VOA慢速英语2012 Education Report - Experts Suggest Ways to Help International Students Make Friends with American Students

 

Education Report - Experts Suggest Ways to Help International Students Make Friends with American Students

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

Last week, we told how some international students have few friends in their host country when they study overseas. One study in the United States found that thirty-eight percent of foreign students said they had no close American friends. Communications specialist Elisabeth Gareis studied more than four hundred fifty foreign students.

VOA Student Union blogger Jessica Stahl also investigated the issue. Her survey showed that seventy-five percent of foreign students said they have more than two American friends. But ten percent reported having no American friends.

Elisabeth Gareis teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Baruch College in New York. She says efforts on how to improve relationships between the two groups of students have yet to be studied in detail. But she says these efforts should begin with the college or university, and that these institutions have been working harder.

ELISABETH GARIES: “Institutions should build an infrastructure¹ that promotes contact. And they can do that by, for example, bonding² activities at the beginning of the academic year.”

She suggests taking walks, going on bicycle, field or camping trips, and attending parties, sporting events or film festivals. She says such activities should be held repeatedly³ to bring students together throughout the school term. Ms. Gareis also suggests that foreign students share housing⁴ with American students.

Michigan State University is known for its programs for international students. Last year, about five thousand nine hundred students from one hundred thirty three countries attended Michigan State. They made up perhaps twelve percent of the total university population. Peter Briggs directs the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State. He says more foreign students are expected to register⁵ this week.

Many students and community members are trained and prepared to help foreign students. The volunteers assist⁶ new students as they complete government requirements and find their academic advisors⁷. Mr. Briggs says the volunteers also help answer the traditional questions of new people anywhere.

PETER BRIGGS: “Where do I get an ID (identification card)? Which is the best bank…What is my cell phone plan? How do I get a Social Security⁸ number or driver’s license⁹? That kind of information is shared both formally and informally as students advise other students. We’re really supporting that network.”

He says that if the new students make friends as they begin school, they will come to feel part of the life and traditions of the university.

And that’s the VOA Special English Education Report, written by Jerilyn Watson. To read and listen to more stories for people learning¹⁰ English, go to voaspecialenglish.com. I’m Steve Ember.

1 infrastructure   

n.下部构造，下部组织，基础结构，基础设施

参考例句：

• We should step up the development of infrastructure for research.加强科学基础设施建设。
• We should strengthen cultural infrastructure and boost various types of popular culture.加强文化基础设施建设，发展各类群众文化。

2 bonding   

黏结； 连[搭，焊，胶，粘]接，结[耦，焊，接]合，压焊； 砖石砌体砌合

参考例句：

• Set up ultrasonic wire bonding laboratory. 成立超声波电子焊接实验室。
• A purple intemetallic phase (called purple plaque) is commonly found in bonding. 键合中常能发现一种紫色的金属化合物，称为紫斑。

3 repeatedly   

adv.重复地，再三地

参考例句：

• The loudspeakers blared the speech repeatedly.扬声器里反复大声地播送那篇演讲。
• He repeatedly beat his foot upon the floor.他反复用脚敲着地板。

4 housing   

n.房屋，住宅；住房建筑；外壳，外罩

参考例句：

• Do you think our housing sales will turn around during this year?你认为今年我们的住宅销路会好转吗？
• The housing sales have been turning down since the summer.入夏以来，房屋的销售量日趋减少。

5 register   

n.登记簿，花名册，注册员；v.登记，注册

参考例句：

• Please list your name in the attendance register.请在点名册上登记你的名字。
• He was looking over a hotel register.他正在仔细检查旅馆住宿登记表。

6 assist   

vt.协助，帮助，促进；vi.帮忙，参加

参考例句：

• He asked us to assist him in carrying through their plan.他要我们帮助他实施他们的计划。
• We'll assist at your wedding.我们将出席你们的婚礼。

7 advisors   

n.顾问，劝告者( advisor的名词复数 )；（指导大学新生学科问题等的）指导教授

参考例句：

• The governors felt that they were being strung along by their advisors. 地方长官感到他们一直在受顾问们的愚弄。 来自《现代汉英综合大词典》
• We will consult together with advisors about her education. 我们将一起和专家商议她的教育事宜。 来自互联网

8 security   

n.安全，安全感；防护措施；保证(金)，抵押(品)；债券，证券

参考例句：

• A security guard brought him down with a flying tackle.一名保安人员飞身把他抱倒。
• There was tight security at the airport when the President's plane landed.总统的专机降落时，机场的保安措施很严密。

9 license   

n.执照，许可证，特许；v.许可，特许

参考例句：

• The foreign guest has a license on the person.这个外国客人随身携带执照。
• The driver was arrested for having false license plates on his car.司机由于使用假车牌而被捕。

10 learning   

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。