Advice for students who will study abroad
A student wrote to me: “I will graduate this year and go to the U.S to continue my education as a student in a Master program in Computer Science. I have tried to improve my English before I go but I am frustrated at my slow progress. I am worry that I may not do well in U.SSchool. Do you have any advice for someone like me?"
Answer: Please be patient with yourself as you are improving your English language. It often takes several months or even years to understand and speaking good English. As long as you put in your effort, it will improve, especially when you come to the U.S and must use English. The common mistake of most foreign students in the U.S is to stay with the group of people from the same country. In that case they cannot improve their English language. You must make friend with U.S students to improve your language and it should be your top priority.
In the first few months, as you are trying to improve your English skills, you must overcome the fear that others are judging you or laughing at you. The fact is most U.S students understand your difficulty and are willing to help. No one can speak perfect English in the first few months, regardless where you learn and how long you have learned. Try to make as many friends as possible so you have more chance to improve your English. If you have difficulty speaking a word or your accent is not correct. Ask an U.S student to pronounce the words for you then practice them. Ask other students to correct you if necessary.
Reading is very important in U.S college as there are many required reading articles and books so you must develop good reading habit. Before reading a chapter in textbook, you must look at the chapter outline to understand the general idea first. As you read, stop at each paragraph and ask yourself what is the main idea and write a brief note on your own notebook to summarize it. Most scientific textbooks have charts and diagrams; make sure that you understand them well. When reading, try not to translate each word or you will miss the whole idea. Start to read the entire paragraph to get the general idea. The meaning will become clearer as you continue to read on. If you still do not understand the paragraph, you may use the dictionary to check for few important words. Before you leave your country, start to read some technical books in English to build your good reading habit.
Most U.S schools are using active learning method where professors only focus on the main idea to facilitate class discussion. You must pay attention at each lecture to understand the class materials. My suggestion is before each class, you must read the chapter that will be covered in class that day to get some ideas about what you will learn. During class, try to listen in on questions that other students ask. If needed, take note on important ideas. After each class go over your notes as soon as possible to make sure everything is clear. If you still do not understand the lecture, go back and read the textbook to identify what you have missed and correct them in your own notebook. You may want to discuss them with your classmates, ask them to share ideas with you, most students are willing to help and explain what you do not understand well.
U.S education focuses more on the understanding of ideas than memorizing facts. Do not try to memorize information but focus on understand the ideas and how to apply it. There are many information in each class so you cannot memorize all of them. Most exams are focusing on understanding and applying, not memorizing so do not try to memorize else you will not do well. Class time is mostly focusing on important ideas. If you have problem understand them, stay after class to ask the professor or find a group of students to study with.
Please remember that learning means understand the concept NOT just memorize it. To understand means you know how to apply it; know how to practice it. Since it takes time to “Digest” what you have learned, you must be patient with your own learning. If you do not know how to apply, you really do not understand and therefore you have not learned it well. The common problem of many Asian students who study in the U.S is to change their study habit from memorization to understanding. This is not easy as they must change their thinking about the meaning of learning. Many Asian students did well in their countries as they can memorize well. Many had degrees with good grades because they passed exams that based on memorizing facts. However, when they came into a different education system that focuses on learning and applying, many have failed. I have seen many students like that in my 30 years of college teaching. I have spent many times to explain the concept of learning to them and helped them to change their study habit. I often told them: “To study without understanding, without know how to practice what you have learned, is NOT learning. Memorization is not learning. It is only a skin-deep knowledge that may help you to pass exams just like an overcoat paint outside a product. That kind of knowledge has nothing to do with you; has nothing to do with your character; has nothing to do with your thinking, because you cannot apply it. Real learning means you have a deep knowledge about certain subject. It become part of you as it integrates in your own thinking and behavior. As a scientist, you must know how to apply your knowledge not just talk about it.
If you put in the effort to understand, to learn and know how to apply what you have learned then you will succeed. Especially for students who study in advance programs such as master or Ph.D. Since you have asked me for advice, it means you are serious about your study and I am sure with that attitude, you will do well.
Sources
- Blogs of Prof. John Vu, Carnegie Mellon University
