International Students’ Perspective - Effective Practices and Strategies to Support Online Learning and Teaching

Breakout Room G

International students and their instructors had to pivot their courses from in-person sessions to virtual platforms, due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Generally, Chinese international students have coped with more challenges than domestic students, in terms of language practice, academic performance, and life expectations. This practice-based paper drew from the learning experiences of a group of Chinese international students. Using the Community of Inquiry framework, we examined the online learning strategies and practices that were effective. More specifically, the tasks of peer-review and online poster presentation provided scaffolded experiences and opportunities to practice speaking, while leaving a record of comments for future reference. Additionally, these activities provided some relief from the stresses of the pandemic. The paper provides implications for post-secondary instructors who teach culturally and linguistically diverse students in open and online environments.