When foreigners join the class. Changes in the university classroom environment – a “cost-benefit” analysis

The aim of the paper is to examine how university classroom environment changes with the arrival of foreign students, especially those who are participants of international exchange programmes. The learning environment is an important component of higher education, as adult students are often conscious learners, who want to learn and see the purpose in doing so; also, they are often self-conscious, especially in a foreign language class. A multi-cultural classroom can be a beneficial element of university education, for both the students and the teacher, as it provides an opportunity for students to share experiences and bring their insights to the learning process. Conversely, one of the challenges a university teacher faces is to find a way to actively involve all the students in the class, taking into account their various backgrounds, different language skills and learning experiences, styles and preferences. The article is designed specifically to examine the effects of student mobility on the learning environment and the challenges, costs and benefits of education in a multicultural class. It also presents recommendations to make the adult learning environment an effective one, especially when it comes to education in a multicultural environment and learning in a foreign language.