{"type":"rich","version":"1.0","provider_name":"Transistor","provider_url":"https://transistor.fm","author_name":"Voices From The Classroom: What I Wish My Lecturers Knew","title":"Assumed Knowledge in New Cultural Contexts","html":"","width":"100%","height":180,"duration":1016,"description":"What happens when students are assessed on context they were never taught? In this episode of Voices from the Classroom, Shreya Mittal, a Nursing and Psychological Science student, shares her experience navigating university learning as an international student and the challenges that arise when cultural context and prior knowledge are assumed in unit content. Shreya reflects on how learning materials, readings, and assessments can become barriers when they build on historical, cultural, or disciplinary knowledge that international students may not have had access to before arriving at university. She speaks candidly about the pressure of being assessed on content that relies on unspoken context, the fear of “getting it wrong,” and the additional emotional and cognitive load of trying to catch up independently. The conversation explores why clear resource organisation, explicit guidance on readings, and transparent assessment expectations are essential for equitable learning. Shreya also highlights the power of human-centred teaching approaches, such as documentaries, guest speakers, and visual resources, in helping students understand complex cultural histories and engage more confidently with sensitive content. This episode invites educators to reflect on how inclusive learning design, early scaffolding, and intentional check-ins can support international students and create learning environments where all students can succeed. ","thumbnail_url":"https://img.transistorcdn.com/QQ5Vako_HLWeXL-6vz6_DRa1iLujm2fgzzqy-H8BwJ0/rs:fill:0:0:1/w:400/h:400/q:60/mb:500000/aHR0cHM6Ly9pbWct/dXBsb2FkLXByb2R1/Y3Rpb24udHJhbnNp/c3Rvci5mbS9iYThm/ZWYyODA2NTczMzQ5/NmQwMTgzY2JkNjRl/YWNmZS5wbmc.webp","thumbnail_width":300,"thumbnail_height":300}