Nigerian Student Shares Experience in German University, Different Teaching System.
A Nigerian student shared his experience on how he overcame the challenges he faced at a German university on Thursday, as well as their different teaching methods.
Zita Ezechi 
A Nigerian student, John, shared his experience on how he overcame the challenges he faced at a German university on Thursday, May 9th. He emphasized the struggles he faced and how he thrived in the German education system.
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Studying abroad could be an exciting and transformative experience, but it also presents several unique struggles for students. According to him, the first two lectures were understandable because they were recaps of what he had learned in his bachelor's degree study in Nigeria.
"I was able to understand what was taught the first two days. However, to my surprise, we finished covering all I learned in my bachelor's degree study within two days."
John also noted that their education systems varied from what he was used to in Nigeria, as there were differences in teaching styles, classroom expectations, grading systems, and academic standards. Therefore, adjusting to these differences and meeting the academic requirements of the institution were challenging.
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He noted, "On the third day of lectures, I was lost and couldn't understand what was being taught. Every technical term sounded very strange and unfamiliar." He also stated that he was surprised when other students were asking technical questions that were never lectured on.
Stressing the importance of making friends in a foreign environment, he noted how second-year friends revealed to him their school's teaching system.
"My friends informed me about the existence of a group where past questions, materials, and projects were shared by seniors who had taken the course in previous years." According to him, those technical questions asked in the lecture hall were what the students couldn't understand after going through the materials and past questions.
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Despite these challenges, many students found studying abroad to be a rewarding and transformative experience that broadenes their horizons, enhances their personal growth, and fosters cross-cultural understanding. With resilience, perseverance, and support from their host institution and peers, students can overcome these struggles and thrive in their international academic journey.
