One Classroom, Two Cultures: The Experiences of Chinese Students in an American College

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to explore undergraduate Chinese international students’ perceptions about their classroom experiences in a United States institution of higher education. Banking education, a term used by Paulo Freire to describe and critique the traditional education system, was used as the theoretical framework for this study. After analyzing the ten interviews of Chinese international students, the following areas were discussed: comparison of classroom experiences in the United States and China; assessment practices in the United States verses China; and the differences in the relationship between students and faculty in both countries. While most of the participants preferred the American classroom practices to practices in China, all faced challenges as they navigated cultural differences in the classroom. The concept of banking education helped to illustrate the difficulties Chinese students face when they enter Americanized classrooms and a different pedagogy.