International Student Reflection: Academic Growth in the UK

Introduction and Personal Background

A human being can adapt to any environment, especially if given time. Yet this adaptation never comes easily, and must be fostered through hard work and dedication. This is especially true in the academic setting, and in a case such as mine. I am an international student who comes from Iran, and my transition to British academia has been fascinating, but terribly difficult as well. This paper will undertake an analysis of that transformation step by step. It will begin by examining my personal background and experiences, both prior to and during my studies, and continue by describing those areas of learning to which I was exposed, as well as how my learning abilities have improved throughout the school year in those same areas. The paper will also draw upon lectures, definitions, and readings as presented in class to better illustrate the above-mentioned information.

The university I attend is located in a place steeped in history. To an outsider, the experience of coming to study here is full of joy, anticipation, mystery, and many hurdles — yet it is, above all, rewarding. I am Iranian, and I study Business Management. Due to my background and the personal academic challenge of studying this field, my experiences at the beginning of my university career were less than smooth, especially given my limited knowledge of the language in which everything was presented.

One of the most important things I realized early on was that there are many difficulties — many of them unforeseen — involved in studying in a foreign country. These arise from differences in sociability, in politics, and simply in the way one goes about conducting daily life. Being metaphorically thrown into an environment where I did not know these ways, and did not understand the language very well, was, needless to say, quite difficult. It is also worth mentioning that at the beginning of my time at the university, I was living in Birmingham, while most of my classmates lived on campus. It was thus very difficult to meet people and make friends, which is a very important part of the university experience. Furthermore, I was not yet technologically set up to communicate easily with potential acquaintances, which added another layer of isolation.

Early Challenges at a British University

For international students navigating these kinds of transitions, culture shock is a well-documented phenomenon that affects both social integration and academic performance. Understanding this process helped me contextualize my own difficulties rather than viewing them purely as personal shortcomings.

Things began improving throughout my first and second semesters. In addition to meeting more people, I began to understand the language more and to perform at a higher level in all my classes. I passed exams I had previously failed or received poor grades on, and rewrote papers I could never have approached at the beginning of my studies.

To give a concrete example, I submitted an essay in semester one for my Introduction to Supply Chain Management class. The topic was: "To what extent do you agree with the argument that close, collaborative, and non-adversarial relationships between buyers and suppliers are best practiced in supply management?" It took me quite a long time to understand the question and gather my ideas about what a proper answer should comprise. However, I was ecstatic when I received my feedback. The professor, though noting some remaining mistakes, remarked that the paper was well organized and well written — which made me very happy indeed.

Academic Improvement Across Two Semesters

The improvement in my academic skills can be traced to my Personal Skills modules, as well as the many suggestions I received throughout my courses. Four key categories shaped my development:

Though all four categories have had a significant bearing on my development, it was interaction with other individuals that most helped me conduct activities more effectively on my own.

Another important element, one that is stressed throughout my classes, is focusing on strengths and weaknesses. As this is a reflective paper, it is important to address both. As illustrated in the example above, my strength has always been the good organization of ideas. I was always an organized individual, and despite my limited English communication skills at first, I was still able to structure my thinking. Given time — and a dictionary — I could translate those thoughts into English, which also helped me become a stronger writer. Because of my organizational skills, time management was never a significant problem, and research, though initially challenging, became second nature with a little help from peers.