...from Brian Tsui ’04; Hong Kong & San Francisco; Pre-Business

On English Skills:
“I would advise international students who are not confident about their English skills to bring a cassette recorder to class so that they can repeat listening to what the professor is saying. I would urge them to raise questions or to ask the professor to slow down whenever they cannot keep up with the materials.

If the class is a large lecture, I would suggest that international students talk with the professor after class or with a peer mentor about their problems. I would suggest they read The Michigan Daily because that will help them to get accustomed to an English environment. Talking with local students can also improve one’s verbal English.”

Three Tips for Incoming Students:

1. Be willing to ask questions.
2. Open yourself up to students of other ethnicities and countries—share your experiences.
3. Try to explore the university outside of the classroom.

...from Hui Shan, ’04; Shanghai, China; Biophysics and Economics

On English Skills:
“I myself am a good example of what an international student could do with his or her English. Upon arriving in America, I was worried a lot about my English. I asked myself, ‘Can anybody recognize my accent?’ ‘What should I do with my writing class?’ I asked many people for suggestions. One advisor in the Sweetland Writing Center told me to read The New York Times and try to learn how to use words as well as sentence structures everyday. I followed her advice. Two months later, I was excited to realize the progress I made. I got an “A” in my English writing class. Now I can listen, speak, and write English very well.”

Three tips for incoming students:

1. Schedule classes so that you will have blocks of time to study.
2. Figure out what study methods are best for you.
3. Use campus resources.

...from Louisa Halim ’03; Jakarta, Indonesia; Psychology and Communication Studies

On Academic Expectations:
“I expected a different academic life from what I am used to. I expected a diverse and highly challenging environment. The academic life at UM has offered me more than I expected.”

On English Skills:
“Since English is not my first language, I am particularly conscious of my accent. At UM, class participation counts significantly, particularly in the social sciences, which is the field that I am in. I realize I have to overcome my fear of speaking in public. In a learning community, we learn from every mistake that we make as it is the only place that allows us to and thus enables us to correct them.”

On “Good Classes” and “Good Professors”:
“I think it is most important that you take classes that are of interest to you. For instance, I took an archeology elective and was surprised to find it was one of my favorite classes so far. Similarly, who makes a ‘good professor’ depends on individuals’ personal opinion. Ask people who have taken the class before what they thought of it but make your own decision. What makes a good class and who makes a good professor depends very much upon your individual opinion and style of learning.”

...from Alfred Chow ’04; Hong Kong & Melbourne, Australia; Pre-Business

On Culture Shock
“As an international student, I understand how uncomfortable it is for someone to leave their country and live in a new, unfamiliar place. You often feel uneasy among strangers and experience a culture shock that inhibits your ability to become global-minded. Besides learning how to adjust to a new educational system, problems such as building friendships and adapting to a new culture often become a burden. This can often hinder your ability to excel academically.”

On Participating in Extracurricular Life:
“I have been exploring the enormous opportunities within the university. Besides participating in the Undergraduate Research Opportunity Program, I am also participating in several student clubs and associations. I enjoy very much the life in UM and I am utilizing every opportunity to improve my interpersonal and communication skills. Although activities serve as a slight distraction from my studies, my academic expectations remain unaffected.”