Be sure to remain current with reading and writing assignments. And estimate that for every hour in the classroom, you'll be expected to contribute several more hours later towards studying. In many nations, students are encouraged to passively sit at their desks and copy down the teacher's comments. Or concentrate on memorizing the material in the textbooks accurately. In the U.S., this method won't be enough.
Many American teachers expect students to participate actively in classroom discussions.
You'll be encouraged to ask questions and express your opinions. Indeed, classroom participation may be a significant portion of your grade. That's because much of the educational emphasis in this country is on thinking independently and expressing yourself in different ways. Your teachers recognize that factual material is available in books. So they want you to do more than just learn these facts.