American Student Opinions on Foreign Students in U.S. Schools

Overview of American Student Attitudes

Generally, American students have a positive attitude toward the inclusion of foreign students in American educational institutions. They believe that foreign students contribute positively to the educational environment and that the overall experience of higher education in the U.S. is more valuable as a result of the wider variety of cultures and nationalities that the presence of foreign students brings. For example, one Pre-Dental student (age 29) said:

"Americans already lack an understanding of world culture, so by having foreigners, the world comes to America. America is a heterogeneous population, and to have foreigners come here gives Americans a fresh outlook on the world. Many Americans are not familiar with international culture — for example, Bollywood movies, traditional dances, popular Spanish or Chinese music, or African customs. Americans usually befriend people they are comfortable with, such as other Americans; when foreigners come, there is a new perspective and a different outlook on life."

Some American students have had specific negative experiences with foreign students but still maintain a positive overall impression. American students also describe different types of experiences with members of certain nationalities. On the negative side, one student remarked:

"Indians and Mediterranean people do not use deodorant because of their culture. Some international men ask me for marriage to get U.S. citizenship, but it is illegal when done in exchange for money."

However, on the positive side, the same student characterized foreign students as follows:

Positive Experiences and Cultural Exchange

"Nice, humble, and warm people. I'm more comfortable hanging out with international students because Americans are snobby. They are willing to learn about American culture and most of the time learn English. They look for a family atmosphere or family relationships. They watch the FIFA World Cup and are more aware of international politics."

An Elementary Education student (age 19) appreciated other aspects of interacting with foreign students, referring to the positive experience of "someone helping me pass a foreign language class." Other American students have not had any opportunity to interact with foreign students at all; one English student (age 21) said: "I have not had any contact with a foreign student, though I am open to it." Both an Accounting student (age 22) and another student who chose to remain anonymous (age 20) used the word "great" to describe their feelings about the presence of foreign students in their schools. Similarly, an English student (age 19) and a Biology student (age 20) both used the word "amazing" to describe the opportunity to learn alongside foreign students.

On the whole, American students are sympathetic to the difficulties faced by some foreign students, including the expense of living in the U.S. without a nearby family support system and the cultural and language barriers and prejudices they sometimes encounter.

American students also believe that many foreign students bring a more serious work ethic to school and that they are better educated in their home countries than their American counterparts. A Biology student (age 19) said she believed, "Most of the international students have learned all of the prerequisite courses more in depth than I did here." According to a Chemistry student (age 21), "They bring a higher work ethic because they have traveled so far to reach their goals." An Engineering student (age 34) echoed that observation: "Foreign students seem to appreciate the opportunity more" and added that, by comparison, "American students seem lazy."

Academic Work Ethic and Preparedness

Some American students also suggest that foreign students enjoy stronger relationships with their families than might be typical of many Americans, and that Americans might be able to learn something from them in that regard. According to the Pre-Dental student (age 29):

"American students are more social with their peers and other Americans. Foreigners are more social with their family and less with peers. Foreigners have a closer relationship with parents, unlike Americans, who tend to be more distant and independent from their parents."

This perspective reflects a broader theme in cross-cultural research on the differences in collectivist versus individualist social orientations among students from different national backgrounds.