Culture in studying - different styles

Well, it has been almost 3 years since I first came to America and also it has been 3 weeks since the Fall semester started, however, I have to say that I am experiencing the differences in culture in everyday life and in every class period. Until now the learning approach of American students is still a "mission" that I have to conquer. Before discussing the differences of my own, I would like to provide you some links for references:


http://www.greatschools.org/special-education/support/cultural-differences-student-performance.gs?content=704


http://www.newhorizons.org/strategies/styles/guild.htm


http://www.learningfromexperience.com/images/uploads/Yamazaki_and_Kayes.pdf




I have to confess that I am not getting used to learning in group. Other groups usually meet in order to solve problems they have in class or discuss some group assignments. It seems like other international students in our MBA class participate positively but I cannot reason why I prefer individual work. An explanation for that could originate from the difference in my culture where we work independently most of the time. We rarely have neither group work or discussion board from which we can learn from each other. There is a fun fact when I did a search on the internet. I typed the key word "individual learning" and "learning alone" in order to seek for illustration and the result was surprising. A great amount of the pictures show group work instead of what I wanted. You don't believe?You can try ;)

One more difference, or the difficulty, of mine is the way students express their ideas/understanding. You guys got familiar with raising your hands whenever you need to clarify something or you can directly discuss with the professors about things that you disagree with. There is definitely a very strong relationship between professor and students here in America and it is totally different in my country where you just speak when you're allowed to speak (of course when the professor agree). And this style is attached to your learning style from elementary school to university level (wow!). I was kind of inactive and passive in some of my first classes. Now I am doing better, but not perfectly good. In one of the class this week, the professor asked a question and one of the international students spoke out and interrupt his sayings. Then he stopped and the professor was surprised " is it not familiar to you to express your idea that way?" (it's another wow). So we can understand that the professor encouraged us to do so as you can learn from clarification. In some classes next semesters, it is important to express your ideas, debate with classmates and even professor, so what is the problem of not speaking out? I think you'll figure out later :) 

Above all, group work is beneficial and essential especially at graduate level but it's not easy to adapt. However, you have to change in order to survive. I will meet my group more frequently because I do know how advantageously my group can bring me, and I know that it's just a matter of time. Do quickly or you'll have no chance!