VOA慢速英语2012--Education Report - A Blog With Answers for Foreign Students

Education Report - A Blog With Answers for Foreign Students

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

International students have a lot of questions about studying in the United States. But what do you suppose is the most common question?

We asked an expert right here in our building. Jessica Stahl is editor of VOA's Student Union blog. Jess blogs for international students interested in American higher education.

JESSICA STAHL: "I think the number one question that I get is financial aid and scholarships. People always want to know, 'How do I get money?' I think that's everyone's biggest concern. Unfortunately, of all the questions I get, that's the one with the most complicated answer."

The short answer is this: Financial aid programs are often just for American students. But programs for international students do exist. You just have to look for them.

Jess says probably the next most often asked question is about language skills.

JESSICA STAHL: "'How do I improve my English?' Because they have to take the TOEFL to apply to colleges, so [there is] a lot of concern about getting up to the level they need on that exam."

Of course, one way many students improve their English is with Special English, like this program. But we like the Student Union's Glossary¹ of Confusing Words used in education. Readers can send in suggestions.

One newly added word is "catalog." An international student adviser² wrote to say that new students generally have no idea what a university catalog is. So the glossary now includes this definition: "A university catalog (or college catalog) is an official publication that contains all the information a current or prospective³ student might need about academics and student services at a university."

Jess has eighteen foreign student bloggers at American schools. Even they were unsure what a catalog is. The students share their experiences studying in the United States -- for example, how they feel when they face cultural stereotypes⁴. Simba, from Zimbabwe, recently wrote about going to lunch with a group of American students. Simba said he felt hurt when one of them was surprised to learn that Facebook is available in Zimbabwe.

Jess says the Student Union and its Facebook page get a lot of comments.

JESSICA STAHL: "I hear from a lot of Chinese students, a lot of Pakistani students -- one of our big audiences -- Nigeria, Indonesia. Pretty much all over the world."

Jess gave us a list of websites where you can research colleges and universities, financial aid and more. We'll post the list at www.voanews.cn. She says the only "must-know" site for all international students is EducationUSA, from the State Department. The address is educationusa.info. And if you only know one other site it should be Study in the States, from the Department of Homeland Security. That address is studyinthestates.dhs.gov.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. I'm Bob Doughty⁵. 

1 glossary   

n.注释词表；术语汇编

参考例句：

• The text is supplemented by an adequate glossary.正文附有一个详细的词汇表。
• For convenience,we have also provided a glossary in an appendix.为了方便，我们在附录中也提供了术语表。

2 adviser   

n.劝告者，顾问

参考例句：

• They employed me as an adviser.他们聘请我当顾问。
• Our department has engaged a foreign teacher as phonetic adviser.我们系已经聘请了一位外籍老师作为语音顾问。

3 prospective   

adj.预期的，未来的，前瞻性的

参考例句：

• The story should act as a warning to other prospective buyers.这篇报道应该对其他潜在的购买者起到警示作用。
• They have all these great activities for prospective freshmen.这会举办各种各样的活动来招待未来的新人。

4 stereotypes   

n.老套，模式化的见解，有老一套固定想法的人( stereotype的名词复数 )v.把…模式化，使成陈规( stereotype的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• Such jokes tend to reinforce racial stereotypes. 这样的笑话容易渲染种族偏见。
• It makes me sick to read over such stereotypes devoid of content. 这种空洞无物的八股调，我看了就讨厌。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》

5 doughty   

adj.勇猛的，坚强的

参考例句：

• Most of successful men have the characteristics of contumacy and doughty.绝大多数成功人士都有共同的特质：脾气倔强，性格刚强。
• The doughty old man battled his illness with fierce determination.坚强的老人用巨大毅力与疾病作斗争。