Keywords AbstractAcademic needs; cultural differences; English proficiency; International students; linguistic skills.The number of international students is increasing rapidly and impacting teaching and learning at colleges and universities (Anayah & Kuk, 2015). While many international students successfully complete their degrees, others face challenges due to a lack of academic, cultural and linguistic understanding. This study reports the results of a survey that examines the perspectives of 89 North American university professors regarding international students' linguistic and academic needs in preparation for university. The survey findings revealed that international students' limited English proficiency hinders them from succeeding at university.The results also show that international students need to develop a better understanding of American classroom culture.
Books have a great influence on children's self-esteem, behavior and thinking (Southard et al, 2014). Accordingly, when children picture books present stereotypical images of gender roles, children might be misled. Thus, the present study examines whether American males and females are equally portrayed in children's literature or not. The purpose of this research paper is to examine the Caldecott Medal and Honor winners of children books in the 1940's and the children picture books in 2000's as they could have the greatest influence on how children would perceive stereotypical issues related to gender roles. Thus, the researchers carried out a close analysis of how the characters are exhibited in those picture books based on their gender roles, and whether this perspective has changed over time. The rationale for choosing these books is that they were bestsellers that time and also because of their impact on kids. The results show that female characters were presented less and with less important and more stereotyped roles than males.
Teaching in today's classrooms is not the same as it has been in the past; that is what teachers claim. There is a new generation of students, with new expectations and capacities, coming into the classroom. The Internet and technology in general are used everywhere to communicate and interact with others. Today, students are looking for different interactions and ways of learning in the classroom. Therefore, technology should be used not only because students are using new technologies ubiquitously outside of the classroom, but also because the use of technology can enrich students' understandings of diversity and culture, which can foster collaboration, participation, and collective intelligence.
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