Culture Clash Mary Muldowney Science Faculty Office

You’re destroying Western civilisation! You’re destroying students’ souls! Hegel’s Dialectic as applied to educational philosophy

The constructivist classroom Learning is a search for meaning so the learning process must focus on primary concepts, not isolated facts. Teachers must understand the mental models that students use to perceive the world and the assumptions they make to support those models. The purpose of learning is for an individual to construct his or her own meaning. Assessment must be part of the learning process, ensuring it provides students with information on the quality of their learning.

Teaching English as a foreign language Students learn a language through using it to communicate. Authentic and meaningful communication should be the goal of classroom activities. Fluency is an important dimension of communication. Communication involves the integration of different language skills. Learning is a process of creative construction and involves trial and error.

Classroom roles Teacher as facilitator and classroom colleague Student as collaborator and classroom colleague

P.B.L.  T.E.F.L. Problem based learning – goals: Structuring knowledge for use in working contexts Developing effective reasoning processes Developing self-directed learning skills Increasing motivation for learning Developing group/team working skills

English for Scientists Course objectives: Communication Comprehension Problem solving

The difficulties Admissions criteria Different educational systems Lack of information – on both sides Cultural differences – gender! Individualism Assessment requirements Timetabling

The consequences Pressure on students Pressure on staff – lecturers, teaching assistants, demonstrators Student confidence undermined Poor examination performance Institutional reputation damaged

Solutions – so far Course redesigned Likely problem areas identified and confronted early in course Explanation of methodology and its relation to course requirements Assessment procedures agreed Open to discussion

Assessment Academic standards – preparation for exams Encourage student reflection Survey results – ‘stop, start, continue’ Teacher reflection

Institutional benefits In the academic year 140 million euro was paid in fees by international students in Ireland More than 105 million of this sum was paid to the university sector In , it is anticipated that this figure will rise to 128 million.