You must have a solid background in basic academic skills,
particularly those that relate to your field of study. Otherwise,
you may find that it may take longer for you to adapt to the pace
and demands of university work in the United States. Talk to your
teachers and faculty advisers at the school you are presently
attending. Ask for an evaluation of your academic strengths and
weaknesses and for suggestions on how you might improve the weaker
skills before coming to the United States.
Prior to your departure, review the current edition of the college
or university catalog of your chosen school for detailed information
concerning instructional facilities and teaching resources, course
requirements, and descriptive listings of courses offered. Look up
the catalog on the Internet or contact your nearest EducationUSA
information and advising center since they often have copies of
university catalogs in their library.
Finally, it is very important to understand the terms of your
admission, as stated in your letter of acceptance. If you have been
admitted conditionally or as a "special student," you will be
expected to fulfill certain requirements before being granted
degree-candidate status. The specific requirements that must be
fulfilled to attain degree-candidate status are usually stated in
the admission letter. If you are unsure of any of the educational
requirements, talk to your U.S. educational adviser about what will
be expected of you during your academic stay in the United States,
or check directly with the international admissions officer whose
name is listed on your letter of acceptance. |
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Before you come to the United States, you should learn to type on a
computer with English characters. Many university courses require
written assignments called "papers" that must be typed. Especially
if you are a graduate student, you may have to prepare a typed
thesis or dissertation. In engineering, mathematics, or fields that
use statistics, you will most likely have to use computers to work
on complex problems. Use of the library may also depend on skills in
using a computer. A few universities now require all students to
purchase a personal computer. Many universities offer informal
computer courses at the beginning of each semester. They can help
you become familiar with basic computer functions and software
packages.
The success of your educational experience in the United States
rests largely on your ability to understand, speak, read, and write
the English language. Experience has shown that no other single
factor is as important to academic success as proficiency in
English.
Most academic institutions in the United States require as part of
their application process that foreign students take an English
examination, like the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language).
Some schools require a second institutional English proficiency exam
before students are allowed to register for classes. Requirements
vary with different schools and there may be costs involved. The
admissions officer at your college or university will give you
information regarding English language requirements for foreign
students.
If you are offered a graduate teaching assistantship, the school may
require that you take a special test to measure your ability to
speak English. One examination used for this purpose is the Test of
Spoken English (TSE).
Ease with spoken English does not necessarily guarantee adequate
skills in written English. Even native English speakers often need
additional assistance with reading and writing for academic
purposes. If you can read and write English easily and have a good
vocabulary, it will be easier to study and to finish assignments on
time.
Lectures are the most common method of instruction in U.S. colleges
and universities. Professors will not reduce their normal lecture
speed to accommodate you. You must be able to understand English
well, and you must be able to take notes easily on facts, ideas, and
references presented in lectures.
To increase proficiency in English and achieve greater success in
your studies, use every opportunity to improve your language skills
before coming to the United States.
- Consider joining a class or study group to work on your
English skills before you come to the United States. Inquire at
your present school or ask a U.S. educational adviser for
suggestions.
- Speak English as often as possible. If there are English
speaking students at your present school, get acquainted with
them and use the opportunity to practice.
- Read English language books, magazines, and newspapers,
including books from your field of study to familiarize yourself
with the terms specific to your field.
- Get acquainted with American pronunciation and slang by
watching television and movies and listening to music or to
radio programs in American English. If there are no programs in
English in your country, in most parts of the world you can
listen to radio broadcasts on Voice of America or Radio Free
Europe/Radio Liberty.
- Consider living in the United States for several weeks
before beginning formal study at the college or university. Some
schools offer special ESL programs during the U.S. summer, from
May to September. Most programs include an introduction to U.S.
culture and society. Ask your international student adviser
about such programs.
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