Stanford University Campus

While it is true that no degree is awarded to unregistered students who partake in this sort of learning, there are still many benefits to listening to free online lectures. International students can gain knowledge in a specific subject area, familiarize themselves with U.S. teaching style, prepare for future courses, and practice English listening skills.

Here is a list of top colleges and universities that offer free online lectures to anyone with an Internet connection.

Massachusetts Institute of Technology Lectures - The Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) offers more free online lectures and courses than any other school in the world. Lectures can be viewed on MIT’s OCW site and on this YouTube channel.

Yale University Lectures – Yale University provides a wonderful selection of free online courses and lectures. Most can be viewed as audio or video and include supplemental learning materials.

Stanford University Lectures – Stanford University provides access to a number of free audio and video lectures through the iTunes Store. Although some materials can only be viewed by Stanford students, most are freely available to the general public.

Princeton University Lectures - Princeton University has an impressive collection of free video lectures on their website. The University also streams special events and sporting activities.

Columbia University Lectures – Columbia University hosts a video gallery of university lectures and events on their website. The gallery also includes photos, captions, and other interesting materials.

Carnegie Mellon University Lectures – Video recordings of Carnegie Mellon’s events and lectures can be viewed on the University’s YouTube channel. The channel is still under construction but is frequently updated with new videos and resources.

Columbia University

University of California – Berkeley Lectures – Every semester, UC Berkeley records the school’s most popular courses and events and then makes them available online. Most lectures are available in audio and video formats.

University of Southern California Lectures – The University of Southern California posts video lectures on nearly every subject imaginable. Videos are available on the universities YouTube channel, which also includes playlists and a list of school channels.

UCLA Lectures – The University of California – Los Angeles offers a nice selection of faculty research lectures on their website. Lectures can be enjoyed as streaming audio or video.

Vanderbilt University Lectures – Free online video lectures from Vanderbilt University can be viewed on the school’s YouTube Channel. New videos are added each week.

Karen Schweitzer is an education writer who specializes in writing about business education. She is the Business School Guide for About.com. She also writes online colleges reviews for OnlineColleges.net.

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Creative Commons Image by cobalt123

Fadi, who lives with his family at home in Lebanon is very independent especially when it comes to decisions about his future. He is part of a growing trend of people with disabilities from the Middle East and North Africa who are choosing to study in the U.S.  Choosing to live alone in a foreign country – new places, sounds, foods, language and culture, while pursuing an advanced degree – was ultimately his decision and his family was very supportive. He admits he didn’t know much about disability culture or what types of disability-related accommodations were available in the U.S. “I didn’t know what was available to ask for”.  But, he says, “it was a very, very…easy going process. [The Fulbright program representatives] made it as easy as possible and I was so impressed with their work.”

Fulbright and university representatives worked with Fadi to arrange the necessary disability accommodations he needed from the interview process, through admission to the university, to life on campus. “On my application I wrote that I was visually challenged – they thought I had low vision.  When I arrived and they found out that I am totally blind, it was funny, even for me. For the university staff, it was an emergency and they acted very quickly to make sure I had the accommodations I needed. They asked, ‘What do you want us to do to make it easy for you to study?’ They went beyond what I asked for. I thought, ‘Oh, my, I am really privileged’… they allocated funds for me to get some equipment and software and a personal reader for me.  It was really amazing.”

“When I went to the U.S., I discovered that
there [are] academic support centers, not
only for the visually disabled, but also for
other…students with disabilities”

Fadi worked with the disability support services office at his university and with the Fulbright Office at the State Department to make sure he had the tools and support necessary for him to succeed and get the most out of his academic and cultural experience. Nearly every university and college in the U.S. has either an office or designated person to assist students with disabilities on campus. “When I went to the U.S., I discovered that there [are] academic support centers, not only for the visually disabled, but also for other…students with disabilities”.  Fadi admits that sometimes it was difficult to adapt to new accommodations, but, like everything else in an international exchange experience, he approached each new challenge as an opportunity to learn and grow.

“After going to the U.S., I know more about American people. I know more about the U.S. But, the most important and significant knowledge I acquired during my presence in the U.S. was about myself. I am more positively aware of my identity.”  He learned how to bridge the gaps between different cultures, beliefs and ideas without losing his identity. “[T]his was the cultural dimension and what experiences and international exchange are all about.”

Wheelchairs On Campus - Creative Commons License - Image by Ollie-G

Fadi, who studied for a Master’s Degree in Virginia at Eastern Mennonite University, returned to Lebanon full of advice and suggestions for other students from the Middle East and North Africa. “You have to go with an open mind and an open heart and you have to learn to accept others.  You don’t have to agree with them, but accept who they are and feel free to express yourself. You can be yourself in the U.S.” Fadi also suggests getting to know more about the American culture, people and systems, and creating a real exchange experience by learning about and from each other.

“I do my best to be independent, but…
I cannot deny that I have a disability – I didn’t hesitate
to ask for help when I needed it.”

Being a student with a disability can be very empowering in the U.S. To get the most from the experience, Fadi has this advice: “Don’t ever hesitate to ask for help when you need it. You don’t have to be dependent.  I do my best to be independent, but sometimes I cannot deny that I have a disability – I didn’t hesitate to ask for help when I needed it.”  Fadi also suggests researching information about the university, disability services available, disability laws and rights and disability organizations in the community to make life easier when you first arrive in the U.S.

Fadi returned to Lebanon with his Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and is readjusting to life in Beirut while pursuing a professional opportunity.  His heart and mind are open to the world as a result of his educational experiences in the United States and he has helped create a path for other students with disabilities to follow.

Fadi Hajjar studied at Eastern Mennonite University in Harrisonburg, Virginia as a Fulbright Fellow, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. Fadi lives in Beirut, Lebanon.

You may contact Mobility International USA for more information on this article
National Clearinghouse on Disability and Exchange

Copyright: Al Jamiat Magazine, 2007/2008 Edition
info@al-jamiat.com
www.al-jamiat.com

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