Cross-cultural differences regarding participation in University of Northern Iowa classrooms

The purpose of this paper is to explore how international students view participation in their University of Northern Iowa (UNI) classrooms and to compare this information to how native UNI students view participation in UNI classrooms. The research questions that are addressed include, international and native students overall comfort level regarding participating in their classes at the University of Northern Iowa, what differences are there that international students at the University of Northern Iowa experience between participation at their home university and participation at UNI, and what common classroom environmental factors may determine participation among international students. The researcher recruited participants using IRB approved protocols and used an IRB approved survey to collect data. Participants were men and women currently attending the University of Northern Iowa. 18 participants were international students and 17 participants were native students. Both native and international students reported equal levels of average comfort level in the classroom. International students reported significant differences between UNI and their home universities. International students classified UNI classes as having participation as part of students’ grade more often than international students home universities. International students also reported higher comfort meeting professors outside of class at UNI than at their home universities. International students also reported more of their home universities classes being lecture based than at UNI. Students in different educational systems have different classroom experiences in regards to participation, but students want and need a comfortable environment to encourage participation