One of the things international students were most surprised about when attending colleges and universities in the United States is the good-nature of their professors, reports the Oklahoma Daily. For some international students, their professors’ positive disposition was so unexpected it even caused culture shock.

“It’s surprising how more friendly teachers are here — they smile, they make jokes, they actually listen to what you have to say and they don’t mind being asked questions,” says a French exchange student studying logistics management at the University of Oklahoma. “When you give a good answer, they encourage you, and when you give a wrong one, they encourage you.”

The article says that for many international students, the American style of education is not the same as their home nation – where private and professional lives are clearly divided. In the United States, professors have no qualms opening their doors to students and providing guidance on issues beyond the classroom. The article reports that many professors treat their students in a similar fashion to how they would treat their own children – warm and friendly but also with high expectations.

Source: The Oklahoma Daily: Friendly Professors a Surprise for International Students