Confronting cultural differences — APA and nonnative english students - Capitalizing on consistency: APA and the academic classroom - Conforming to standards: APA and the academic environment

APA style and citations for dummies - Joe Giampalmi 2021

Confronting cultural differences — APA and nonnative english students
Capitalizing on consistency: APA and the academic classroom
Conforming to standards: APA and the academic environment

Many college students sacrifice to educate themselves. Students who work full time to support a family while pursuing a degree attend American colleges and deserve admiration from the academic community. One million nonnative English-speaking students travel to the United States to educate themselves at one of the world’s best systems of higher education.

Throughout my college teaching career, I taught essay writing and business writing to students who were learning English as an additional language. Both courses required APA citations and formatting. The commitment of students in both courses enriched my life by seeing their relentless drive to learning. I recall, for example, a student from Southeast Europe who wrote A-grade essays by checking spelling of almost every word with a tattered dictionary she carried with her until she graduated. English was her fourth language, and she studied business pursuing a career in international business.

Colleges that accept you want you to graduate and offer you the support you need to succeed. Your challenge includes finding that help. What follows are some practices to get you started.

International student experience

International students leave their native countries to study in the United States, learn a new culture, and gain experience to qualify for worldwide opportunities. Students I taught came from Europe, South America, the Middle East, and Far East. For example, a 20-one-year-old woman came from the Far East at the age of 18 because she didn’t want to study engineering, a requirement in her country for intelligent students like herself.

She came to Rowan University (Glassboro, New Jersey) where I taught, to study business management. She described a third-grade regimen of ten-hour school days, six days a week. Studying English was her fifth language. Her written English was impeccable, and she was one of the best business writers I’ve ever taught.

I admire these students for their courage to undertake such demanding challenges of learning a new culture, learning to write English, and simultaneously incorporate APA into their writing. For many students English was their third, fourth, and even fifth language. I admire their determination to succeed at writing, earn their college degrees, and prepare themselves for opportunities that will improve their lives. Research suggests that learning additional languages is much more difficult after puberty. These students were role models for the class because of their work ethic, interesting backgrounds, and determination to educate themselves.

Seeking a professor who supports language learning

If you as an international student aren’t offered scheduling priority to enroll you into a course that supports learning an additional language, ask your advisor to schedule you with a professor experienced teaching this specialty. If you can’t identify such a professor, ask for recommendations from an upper-level peer who is also a second language learner. Although some professors specialize teaching second language learners, many professors are experienced with strategies that support second language learners.

To help you identify these professors, here are examples of teaching strategies conducive to learning styles that meet your needs:

· Guided reading strategies that include providing a reading purpose prior to reading assignments

· Nonlecture teaching styles such as hands-on and active-learning classes

· Numerous handouts

· Team assignments

· Student-centered rather than content-centered

If this is your first experience in a course learning to write English (with the added challenge of APA documenting and formatting), be patient with yourself. You’ll succeed as long as you continue trying. You’ve overcome greater challenges to be where you are. You’re learning to write a difficult language that many native speakers struggle with. Don’t be surprised if you need to take the course a second time to succeed, not a setback but opportunity to additionally improve your English proficiency.

The brain possesses a property called neuroplasticity, the ability to rewire itself and adapt to new learning experiences. Research shows that one of the brain’s most challenging adaptations is learning a new language and adapting to a new culture, which requires about a generation to learn. You ensure failure only when you stop trying.

Understanding that english isn’t easy

English is a difficult language to learn because its foundation is a combination of languages (including Greek, Latin, German, French, Spanish, Japanese, Russian, and Italian) with a combination of rules. Difficulties learning English include the following:

· Inconsistent spelling rules

· Pronoun agreement variations

· Inconsistent plural formations with numerous irregular forms

· Numerous irregular verbs

· More prepositions than other languages

· Word positioning sequences inconsistent with other languages

· Language convention rules inconsistent with other languages

· Nonverbal communication differing from other languages

Additional challenges of learning English include

· Illogical academic vocabulary: GPA, priority registration, major and minor

· Eye contact: Offensive in some cultures, expected with English

· Addressing professors: Informal in some cultures, formalities expected with English culture

To develop language skills addressing professors, role play language exchange with a peer. You can also role play questions you’d ask in class and offer comments on class topics. Professors in most Western cultures expect to be addressed formally in speaking and email. Use formal language and tone, like you’re addressing an older well-respected family member. Also, look professors in the eye when you speak, an expectation of Western culture.

· Inconsistent writing structure: Beginning, middle, and end in English inconsistent with other cultures that require writing support to precede main ideas.

Making the transition seamlessly

If you’re learning English and APA as a second (or third) language, here are some strategies to help you make the transition:

· Read aloud and record examples of APA documented literature. Include reading aloud punctuation for citations and sources in reference lists.

· Make a recording of APA-related words and phrases that challenge you. Include spelling and meaning, words such as DOI (digital object identifier), source engagement, crediting sources, plagiarism, attribution, format, bias-free, in-text, and signal phrase.

· Make a recording of writing-related words and phrases. Include prewriting, peer-feedback, approach, audience, purpose, and tone.

· Meet with a tutor or visit your writing center. Set the meeting for the exclusive purpose of reviewing APA in your paper.

· Read about and talk with peers about plagiarism, especially if your native culture accepts referencing sources without crediting them. See Chapter 4 for more information on plagiarism and add-on language students.

· Write (in English) describing your use of APA in your writing and include a list of questions about APA use. Writing about APA in English will help you learn English and APA. Write with vocabulary common to APA.

· Limit your research. Focus on basic sources such as books and scholarly journal articles that you can duplicate citation formats and reference element formats.

· Over-document with citations. Eliminate unnecessary citations with your tutor’s recommendation.

Advocating for yourself

As a college student, regardless of your cultural background, your academic and social survival depends on advocating for yourself, accepting responsibility that your happiness and adjustment to academics and college life depends on how well you attend to your own needs. For example, academically, you accept responsibility by securing your needs for classes: advisors, tutors, peer reviewers, and APA reviewer. You also accept responsibility for paying your tuition and registering for classes. If you need to shop off campus, you coordinate transportation. Be your own best friend, recognize differences between needs and wants, and figure things out.

Meet with your professors as soon as you can after the first class. Immediately following the first class is usually a good time. Introduce yourself and explain that you’re learning English as a second (third, fourth, or fifth) language and that you’ve been successful in past courses with the help of a tutor and support the university offers. Ask them if they can recommend additional resources to help with the course. Also ask if you may record classes to help you with notetaking.