International Student at MSU and the Problem They Face - Essay Example

In short, the MSU can help itself in attracting a large number of international students years-on if the offered environment is congenial enough for international students that all their important issues get a patient listening by the authorities at the helm of affairs. International students wanting to study are not accustomed to the new way of life waiting them at MSU. A good chunk of their time gets in updating their VISA documentation work completed, leaving no time to do research on the new environment.

So a feeling of discomfort circumvents when sudden problems surface, making them confused as to how to overcome the problems, which could be social or psychological or any other related matter of concern. One such social problem is that of communication with the native students (Jang, 2005). The most important social problem of international students is communication, as it becomes a big hindrance to them. They are not as good in the spoken form of English as are the natives. As belonging to different cultural backgrounds, they don’t get the desired environment and feel aloof like strangers.

They cannot express their views on topics of interest comfortably with their American and other international classmates, as they also come from different cultural and social backgrounds. . orientation courses can be offered to such students to increase not only their English speaking skills but reading and writing skills as well (Jang, 2005). Another most important problem of International students is although academic but it strains them psychologically, as they get psychologically affected to first focus on attempting their majors so that they become eligible for scholarship.

They cannot ignore either English learning or their majors, devoting their time equally on both. Time becomes the major hindrance in communicating with others. Miscommunication sometimes adds to their problems, as they cannot speak English as fast as the natives. It promotes unpleasantness among students belonging to various countries and the native students (Jang, 2005). The most important administrative problems are concerned with student ID cards, billing, and payment procedures. Students require keeping two identities, one is passport identity and the other is SMSU student identity card or “Mustang ID”.

Students have to carry their student identity card with them all times. Without showing their identity card, they cannot get access to library and computer labs. Administrative staff can ask them to show their international student identity any time. Further, students need to follow the deadline of depositing fee and other expenses, which are quite crucial from students’ perspective because a shortage of funds can be decisive to the progress of their semester. Students, therefore, need to be always on the alert to be disciplined in all academic and administrative matters (SMSU, 2010).

One Korean student, named Tim, told that she felt hesitant in asking unrelated questions in the classroom. She was under the impression that only related and selected questions can be asked