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VOA慢速英语--International Students Face Similar Challenges in the US

时间:2017-03-12 15:51:11

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(单词翻译)

 

Anyone who seeks a college education will face some challenges. These include difficult projects, busy schedules and complex social situations.

The new responsibilities of being an independent adult can be frightening. And for an international student, this experience can be even more intense1.

Over one million international students studied at the many colleges and universities in the United States last year. Many of them came from countries where English is not the native language. But language was not the only barrier they faced.

ELS Educational Services is a company that operates several centers at colleges across the U.S. These centers help international students improve their English. In February, ELS researchers presented a study at the yearly3 conference of the Association4 of International Education Administrators5.

This study collected the opinions of 662 international students at 23 different U.S. colleges and universities. Many expressed concerns about their relationships with professors. More than a third said they wished their professors would provide additional6 helpful criticism7. Thirty-three percent wished professors would try harder to understand the international student experience. And 28 percent of the students wished professors would provide non-U.S. examples in class materials.

John Nicholson is the vice2 president of marketing8 and communications for ELS. Nicholson says the way students prepare to study in the U.S. affects their experience. He says many believe if they know enough English to pass a standardized9 test, they are ready for American higher education. But, he says, this level of language ability alone will not prepare them enough for their new learning10 environment.

"Ultimately11, to be successful in a classroom you have to understand what the expectations are, but also, the right way to express concerns and questions."

Lisa Giragosian is the director of the international student office at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina. She says the findings12 of the study are common among the students she meets. And, she says teachers share in the responsibility for the difficulties expressed by international students.

"For every faculty13 member who’s very conscious … and globally-minded and seeking an international student’s opinion, there’s somebody else who’s not. And I’m afraid sometimes we’re dealing14 with the mentality15 that you’re studying in the United States and getting the knowledge from this particular professor or class, and that being totally inclusive16 is not taking priority17."

Giragosian argues that international students add a great deal to the experiences of American students. As a result, she says, professors need to be equally open and accepting of all their students. That is why Duke offers training programs for professors to better understand how their international students think and learn.

But, Giragosian admits students from other countries will have to work especially hard for their U.S. education. The education systems in many countries do not put the same value on student involvement that the American system does. For example, American professors expect students to ask questions and lead discussions18. Also, every nation has its own cultural history and rules for young people to learn and follow.

So, Giragosian suggests international student should try to find as many resources as they can to help them. This includes both before and during their studies in the U.S. She says students should try to meet with professors in their office hours outside of class. Also, she suggests they form groups with other international students. They can meet to discuss their shared concerns and practice things like speaking in class.

Kedest Mathewos is from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. She began studying global health at Duke in August of 2016. The 19-year-old attended an international high school in her home country. So, she says, she knew some of what to expect when she came to the U.S. However, she admits she still struggled at first, even with extra preparation.

"When I was in Ethiopia, I was taught to be more reserved, more quiet. Whereas19 here everyone tends to speak up, express their opinions all the time. So, it’s kind of hard to get used to that."

Mathewos earned a MasterCard scholarship to help pay for her education. The program chooses several students from African nations and supports them as they seek college degrees. Mathewos says the program has helped her a lot by connecting her with past members. She has learned20 from their experiences.

Sharing experiences continues to be very important to Mathewos. She often meets with other international students to talk about the problems they are having, like those listed in the ELS study. Also, she recently created a program that gives letters to professors at the beginning of a study term. The letters ask professors to consider the special challenges international students face.

The first-year student hopes the program will help get professors and students to work together to find ways to solve these problems.

Words in This Story

challenge(s) – n. a difficult task or problem

schedule(s) – n. a plan of things that will be done and the times when they will be done

class – n. a series of meetings in which students are taught a particular subject or activity

marketing – n. the activities that are involved in making people aware of a company's products, making sure that the products are available to be bought

standardized test – n. a test where all test-takers take the same test under the same or reasonably equal conditions

ultimately – adv. at the most basic level

faculty – n. the group of teachers in a school or college

conscious – adj. knowing that something exists or is happening

globally – adv. involving the entire world

mentality – n. a particular way of thinking

particular – adj. used to indicate that one specific person or thing is being referred to and no others

priority – n. the condition of being more important than something or someone else and therefore coming or being dealt with first

reserved – adj. not openly expressing feelings or opinions

tend(s) – v. used to describe what often happens or what someone often does or is likely to do

scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school, business or an organization to a student to help pay for their education


