Mallika Thanasanti
PROV 504
Pathway Reflection
INTO Pathway is a unique program that provide the programs such as Academic English program and Pathway program for international students to adapt themselves to the Western education system. Even since I came to the U.S., I studied at INTO mason in the Academic English program that was preparation English skills such as speaking, reading, writing and listening for the graduate pathway. This semester was my first semester as a graduate student. I have to learn two classes from pathway program and two classes from my major which is Early Childhood Education. It was an extraordinary semester. I have learned many things as a graduate student in the U.S. This is a reflection on the accelerated pathway program which has three parts that I have learned in this semester including academics, cultural, and personal perspective.
In the academic’s part, the quality of writing is necessary for graduate students. Assignments in class could help students for practicing writing skill. For example, a research paper about plagiarism is a huge issue in Western education. I have researched on my major about plagiarism in my field. These are very useful to know about the types of plagiarism that are intentional and extensional. This information can help me to avoid plagiarism on my assignments.
Moreover, formal writing might not families with students who came from Non – Western academic as me, especially writing in the APA format that is required from my major, which is new things is important to learn this format. Furthermore, resume and cover letter are requiring to make at the formal letter for the future careers. That is a beneficial learning and have and ideas how to make those formal letters is interesting. Also, contracting with the advisor is essential. On the assignment writing email draft and send to advisors is really benefit for international students about how to write a formal email and make an appointment and how to express your feeling in an email with the polite language. Advisor in our major can advice about the courses for registration next semester.
In class activity is really enjoyable, we shared experiences from the first event that we have participated. I reflected my event via presentation which was “Grandstravaganza 2015”. This event was an academic event for welcoming graduate student into GMU. I shared my experiences from this event to my classmate. The event reflection presentation is the first assignment that it can me improve my speaking skill as a public speaker. In addition, in class we shared experiences from other events which were useful information for international students.
In the cultural part is important for international students, I have seen my classmates have a lot of pressure and anxiety. It can be called, “culture shock”. We have learned in the class about how to adjust ourselves for Western academic. I have learned and researched on of reading part, I really enjoyed reading Western discipline from the book “The Transition to College Writing“ In this book have a beneficial information for international students who just arrived in the U.S. For example, this was definitely differing from the Non-Western discipline that I had learned from my country. Also, I have learned different culture from my classmate who came from others country.,
In my personal perspective, this semester was rough for the accelerated pathway because we had to study 12-13 credits which are a tough semester for international students who just arrived here. They would have mixed up everything together. They might be disorganized when they got the assignments from other classes. Time management It is very important to find a balance between your academic responsibilities and your personal life. It could assist everyone manage their time and papered how to deal with the assignments in the future. Setting the schedule and making time for do homework is the earliest that we can do assignment ahead schedule and have time for relaxing.
I believe INTO mason is the advance program for international students in the long run. They will have plenty of students who are interested in studying the U.S. As an INTO student, this program has perfect faculties who can advise and provides many benefits information such as studying with a positive attitude in the U.S., organizing time for study and relax and adapting themselves to Weston culture. That was I have learned in the INTO Mason. All in all, this is my reflection on INTO accelerated pathway. That I mentioned above this semester is kind of tough one, but it assists me to be strong and advance in my academic life in the future.