I have experienced numerous unpleasant incidents where class professors or instructors are not very concerned about diversity in their classrooms. As an international student, I struggle to fit into the American way of life every day. This includes food, speech, manners, and politics, just to name a few. Living in a totally strange environment is not something that everyone can do. It takes a lot of courage and patience.
Unfortunately, there are some teachers who are not sensitive to the non-American students in their classes. Take for example, some professors who discuss U.S. politics in their classes.
For the sake of those who don’t origin from this country, they should be aware that the world isn’t all about U.S. politics.
Though the United States with great political power stands as the top nation in the world, not everyone around the globe may be interested in its operations. I felt underrepresented in a communications class filled with all-American students when the professor of that class had a pop quiz about the U.S. government. How on earth I am supposed to be equipped with the knowledge about who John Lewis is and why is he famous?
Oh well, I knew roughly who Michelle Bachmann was.
For goodness sake I was not born in the U.S. and I have just come to my second semester at SCSU. I would blame myself for not reading the U.S. news often.
Nevertheless, the world is so globalized now and I feel we should not be restricted to just knowing the U.S. happenings. Let’s imagine how would the professor of that mentioned class feel if I were to ask him how many states there are in Malaysia, let alone, who is the Prime Minister of our country?
There are also other incidents, of which had made me feel that I am a nobody in the class. This instructor in one of my classes asked the students to do an impromptu online search for the phone number of their district representatives and would give a reward to the first one who came up with the correct answer. I sat there; I was stunned. I don’t even know which district I am living in while I live on campus, so how am I supposed to know who represents me in the district?
I understand that there are some general information that all students, be it international students or not, should know; like what bill was signed Tuesday by President Obama.
Professors and instructors must be aware that they are addressing a group of diverse students in their classrooms. Even though sometimes these classes may be mostly populated by American students, the educators must still pay sufficient attention to the non-U.S. students.
This at least would help us not to feel neglected.
SCSU strives to be the best university with a diverse student and staff community.
On its way to success, the university must first fix the mindset of many professors and instructors in order to be conscious that not all students are of the same level of knowledge, especially when it comes to familiarity about the country.
Therefore, all materials that will be taught in class ought to be carefully examined and selected to avoid any form of cultural biases. As a student, I do my part to know as much about the nation as possible; yet, in my opinion, educators must first be fair and sensitive in their teachings.
Jason Tham/Columnist
University Chronicle
*in response to March 24 entry.
