First impressions of academic life in the United States might be confusing; some students comment on informality of the classroom yet high demands of the professors. The American educational system places higher value on creativity, tolerance and flexibility rather than on tradition and respect for authority. American professors want students to respect their knowledge and opinions, but they generally prefer discussions and debates to respectful silence. Teaching styles and classroom attitudes vary greatly among faculty.

American Classroom Etiquette: There are some American student behaviors that you might find surprising or that would be considered disrespectful in your country. For example, students may sit in class with their feet on the chair or their desk in front of them. They may eat, drink, or even sleep in class! Students may interrupt lectures to ask questions or even to raise objection to what is being said. In general, none of these behaviors denotes disrespect unless done in a belligerent or aggressive manner. In fact one way in which an American student shows respect for his or her teacher is by being an active participant in class.

Teaching methods: Lecture is the primary form of undergraduate instruction at US institutions. Although attendance may not be recorded, students are expected to attend. Material covered in a lecture class may be closely related to the reading assignments or may be completely new material. Reading the material before attending class may help with comprehension of the lecture; some students choose to tape lectures, especially when they have a problem understating the teacher. You must always ask you teacher's permission before you tape a class. Some lectures include a discussion section, when students are expected to share their knowledge and opinions of the material. Other forms of instruction include independent studies, seminars or internships.

Quizzes, Tests, Examinations: US colleges and universities test students quite frequently. Students should be prepared for each class to take a "pop-quiz", and announced short test that verifies students' knowledge and their keeping up with class material. These tests may consist of short replies, longer essays, True/False, multiple choice or "fill in the blanks". If a student is having problems with testing, s/he should consult the professor, academic adviser or International Students Advisor for help.

Homework: Homework is a very important part of course work, often consisting or reading. Students should pay attention to the syllabus, handed at the beginning of each semester. Students are responsible for all assignments given by a professor orally, or described in the syllabus. Other forms of homework include research papers, presentations, or group projects.

Conversation Partners Program: This volunteer program matches international students with American students, faculty or staff. The purpose of the program is for both people to get to know each other; they may spend as little as one hour a week together, or meet more frequently for activities. The American Partner is not a tutor; his/her job is to help international students speak English in a relaxed, nonacademic atmosphere while both partners enjoy getting to know each other. For more information, please contact Agata Liszkowska at (410)543-6313.

Academic Monitoring Program: This volunteer program was designed to assist freshmen in their transition from high school to college. It has four primary objectives: 1) To assist students in identifying available resources; 2) To assist students in accomplishing their academic goals; 3) To assist students in conducting self appraisal in their academic performance; and 4) To increase the contact between students and their professors. For more information, please contact Vaughn White at 410-548-5300 or Leon Burks at 410-677-5343.

ESOL/English Tutoring: The English Department provides ESL one-on-one tutoring for English 101 and 102 courses as well as additional tutoring available to international students, when needed. For more information, please contact the Bilingual Education Center at 410-677-5008.  The Center is located at 1212 Camden Avenue.

Academic Success Program:  Student Counseling Services offers a variety of resources to assist students in achieving success in their academic pursuits.  Through our Academic Success Program, the Academic Success Coordinator offers individual and group counseling for students who desire to improve their study skills and study habits.  Typical topics included in academic success workshops are: note taking, reading a textbook, test taking, time management and procrastination.  Audio and videotapes, as well as a variety of written materials, are available for student use on such topics as time management, organizational skills, test taking, test anxiety, attention deficit disorder, etc.  These materials must be used in the office during regular office hours.  Student Counseling Services serves as a clearinghouse for information regarding tutoring services on campus.  Anyone interested in receiving information regarding the availability of tutoring may contact the Academic Success Coordinator within Student Counseling Services, (410) 543-6070.