Faculty Resources

Teaching Resources

International Students

About one third of the student population at the Academy of Art University is international. The largest number of international students come from Korea, followed by Taiwan, Japan, Thailand and other countries. These students have come to the Academy of Art University to study art and will generally return to their countries upon graduation and completion of a year of internship.

International students are not required to know English when they enroll at the Academy of Art University, but they are tested upon arrival and placed into appropriate English as a Second Language (ESL) classes at the Academy of Art University. They may also enroll in visually based classes such as figure drawing which are heavily supported by the English as a Second Language (ESL) Department.

You will encounter ESL students in your classes, whether you teach ESL supported sections or not. If you think your ESL students need language support in your class, contact the ESL Department.

1. They may have difficulty with the English language (reading, writing, discussing, understanding spoken lessons)

2. Students who have just arrived may not be familiar with the US classroom culture.

3. They may be reluctant to give quick answers, possibly because of language difficulty, but also because they are hesitant to share superficial opinions.

4. They may expect very formal relationships with teachers. They may be reluctant to approach teachers for clarification out of politeness.

More information on this student population in Ideas for Working with International Students.