In an attempt to help educators, particularly in nursing, understand the attitudes, feelings, and perspectives that students from other cultures bring to the teacher-learner situation, this paper identifies some generalized behavioral characteristics of different cultures and the educational problems that may arise when cultural differences are combined with learning skill deficiencies. Being intelligent, industrious, neat, polite, quiet, and respectful, the Asian Americans appear to be model students. But, coming from a nonverbal culture, their interpersonal and verbal skills need development. Though individualism is emphasized, Spanish American and native American children are taught to value cooperation and the family; they exhibit a noncompetitive trait that is often in conflict with the American pursuit of success. While black children are adept verbal performers, they often remain deficient in reading and writing skills. These skills need improvement for them to be successful college students. It is concluded that the faculty can help students of diverse backgrounds to cope more effectively so that their educational experience will be more successful, offer more satisfaction, and society will receive better nursing care. (Author/JK)