I have had many international students at UMUC in my MBA classes. .  The 
policy at the Graduate School is that we apply the same standards to all 
students in the class.  However, I am sure that some of our more 
internationally relativistic faculty disagree with this policy and "do 
their own thing."  Personally, I agree with Ginger (and it may be one of 
the few areas where I can be called a "conservative").  Why is it fair 
to make exceptions to standards for non-native English speakers, if we  
don't we make them for US students who went to sub-standard grammar and 
high schools?  If students attend American universities, isn't it  their 
responsibility to be sufficiently proficient in the language?  As for 
the cultural aspects, this also seems to be something they need to learn 
in order to "play the game" in US businesses.  Despite the lip service 
paid to "multi-culturalism," to be successful in business, it is often 
necessary to make clear recommendations.  Our employer advisory panel 
made this very clear.  The inability to make recommendations is common 
to our US students as well.

That said, the international students' perspectives add a fascinating 
dimension to the class discussions.  They have very different 
perspectives on tort law and contracts, for example.

Rosemary Hartigan
Professor and Program Director, MBA, Executive, and International Programs
University of Maryland University College

Ginger, Laura wrote:

>This is a continuing problem here and seems to involve more students in our required sophomore-level prerequisite course all the time.  It requires a C for students wishing to major or minor in business and for various other students as well.  We have no department or school policy on this, and frankly I don't know what my colleagues in the department do.  I try a variety of things.  I try to advise the students to drop the class and take it later after they have been here longer and had more exposure to the spoken and written language after explaining that the class puts a premium on the English language in a way that the other prerequisites may not.  I send all students who have a D or F a message advising them to drop or seriously consider dropping at least twice before the withdrawal deadline in the ninth week of the semester.  This includes the non-native speakers with a D or F.  I sometimes ask for help from academic advisors in convincing these students to drop.  Many of them do not drop despite these efforts, even after I tell them (if it is true) that it is mathematically impossible for them to earn a C.
> 
>I do NOT make any exceptions to grading policies or standards for non-native speakers, nor do I give them any extra credit work or anything else not available to all students.  My feeling is that if they are in the class they should be judged by the same standards as the other students there.  They may not get good advice about enrolling in the first place, but I try to give them good advice about dropping once I see the problem.  If they remain in the class after that advice, they will receive the grade they have earned at the end of the semester, whatever it is.
>Laura
>
>       -----Original Message----- 
>       From: Academy of Legal Studies in Business (ALSB) Talk on behalf of Pam Gershuny 
>       Sent: Thu 10/28/2004 4:07 PM 
>       To: [log in to unmask] 
>       Cc: 
>       Subject: Question of non-native english speaking students in class?
>	
>	
>
>       Hello too all of you very wise professors,
>
>        
>
>       I have a number of Japanese students who do not speak, understand, or write very well in English.  They are currently getting D’s in class.  What do you think is ethically required?  Give them an extra assignment?  Does it have to be offered to all the students?  I do not think they understand the material.  I have had many conversations in my office where I do not think they understand what I am saying.  In other classes, accounting, quantitative methods, etc. they are doing well.  If students receive a “D” in my class they cannot go on in the business school, a “C” is required to take upper level classes.
>
>        
>
>       Thanks,
>
>       Pam
>
>        
>
>       Pamela Gershuny, J.D., M.B.A.
>
>       Assistant Professor of Business Law
>
>       Department of Accounting and MIS
>
>       Harrison College of Business  (AACSB accredited)
>
>       Southeast Missouri State University
>
>       Cape Girardeau, MO 63701
>
>       (573) 651-2097 office
>
>       (573) 651-2992 fax
>
>       [log in to unmask]
>
>       Website http://cstl-hcb.semo.edu/gershuny
>
>        
>
>  
>