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> Typing
Skills and Computer Literacy
> Language
Skills
> Sharpening
Your English Skills
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 U.S. educational information or 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.
Typing Skills and
Computer Literacy
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.
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Language Skills
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.
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Sharpening Your
English Skills
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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