Questionnaire for International University Students at the University of Helsinki

Part 1: Studying and learning I

Part 2: Studying and learning II

Part 3: Teaching-learning environment

Part 4: Studying and learning III

Part 5: General competences

Part 6: Writing Process

Part 7: Open-ended questions

Part 8: Background information

Invitation for interview and performance test in critical thinking

Proceed

Dear international students,

We are doing research on international Bachelor's and Master's students’ learning at University of Helsinki. We are especially interested in your perspectives concerning approaches to learning, experiences of the learning environment and scientific writing. We kindly ask you to respond to the questions based on your current experiences.

There are no right or wrong answers to any of the questions, and every response is extremely important for the study. The data will be used anonymously and results will be reported on group level, so it is not possible to identify any participant. We only ask your name and email address for the voluntary interview.

It takes about 10-20 minutes to respond to the questionnaire. In case you have any questions regarding the questionnaire, do not hesitate to contact us. Thank you already in advance!

Contact information:
Yufan Yin, PhD student, e-mail: yufan.yin@helsinki.fi

Supervisors:
Auli Toom, Professor, Director, auli.toom@helsinki.fi
Anna Parpala, Ass. Professor, Director of the HowULearn Research Project, anna.parpala@helsinki.fi
Sari Lindblom, Vice-Rector

Centre for University Teaching and Learning (HYPE), University of Helsinki

Consider your studies as a whole in your study programme, and respond to the following questions. Consider the most typical course (lecturing, group work etc.) which you have participated and respond by using the scale 1-5.
1: I completely disagree
2: I disagree
3: I neither agree nor disagree
4: I agree
5: I fully agree

	1	2	3	4	5
1. I’ve often had trouble making sense of the things I have to learn.
2. I put a lot of effort into my studying.
3. Much of what I’ve learned seems unrelated bits and pieces in my mind.
4. On the whole, I’ve been systematic and organised in my studying.
5. Ideas and perspectives I’ve come across while I’m studying make me consider them from all sides.
6. I look at evidence carefully to reach my own conclusion about what I’m studying.
7. I am unable to understand the topics I need to learn because they are so complicated.
8. I organise my study time carefully to make the best use of it.
9. Often I have to repeat things in order to learn them.
10. I carefully prioritise my time to make sure I can fit everything in.
11. I try to relate new material to my previous knowledge.
12. I try to relate what I have learned in one course to what I learn in other courses.

Consider your studies as a whole in your study programme, and respond to the following questions by using the scale 1-5.
1: I completely disagree
2: I disagree
3: I neither agree nor disagree
4: I agree
5: I fully agree

	1	2	3	4	5
18. It is clear to me what I am expected to learn in the courses.
19. What we are taught match what we are supposed to learn.
20. I can see the relevance of what we are taught.
21. Students support each other and try to give help when it is needed.
22. I find most of what I learned in courses really interesting.
23. Talking with other students helps me to develop my understanding.
24. I enjoy participating in courses.
25. I can generally work comfortably with other students.
26. I receive enough feedback about my learning.
27. It is clear to me what is expected in the assessed work (i.e., final exam, exercises).
28. I can see how the study assignments fit in with what we are supposed to learn.
29. The feedback given on my work helps me to improve my ways of learning and studying.
30. The study assignments helps me to make connections to my existing knowledge.
31. The feedback given on my set work helps to clarify things I hadn’t fully understood.

Consider the most typical instructional arrangements and methods in your study programme, and answer the following questions.

32. What has been the most typical number of students in the study groups of your study programme?	1-10 students 11-20 students 21-30 students 31-40 students 41-50 students more than 50 students

33. Which assessment methods have been used most often in your study programme? (max. 3 choices)

A written examination on set books

A written examination at the end of a lecture course

An essay or a written assignment

A learning diary or a portfolio (representative works)

Written exercises

Group assignments

Oral presentations

Continuous activities during the course

Other (Please specify in the box below)

Please describe your situation (estimation from previous month) by using the scale 1-5.
1: I completely disagree
2: I disagree
3: I neither agree nor disagree
4: I agree
5: I fully agree

	1	2	3	4	5
34. I feel overwhelmed by the work related to my studies.
35. I feel a lack of study motivation and often think of giving up.
36. I often have feelings of inadequacy in my studies.
37. I often sleep badly because of matters related to my studies.
38. I feel that I am losing interest in my studies.
39. I’m continually wondering whether my studies have any meaning.
40. I worry about matters related to myself studies during my free time.
41. I used to have higher expectations of my studies than I do now.
42. The pressure of my studies causes me problems in my close relationships with others.

