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Hello:
In our last meeting of the faculty teaching in the MBA program we had a
lively discussion regarding the different test scores of international vs.
domestic students. Although all students have to cross the same admission
treshold in terms of GMAT and the rest of the application (plus TOEFL for
international students) these differences persist. Without having
conducted detailed research we suspect language to be the key issue, for
example:
- Students may not understand the textbook and/or the lectures and may not
realize this or may not dare to reveal that they don't understand;
- Students may misunderstand/misinterpret the text and lectures given the
cultural embeddedness of management;
- Students need more time to understand a test and to write answers;
- Faculty are likely to use American slang in their lectures without
noticing it ("curved balls from left field to cover the nine yards" "gimme
your John Hancock" -- Having immigrated myself from Europe I know first
hand what I'm talking about!)

We kicked around a couple of ideas during our meeting how to tackle these
issues. Since I'm sure that our experience is not unique and since I have
the deep suspicion that a goodly number of business schools are way ahead
of us in terms of addressing these issues, I'd be curious to hear from
those at the forefront.

Thank you!
Prof. Arieh A. Ullmann Tel. +1.607.777.6858
School of Management FAX +1.607.777.4422
Binghamton University e-mail: aullmann@binghamton.edu
Vestal Parkway East
Binghamton, NY 13902-6015
U.S.A.

Arieh,
My experience with international students (at the bachelors level) is 180
degrees out from what you seem to be expressing. They are without
exception, the best students I have. They are the ones who are obviously in
the classroom to learn, not just to fill the requirement and move along.
While they do occasionally take more time to complete tests, written
assignments, and case studies, their responses are always the best
thought-out, the most comprehensive.
I find them, again without exception, to be the best students I have.

Ken Miller, Instructor Health Care Administration and Management
College of West Virginia
miller@cwv.edu
-----Original Message-----
From: Arieh Ullmann <aullmann@BINGHAMTON.EDU>
To: MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU <MG-ED-DV@MAELSTROM.STJOHNS.EDU>
Date: Thursday, March 25, 1999 8:02 AM
Subject: Performance of International Students in Exams


>Hello:
>In our last meeting of the faculty teaching in the MBA program we had a
>lively discussion regarding the different test scores of international vs.
>domestic students. Although all students have to cross the same admission
>treshold in terms of GMAT and the rest of the application (plus TOEFL for
>international students) these differences persist. Without having
>conducted detailed research we suspect language to be the key issue, for
>example:
>- Students may not understand the textbook and/or the lectures and may not
>realize this or may not dare to reveal that they don't understand;
>- Students may misunderstand/misinterpret the text and lectures given the
>cultural embeddedness of management;
>- Students need more time to understand a test and to write answers;
>- Faculty are likely to use American slang in their lectures without
>noticing it ("curved balls from left field to cover the nine yards" "gimme
>your John Hancock" -- Having immigrated myself from Europe I know first
>hand what I'm talking about!)
>
>We kicked around a couple of ideas during our meeting how to tackle these
>issues. Since I'm sure that our experience is not unique and since I have
>the deep suspicion that a goodly number of business schools are way ahead
>of us in terms of addressing these issues, I'd be curious to hear from
>those at the forefront.
>
>Thank you!
>Prof. Arieh A. Ullmann Tel. +1.607.777.6858
>School of Management FAX +1.607.777.4422
>Binghamton University e-mail: aullmann@binghamton.edu
>Vestal Parkway East
>Binghamton, NY 13902-6015
>U.S.A.

At 08:00 am 25/03/99 Prof. Arieh A. Ullmann wrote:
>In our last meeting of the faculty teaching in the MBA program we had a
>lively discussion regarding the different test scores of international vs.
>domestic students.
<snip>
Two things come readily to mind.
1. Maybe the students are doing "double-translations" all the time i.e.
they need to hear the English, translate in their head to their own
language, think about the answer and then translate back into English.
It's hard to give marks when the page is blank.
2. If we went to Sorbonne University, we'd all have to learn French and
the way of the French people. So, should we really be worried about this
difference in the first place?

Pondering out loud ... but then again, if funding is being determined by
the number of students who "pass" then it could be an issue. (Speaking out
loud) Hey, I have Diploma students (those who didn't get into University)
sitting in a class with Degree students (those who did get in) doing the
same subject. There is clearly a 15-20% grade difference on everything
they do.
Then the Dean of Studies wonders why there is a high failure rate amongst
the Diploma (i.e. International) students. To use some jargon, maybe the
administrators need to "get real".

Alan :-)
--------------------------------------------------
Alan Wilson ~ Facilitated Solutions
Professional Educator & Speaker