Studying with International Students Is Beneficial

August 14, 2015

Unlocking Word Meanings
 今日の単語・フレーズ

Read the following words/expressions found in today’s article. 

1. global / ˈgloʊ bəl / (adj.) – referring to the whole world
Example: Attending an international conference helped widen my global network.

2. competitive / kəmˈpɛt ɪ tɪv / (adj.) – referring to something that involves people who want to win or be more successful than others
ExampleCompetitive exams cause me a lot of stress.  

3. majority / məˈdʒɔr ɪ ti / (n.) – the number that is greater than half of the whole or total number
ExampleMajority of the citizens were in favor of the new law.

4. progress / ˈprɒg rɛs / (n.) – the development or improvement of something
Example: I’m satisfied with my progress in class.

5. otherwise / ˈʌð ərˌwaɪz / (adv.) – different from what was previously mentioned
Example: Many students think the theory is true, but the professor thinks otherwise.


Article
 ニュース記事

Read the text below.
According to a recent survey, studying alongside international students has many benefits among British students.

The Higher Education Policy Institute and the Higher Education Academy conducted the survey, which involved over 1,000 students in the United Kingdom. The said survey aimed to determine and emphasize the educational benefits of having students from different backgrounds.

Results revealed that 54% of the British students thought that international students worked harder than local students. Also, 33% strongly agreed and 45% agreed that studying with international students helps them prepare for a job in a global and competitive environment. Twelve percent of the students also agreed that having non-UK students in class contributed to the development of their global network.

The survey results also found that 65% or majority of the students thought that having international students in a class did not slow down the progress of class discussions, while one in four students thought otherwise.

The United Kingdom is the world’s second most popular country where foreign students choose to study. In fact, one-sixth of the total number of students in the country is composed of international students. This number continues to increase year by year.

In 2013 to 2014, the top five countries where most non-UK students were from included China, India, Nigeria, Malaysia, and the United States. Other foreign students in the United Kingdom in that same period came from Hong Kong, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Pakistan, and Canada, the Higher Education Statistics Agency reported.

Viewpoint Discussion
 ディスカッションテーマ

Enjoy a discussion with your tutor.  

Discussion A

·         Do you agree that being in a class with foreign students is beneficial? Why or why not?
·         What else can be the benefits of being in a class with foreign students?

Discussion B

·         Do you think some universities care more about getting more students than giving quality education? Why or why not?
·         Why do you think some students go to other countries to study? 

August 14, 2015