College Life Around the World (1-2)

Listen to this article


Similarities in Student Life
At colleges and universities around the world, students from other places live in student housing, apartments, or the private homes of other people. They walk to school, or get there by bicycle, or by car, or with public transportation like the bus or subway. They take courses and attend classes. They study and take quizzes or tests or exams. They complete requirements. After years of study, they get certificates or college degrees. Outside school, they have other interests and family or social lives. In some ways, life on the campuses of institutions of higher learning is the same everywhere in the world.

Systems of Higher Education
Maybe student life is similar but the system of higher education differs in countries around the world. For example, in the United States, postsecondary students can live at home and go to community colleges for two years or more. Or they can choose four-year state or private colleges or universities. They can get financial aid, like scholarships, grants, or loans. With undergraduate degrees, they can attend graduate school. The system is different in some countries of Asia or the Middle East, like Iran. There, students take an exit exam in their last year of high school. The people with the highest scores attend the best universities in the country. Other students can go to other kinds of colleges or get jobs.

There is another system in Germany. In that country, most graduates of academic high schools go to public universities or technical colleges. These schools don't charge high tuition or educational fees, and students can stay in school for many years.

Differences in Teaching and Learning Styles
But not only the system of higher education can vary. Teaching and learning methods and styles differ in various cultures, at different colleges and universities, and in individual courses. For example, the atmosphere in many classrooms is very formal. Students use titles for their instructors, like "Professor Smith," "Mrs. Jones," and so on. Some teachers wear business clothes and give academic lectures. Other classrooms have an informal atmosphere. Instructors dress casually, and students use their first names. In this relaxed atmosphere, class members work together in groups. They give their opinions and talk about their ideas. Some teachers always follow a course plan or the textbook. They give a lot of assignments. They give points, scores, or grades for homework. In their courses, students take many quizzes, tests, and exams. Allover the world, there are teaching and learning differences.

Campus Facilities and Services
And what about the facilities and services available to students at college and university campuses around the world? At many institutions of higher learning, resources for learning and recreation are available to students. At libraries, they can read and study books and other materials. At learning resource centers, they can often work on computers. Maybe they can use educational software programs or the World Wide Web or Internet. Sometimes audio or video equipment is available. And people can buy books, supplies, and other things at campus stores. Also, learners can get advice from counselors and individual help with their courses from tutors. Maybe they can relax and have fun on campus too. Some schools have swimming pools, tennis courts, and other sports facilities. Most have snackbars, cafeterias, or other eating places. And at some schools, not all students go to the campus. They take Internet courses by computer, see and hear lectures on television, or use other kinds of distance learning.