The arrival of a new semester brings new challenges: different subjects, new teachers, and new classmates. However, we know that some school situations will always be similar. We’ll have group projects, quizzes, deadlines, and demanding teachers.
As much as the classes change, the routine is the same. With that in mind, it’s very common for students to adopt study strategies that are similar to the ones they’ve already used. It’s very important to learn from the mistakes and successes of the previous semester.
One of the biggest challenges for international students is delivering an assignment without grammatical errors. But there are solutions to better our ability in academic writing. My tip is to try to finish the job one or two days in advance and look for the college Help Centres, where you can get assistance in correcting your vocabulary and making sure your APA style is correct. No more losing marks for grammar!
Another challenge is to understand the differences between the Canadian study style and the one from your home country. We often see students closing themselves in groups with people from the same country. This can negatively affect your daily practice of absorbing the language and culture of the college.
This semester, create a closer relationship with all your classmates and instructors. Interact, ask questions, and slowly walk out of your comfort zone. Remember that college is an amazing place for networking.
Finally, do some planning! Never leave assignments until the last minute. We international students need to find a way to plan differently from the way we are used to doing in our home country, because the projects here might take us twice as long to do. I, for example, plan my assignments on a weekly basis so no projects will pile up.
A lack of time and difficulty with the language here are not justifications for falling behind. But it’s also important to strike a balance between the daily struggles of dealing with a new culture and taking some time for yourself. There are recurring challenges in our college routines; we can use our experience to improve our academic performance. Here’s wishing a good start to the semester to everyone!