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点击收听单词发音收听单词发音  

1 intense G5axf     
adj.认真的,专注的;强烈的;紧张的;热情的
参考例句:
  • Susan was an intense young lady.苏珊是一个热情的年轻姑娘。
  • The quarrel caused her intense unhappiness.争吵令她极其不快。
2 vice NU0zQ     
n.坏事;恶习;[pl.]台钳,老虎钳;adj.副的
参考例句:
  • He guarded himself against vice.他避免染上坏习惯。
  • They are sunk in the depth of vice.他们堕入了罪恶的深渊。
3 yearly 0fxwM     
adj.每年的,一年一度的;adv.一年一次地
参考例句:
  • The flower show is a yearly event in our town.我们镇上的花展一年举行一次。
  • The yearly rental of her house is 2400 yuan.她这房子年租金是2400元。
4 association 6O1yp     
n.联盟,协会,社团;交往,联合;联想
参考例句:
  • Our long association with your company has brought great benefits.我方和贵公司的长期合作带来了巨大的利益。
  • I broke away from the association ten years ago.我10年前就脱离了那个团体。
5 administrators d04952b3df94d47c04fc2dc28396a62d     
n.管理者( administrator的名词复数 );有管理(或行政)才能的人;(由遗嘱检验法庭指定的)遗产管理人;奉派暂管主教教区的牧师
参考例句:
  • He had administrators under him but took the crucial decisions himself. 他手下有管理人员,但重要的决策仍由他自己来做。 来自辞典例句
  • Administrators have their own methods of social intercourse. 办行政的人有他们的社交方式。 来自汉英文学 - 围城
6 additional rJTyM     
adj.添加的,额外的,另外的
参考例句:
  • It is necessary to set down these additional rules.有必要制定这些补充规则。
  • I think we can fit in an additional room.我想我们可以再加建一间房子。
7 criticism 3OSzK     
n.批评,批判,指责;评论,评论文章
参考例句:
  • Some youth today do not allow any criticism at all.现在有些年轻人根本指责不得。
  • It is wrong to turn a deaf ear to other's criticism.对别人的批评充耳不闻是错误的。
8 marketing Boez7e     
n.行销,在市场的买卖,买东西
参考例句:
  • They are developing marketing network.他们正在发展销售网络。
  • He often goes marketing.他经常去市场做生意。
9 standardized 8hHzgs     
adj.标准化的
参考例句:
  • We use standardized tests to measure scholastic achievement. 我们用标准化考试来衡量学生的学业成绩。
  • The parts of an automobile are standardized. 汽车零件是标准化了的。
10 learning wpSzFe     
n.学问,学识,学习;动词learn的现在分词
参考例句:
  • When you are learning to ride a bicycle,you often fall off.初学骑自行车时,常会从车上掉下来。
  • Learning languages isn't just a matter of remembering words.学习语言不仅仅是记些单词的事。
11 ultimately Rluwh     
adv.最后地,最终地,首要地,基本地
参考例句:
  • It was a demeaning and ultimately frustrating experience.那是一次有失颜面并且令人沮丧至极的经历。
  • Vitamin C deficiency can ultimately lead to scurvy.缺乏维生素C最终能道致坏血病。
12 findings 4tYzV9     
n.发现物( finding的名词复数 );调查(或研究)的结果;(陪审团的)裁决
参考例句:
  • It behoves us to study these findings carefully. 我们理应认真研究这些发现。
  • Their findings have been widely disseminated . 他们的研究成果已经广为传播。
13 faculty HhkzK     
n.才能;学院,系;(学院或系的)全体教学人员
参考例句:
  • He has a great faculty for learning foreign languages.他有学习外语的天赋。
  • He has the faculty of saying the right thing at the right time.他有在恰当的时候说恰当的话的才智。
14 dealing NvjzWP     
n.经商方法,待人态度
参考例句:
  • This store has an excellent reputation for fair dealing.该商店因买卖公道而享有极高的声誉。
  • His fair dealing earned our confidence.他的诚实的行为获得我们的信任。
15 mentality PoIzHP     
n.心理,思想,脑力
参考例句:
  • He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
  • Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。
16 inclusive a9gxX     
adj.(of)包括的,包含的;范围广的
参考例句:
  • The bill is inclusive of the food and lodging.账单包括吃、住费用。
  • It's an all inclusive price;there is nothing extra to pay.这是一个包罗一切的价格,不需再额外付款了。
17 priority qQ1xB     
n.优先处理的事,居先,优先(权)
参考例句:
  • The development of the national economy is a top priority.发展国民经济是应予以最优先考虑的事。
  • Things should be taken up in order of priority.办事应有个先后次序。
18 discussions 48ee344d9a540894650ce4af27e169dd     
n.讨论( discussion的名词复数 );商讨;详述;论述
参考例句:
  • Discussions are held on an informal basis within the department. 讨论限于在本部门内非正式地进行。
  • Her specialist input to the discussions has been very useful. 她在这些讨论中提供的专家建议很有助益。
19 whereas XgQwB     
conj.而,却,反之
参考例句:
  • They want a house,whereas we would rather live in a flat.他们想要一座房子,而我们宁愿住在一套房间里。
  • Some praise him,whereas others condemn him.有些人赞扬他,而有些人谴责他。
20 learned m1oxn     
adj.有学问的,博学的;learn的过去式和过去分词
参考例句:
  • He went into a rage when he learned about it.他听到这事后勃然大怒。
  • In this little village,he passed for a learned man.在这个小村子里,他被视为有学问的人。

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