2 minute read
International Students
by Kyrios LoNigro
Educational systems vary depending upon which part of the world you live in. For those moving to other countries, the differences can be stark. Read about the experiences of three ACC students as they describe their education stateside and back home.
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Pia Schilling, a Pre-Med student from Germany
“If they cannot handle this freedom they fail in this system,” Schilling said. Schilling says a research paper may be required for a course but noted that U.S. students have a more demanding schedule because German students are not required to attend class.
A lot has been different since the pandemic. For international students, that difference is two-fold. ACCENT reporter Kyrios LoNigro spoke with three students about how their home country’s education system differs from Austin Community College. Pia Schilling, a Pre-Med student from Germany, said that in Germany students do not have to be consistent with their assignments and only need to pass a final exam to earn credit for the course.
Another difference Schilling mentioned is that in the U.S. it takes four years to complete a degree, while in Germany it usually takes three.
Dieppue Dyoko, a Business Studies student from Cameroon
Dieppue Dyoko, a Business Studies student from Cameroon, says there are no community colleges in his home country. Instead, they have recently implemented a standardized education system that is shared by many European Union countries, including Germany.
Dyoko says that he does not miss anything from the education system of Cameroon. “The ACC system seems more advanced,” Dyoko said.
Roman Bhuiyan, a Computer Science student from Bangladesh
Roman Bhuiyan, a Computer Science student from Bangladesh, says U.S. education lags behind Bangladesh in some respects. “I learned the same material here in the U.S. in tenth grade that I was taught in fifth grade back home,” Bhuiyan said.
Unlike the U.S., Bangladesh does not have a public school system.
“Education is not free there,” Bhuiyan said. “You have to have money to send your kids to school. Bigger school means more money.”
Bhuiyan said that for those that can afford it, school is far from a comfortable experience.
“Teachers are definitely not as friendly. Everyone is pretty much terrified about the teachers... Matter of fact, parents will tell the teachers to hit their students if they don’t cooperate,” Bhuiyan said.