Consider the development of your skills during your university studies, and answer the following statements by using the scale 1-5.
1: I completely disagree
2: I disagree
3: I neither agree nor disagree
4: I agree
5: I fully agree

	1	2	3	4	5
43. I have learned to apply theoretical knowledge to practice.
44. My studies have developed my collaboration skills.
45. I have learned to analyse and categorise information.
46. I have learned to see things from different points of view.
47. I have learned to make arguments for my thoughts.
48. Studying at the university has developed my skills in acting as a group member.
49. I’ve learned how to make my points across in different interaction situations.
50. I've learned to solve problems in practical situations.

Consider your experiences of academic writing. Please give your reaction by using the scale 1-5.
1: I completely disagree
2: I disagree
3: I neither agree nor disagree
4: I agree
5: I fully agree

	1	2	3	4	5
51. It is useful to get other people’s comments on texts.
52. When I write I am concerned about whether the reader understands my text.
53. I often postpone writing tasks until the last moment.
54. Writing is a creative activity.
55. I find it difficult to write, because I am too critical.
56. My previous writing experiences are mostly negative.
57. I write regularly regardless of the mood I am in.
58. I produce a large number of finished texts.
59. Without deadlines I would not produce anything.
60. I sometimes get completely stuck if I have to produce texts.
61. I find it difficult to start writing.
62. I find it easier to express myself in other ways than writing.
63. I only write when the situation is peaceful enough.
64. The skill of writing is something we are born with; it is not possible for all of us to learn it.
65. I find it difficult to hand over my texts , because they never seem complete.
66. I start writing only if it is absolutely necessary.
67. I hate writing.
68. I am a regular and productive writer.
69. I could revise my texts endlessly.
70. I write whenever I have the chance.
71. Writing is a skill, which cannot be taught.
72. Writing is difficult because the ideas I produce seem stupid.
73. Rewriting texts several times is quite natural.
74. Writing often means creating new ideas and ways of expressing oneself.
75. Writing develops thinking.

76. Please describe one significant learning experience during your recent studies when you have learnt and understood something crucial and important (max. 1500 characters).

You can describe:

What happened?

What you learned?

What the important factors were and how they contributed to your learning?

Why this experience was significant for you?

77. Have you received support regarding your studies? If yes, what kind of support you have received and how it has helped you? (max. 1500 characters)

1 Which month did your study right started in

Which year did your study right started in

2 Student status	Undergraduate-Visiting or Exchange student Undergraduate-Degree student Master-Visiting or Exchange student Master-Degree student Other

Please specify in the box below if your student status is not included in the menu.

3 Faculty

Please specify in the box below if your faculty is not included in the menu.

4 Study programme (Select your programme in one faculty, neglect the other 13 lines and move to Question 5)

Agriculture and Forestry

Arts

Biological and Environmental Sciences

Educational Sciences

Law

Medicine

Pharmacy

Science

Social Sciences

Swedish School of Social Science

Theology

Veterinary

Please write the name of your study programme in the box if it is inaccurate or not included in the drop down menus above.

5 Major language of your study programme	English Finnish Swedish Other

Please specify in the box below if the language is not included in the menu.

6 Year of birth

7 Gender	Male Female Other

8 Nationality

9 Mother tongue	English Finnish Swedish Other

Please specify in the box below if the language is not included in the menu.

10 The name of the standardized language test you took recently (or before enrolment) ?

Please specify in the box below if the name of the test is not included in the menu.

11 Which month did you the standardized language test in

Which year did you the standardized language test in

12 Score in the writing section in the standardized language test you took recently (If it is not a number, please write the capital letter representing the level or grade.)

13 Score in the reading section in the standardized language test you took recently

Please answer the number (0, 1, 2, ...) in Q14 to Q17.

14 How many writing courses you have already taken in the major language of your study programme? (including those in your country)

15 How many writing courses you have already taken which are NOT in the major language of your study programme? (including those in your country)

16 How many writing courses you have taken during the term 2017-2018?

17 How many months have you been studying in schools or countries where the major language is the same as your current study programme?

18 Student identification number

By providing your student identification number, you allow us to combine this data with the information on grade point average and credits.

Note: It would be voluntary to give the number. The information will only be for research purposes and only the researcher in this project will have access to this information. No individual level information is reported in any phase of the research.

We hope you could participate in an interview related to the present study. We will ask questions related to the experiences of your studies. The interview will last about 30-40 minutes. The interview will be conducted in your campus at the time that is convenient for you. The performance test in critical thinking will last about 90 minutes and will also be conducted in your campus at the time that is convenient for you.

I am willing to participate in the interview.

I am willing to participate in the performance test in critical thinking.

If you would be able to participate, please write down your contract information.

Name:

E-mail address:

Thank you for your participation to the study!

13. I believe I will do well in my studies.

14. I’m certain that I can understand the most difficult material in my studies.

15. I’m confident that I can understand the basic concepts of my study field.

16. I expect to do well in my studies.

17. I’m certain that I can learn well the skills required in my study field.

Thank you for your participation to the study!