to add?. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .. . .
THANK YOU FOR YOUR TIME
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