Education specialists agree that there are many benefits to small class sizes. Some of these benefits include things like being in an educational environment that is more intimate and better for developing quality relationships with other students, or having more personalized student-teacher experiences which can lead to improvements in the quality of your learning experience.
Certain universities offer auditorium and hall classes that can include hundreds of students. While these can still create good learning opportunities, there are many reasons why small classes tend to be more advantageous. Read on to learn some of the benefits that small classes have to offer.
When you study abroad, it is important to have the chance to meet other people, so that you can take advantage of your international community. At JCU, students come from over 80 countries, and while campus events, extracurriculars, and more offer plenty of opportunity to connect, small classes also help foster dialogue and help students get to know their peers.
Small class sizes can help you meet people who share your interests. This can offer multiple perspectives on your field of interest, with members from various cultures and backgrounds sharing their insights.
The networks and connections that you establish and develop during your time at university can last for a long time. They can become a professional network for you to tap into after you graduate, or they can simply continue to be great friendships. There aren’t many opportunities to create a worldwide community, but when the environment you study in makes it easier to know everyone, you can build relationships that cross many borders.
In most universities, big class sizes can create a separation between professors and students. If your professor has no idea who you are and what you are going through, it can be difficult for them to understand you. Different students can learn quite differently, but it is hard for teachers to adapt to the needs of their students when there are too many of them. In fact, small class sizes were shown to result in better grades than average or large sized classes in a study by the Tennessee General Assembly.
If you are in a smaller class setting when you study in Italy, it can give you an opportunity to interact with your professor and help them get to know you. For professors, it is much easier to plan lessons once they know how their students learn best.
When professors have to deliver a lecture in front of a large group of students, there are not many chances to create discussions and ask questions. Normally, professors who teach large groups will simply explain the material that needs to be explained in a straightforward way, and the students will take notes.
With a smaller group, the professor can encourage student participation and ask the class to interact with them and with one another. It becomes possible to do different activities, and to learn in different ways. In fact, at John Cabot, we also offer on-site courses where students can visit important landmarks and see timeless works of art in person. This provides a chance to get up-close and personal with your subject matter, with each student able to fully interact with the environment.
Are you looking for English speaking universities in Italy?
Contact John Cabot University today!