International students have a lot of questions(1) about studying in the United States. But what do you suppose(2) is the most common(3) question? We asked an expert(4) right here(5) in our building(6).
Jessica Stahl is editor of VOA’s Student Union blog. Jess blogs for international students interested in
American higher(7) education. She says the number one question she gets(8) is about financial aid(9) and scholarships(10).
Money is everyone’s biggest concern(11). But, unfortunately(12), that question is also(13) the one with the most complicated answer(14). The short answer is this: Financial aid programs are often(15) just for(16) American students.
But programs for international students do exist. You just have to look for(17) them. Jess says probably(18) the next most often asked(19) question is about language skills(20). People want to know how to improve(21) their English.
Of course(22), one way(23) many students improve their English is with Special English, like(24) this program. But we like the Student Union’s Glossary of Confusing Words(25) used in education. Readers(26) can send (27) in suggestions.
One newly(28) added(29) word is “catalog.” An international student adviser(30) wrote(31) to say that new students generally(32) have no idea what a university catalog is. So the glossary now includes this definition: “A university catalog (or college(33) catalog) is an official publication that contains(34) all the information a current(35) or prospective(36) student might(37) need about academics and student services at a university.”
Jess has a group of foreign(38) student bloggers(39) at American schools. Even(40) they were unsure(41) what a catalog is. The students share(42) their experiences studying in the United States — for example, how they feel(43) when they face(44) cultural stereotypes.
Simba, from Zimbabwe, recently wrote about going to lunch(45) with a group of American students. Simba said he felt hurt(46) when one of them was surprised(47) to learn(48) that Facebook is available(49) in Zimbabwe.
Jess says the Student Union and its Facebook page get a lot of comments. She hears(50) from a lot of students from China, Pakistan, Nigeria, Indonesia — “pretty much(51) all over the world(52).”
Jess gave us a list of websites where you can research(53) colleges and universities, financial aid and more. You can find that list at voaspecialenglish.com. She says the only “must-know”(54) 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(55) Study in the States, from the Department of Homeland(56)
Security. That address is studyinthestates.dhs.gov. For VOA Special
English, I’m Carolyn Presutti. (Adapted from a radio program broadcast
10May2012)
1. Questions = perguntas 2. Suppose = supor, supõe 3. the most common = a mais comum 4. expert = perito, especialista 5. right here = bem aqui 6. building = prédio 7. higher = mais elevado(a) 8. gets = obtém 9. financial aid = ajuda financeira 10. scholarships = bolsas de estudo 11. concern = preocupação 12. unfortunately = infelizmente 13. also = também 14. the most complicated answer = a resposta mais complicada 15. often = frequentemente 16. just for = apenas para 17. look for = procurar 18. probably = provavelmente 19. most often asked = a mais frequentemente perguntada 20. skills = habilidades 21. how to improve = como melhorar 22. Of course = é claro 23. Way = forma, maneira 24. Like = como 25. Confusing words = palavras confundidas 26. Readers = leitores 27. Send = enviam 28. Newly = recém 29. Added = adicionado(a) 30. Adviser = conselheiro 31. Wrote = escreveu 32. Generally = geralmente 33. College = faculdade 34. Contains = contém 35. Current = atual 36. Prospective = provável, future 37. Might = poder (possibilidade) 38. Foreign = estrangeiro(a) 39. Bloggers = blogueiros 40. Even = até mesmo 41. Unsure = inseguro 42. Share = compartilhar 43. Feel = sentir 44. Face = defrontar-se com 45. Lunch = almoço 46. felt hurt = sentiu-se magoado 47. surprised = surpreso 48. learn = ficar sabendo 49. available = disponível 50. hears = ouve 51. pretty much = bastante 52. all over the world = por todo o mundo 53. research = pesquisar 54. must-know = deve conhecer 55. should be = deveria 56. Homeland = patria