EDUCATION REPORT - Foreign Student Series - We Talk to Forei

EDUCATION REPORT - Foreign Student Series¹ - We Talk to Foreign Students in the United² States
By Nancy Steinbach

Broadcast: Thursday, May 26, 2005

I'm Gwen Outen with the VOA Special English Education Report.

 
 
We are getting close to the end of our Foreign Student Series on American higher education. This week, we report comments from foreign students in the United States who have experienced³ the process we have been describing.

We talked to four students attending the University of Wisconsin in Madison. Two are undergraduates⁴ -- Ometere Omoluabi from Nigeria and Chilwin Tanamal from Indonesia⁵. The others are graduate students -- Rogerio Mazali from Brazil and a young woman from China who does not want her name broadcast.

All four agreed that it is important to know what you want to study before you begin applying. Chilwin says you should start the application process early and do a lot of research about different colleges. Rogerio feels that the most important thing is to find a school that best fits your personality⁶ and interests. Most of the students said they chose the University of Wisconsin because it offered the best education in their subject. Also, they had met people in their home countries who had attended the school.

We asked the students about differences between their lives at home and in the United States. Most commented on the weather. They said the extremely⁷ cold winters in Madison were difficult because they were used to a much warmer climate.

The students also talked about the large size of the University of Wisconsin. Ometere says to decide early if you will be happy at a large or small school. She also says to be sure to attend to details on your applications. Relations between professors and students was another change for the students. Chilwin said students in the United States must make more of an effort to talk with teachers than in Indonesia.

Rogerio said college life moves much faster in the United States than in Brazil. The young woman from China discussed the lack of interaction⁸ among people of different cultures. She finds it sad that many foreign students stay together in their own social groups. However, Ometere says she has met people from many cultures and that experience is the reason to come to the United States to study.

All the students say they are enjoying their time in the United States and hope others will have good experiences.

This VOA Special English Education Report was written by Nancy Steinbach. I'm Gwen Outen.

1 series   

n.连续；系列

参考例句：

• The students have put forward a series of questions.学生们提出了一系列问题。
• He gave forth a series of works in rapid succession.他很快连续发表了一系列的作品。

2 united   

adj.和谐的；团结的；联合的，统一的

参考例句：

• The whole nation is closely united.全国人民紧密团结。
• The two men were united by community of interests.共同的利益使两个人结合在一起。

3 experienced   

adj.有经验的；经验丰富的，熟练的

参考例句：

• Experienced seamen will advise you about sailing in this weather.有经验的海员会告诉你在这种天气下的航行情况。
• Perhaps you and I had better change over;you are more experienced.也许我们的工作还是对换一下好，你比我更有经验。

4 undergraduates   

（未获学士学位的）大学生，大学肄业生( undergraduate的名词复数 )； 本科生

参考例句：

• All undergraduates reading English attend a turtorial group each week. 所有攻读英语的本科生每周上一次导师辅导课。
• This is a course for undergraduates. 这是为本科生开的一门课。

5 Indonesia   

n.印度尼西亚

参考例句：

• You see,I stayed in Indonesia for eight years.你知道，我在印度尼西亚呆了8年。
• Indonesia has more active volcanoes than any other country.印尼是世界上活火山最多的国家。

6 personality   

n.个性，人格，名人

参考例句：

• Einstein was a great personality.爱因斯坦是个伟大的人物。
• She has a powerful personality.她有坚强的个性。

7 extremely   

adv.极其，非常，极度

参考例句：

• The film is extremely good,I just cannot miss it.这部电影太精彩了，我非看不可。
• The old man was extremely difficult to get along with.这个老人极难相与。

8 interaction   

n.交流；相互作用，相互影响，合作

参考例句：

• The interaction of the two groups produced many good ideas.两个组的相互交流产生了许多好主意。
• Price is determined through the interaction of demand and supply.价格在供需的相互作用中形成。