When students decide to pursue their studies in a different country, they face exciting but challenging moments. Exposure to a new culture and education system can be exciting, but it also requires embracing change.
Acquiring some of these skills will enable one not only to survive but to succeed as an international student. Here are the top 5 skills that are a must-have for every international student:
1. Academic Work Skills: Research and Independent Learning
The teaching approach in foreign universities is much different from what you may have encountered before. You are expected to follow the subject matter in depth on your own after the lectures by the professors.
Use reliable and authentic sources such as scholarly articles, academic papers, and textbooks to study and not just rely on the contents of the slides created by the professor. It’s also important to understand how to work with online academic databases, search engines, library catalogues, and reference management systems.
Extensive reading of academic literature, assessing sources, integrating information from various sources, and constructing coherent arguments are just the norm. Being well organised is important because you will have flexible schedules, unlike what you experienced in high school.
Good research skills and the ability to learn independently will serve you well in your learning process throughout your education abroad.
2. Critical thinking and problem-solving
Education abroad places more emphasis on analysis and evaluation than on cramming brains. Classes often include open-ended tasks and questions that may have several possible solutions.
Classes are based on discussions, analyses of cases, debates, experiments, and group projects. Professors expect you to support your views by presenting valid reasoning.
Try to ask questions, study the proposed ideas critically, and think creatively. Thus, it is advisable to foster your critical thinking and problem-solving skills to fit well in such a progressive organisation.
3. Time Management
Studying in a different country means managing an academic schedule coupled with a busy social calendar. Organising classes, homework, projects, part-time jobs, activities, and home chores is a real challenge.
Be more effective in time management by helping to organise and manage goals and time through timely goals and deadlines. Many tools, such as the Ivy Lee Method, Pareto Principle, and Eisenhower Matrix, could significantly increase your efficiency.
Keep improving the strategies you can use to balance academic responsibilities with friends, family, health, and fun without causing too much strain.
4. Cultural Adaptability
Despite the idea of having a taste of another country and its people’s way of life, it could be enticing at first, but culture shock is always around the corner. Culture includes rules and regulations that are not easily noticeable; these include the manner of talking, nonverbal communication, dress code, behaviours, beliefs, etc., in societies that differ from country to country.
It has been appreciated that it takes maturity to be sensitive and respect people’s cultural differences rather than passing judgment. This is crucial in preventing unintentional offences within the community due to a lack of information about the culture and traditions of the society.
In the same way, try to be friendly and open to meeting and interacting with people of different nationalities and be willing to learn from them. Intercultural communication is a great way to expand your horizons.
5. Language Proficiency
Even if you have taken courses in English, it’s beneficial to have some knowledge of the national language to interact with the local community effectively. Hence, simple things such as making a doctor’s appointment, ordering a meal, engaging in conversation with others, particularly people we live with or work with, reading road signs, etc., become a challenge if you have minimal language skills.
It is recommended to acquire some level of fluency in the native language before getting there, or at least start learning it in advance. This will not only ease the daily chores but also provide an opportunity to interact with the people closely.
Being bilingual and knowing multiple languages, such as Mandarin or Spanish that may be useful in your future occupation is also an advantage.
Wrapping Up
Acquiring these skills before you embark on your trip will help you get through the transition smoothly and live a happy student life in a foreign country. Welcome the idea of actively going out of your comfort zone and making it a practice to put yourself into new challenges.
Keep yourself and your environment well organised, adapt to cultural differences, be critical, be self-motivated, and be prepared linguistically to make your experience as an international student challenging on the personal and professional level!
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