Pathway Reflection

As an international graduate student, I almost finish my graduate pathway program. At the end of this semester, I realize that I not only learned new knowledge about my discipline, but also made a great progress. Certainly, in some aspects, I could have done better. In this paper, I would like to recall and reflect my pathway program.

During the whole year pathway program, I think I make a great progress on English skills. Firstly, since, in America, everyone speaks English and I hear English every day, my listening skill has been enhanced. For example, at the first class, I felt confused about what professor said. Now, I almost understand it in the class. Secondly, I need to use English to communicate with others and express my own opinion. Hence, I can practice my oral English skill and improve it. Thirdly, during this semester, I read many materials related to my subject and finished several reading assignments, which have already enhanced my reading skills. Last but not least, I wrote numerous analytical summaries and did a literature review about my major. I seriously revised them after professors gave me some suggestions or corrected my mistakes. I think my writing skill has already made progress. In general, my English has been improved since pathway program, which will benefit me to challenge harder course in the future.

I think American education is different from Chinese education and the most different parts are citation pattern and critical thinking. Firstly, in China, people don’t pay more attention on citation pattern because Chinese people would like to share information. They probably think knowledge should belong to everyone so the owner of the particular knowledge is not valued. However, it is very important in America because the idea or knowledge of someone is considered a kind of invisible property. Therefore, using appropriate citation pattern is necessary when I am writing an academic paper. Secondly, I learn that critical thinking is a significant ability for graduate students. In China, students always accept what instructors teach because students usually think professors are authority of this discipline so they are must right. Therefore, students seldom question or challenge the professors. However,  students in America are encouraged to propose their questions and professors are usually willing to answer those questions. This concept of critical thinking can be applied in wider aspects. Even when students are reading textbook, they also can question the book. Hence, I think I don’t do well in critical thinking so I still need to practice and improve it.

In conclusion, as a graduate pathway student, I think pathway program was useful and valuable. I made efforts to learn American culture and professional knowledge. At the same time, I made some new helpful friends. When reviewing the whole year pathway program, I realized what I did well and I will keep it in the future. I am also aware of what I need to develop, so I will try my best to improve myself. After I finish my pathway program, my next to goal is to  pursue my master degree.