My Classes and School Life

I’m Sunny!

Weeks are flying by here, especially with the term only being 10 weeks long. The quarter system is pretty new to me, and for that matter so are having midterm exams during Week 4 of the term. Not to mention, never have I ever in my life had three exams for one course which seems to be a pretty common thing here.

During these few weeks that I’ve spent at Drexel, my classes here have provided me a new perspective into the American university culture that is way different than back home. Drexel classrooms are mostly cool, and I especially liked how many of them are designed in ways that are fit for communication between the professors and students.

In Korea, many classes are held in a lecture format where professors would talk about the topics and students simply listen. There are classes that require debates or active participation, but those are not as common. Also, there is a tendency for students to be discouraged from asking questions to the professors during class for a few reasons — some professors do not like the questions of the students, regarding them as “not relevant” or “rude.” Students also have the atmosphere of not liking other students asking questions in class feeling that they are being nosy, a know-it-all or simply wasting class time.

However, I felt that it is much more encouraged here to actively participate in classes and to ask questions even when if they are not as relevant. The professors also seemed very sincere in answering the questions and fulfilling the curiosities of students.

Another thing I felt in the classes is related to the way of speech of the professors. Back in my home university, I felt that professors are always very formal to us during the class. Sure, they sometimes make little jokes – but their jokes are usually very gentle and the words carefully chosen, as if they are trying to sound as professional as possible. They don’t come out as friendly or nice – I’m not saying that they’re not nice, just that they don’t necessarily try to be – but more as formal and distant. On the other hand, professors at Drexel are much more friendly, and don’t hesitate to use informal words that students favor to connect more with us.