All That's New

International Students who are getting use to college life in the USA. Over the past eight years Planet College has had several posts about this time of year and the endings and the beginnings which occur. You can read several of them here .

International Students have additional concerns along with those which are traditional with domestic college students. Due to the pace of life in the USA and the additional pressures on college students to complete their eduction and get a job it is possible that some basic details my slip past the most dilligent of students.

Planet College International has found this site helpful. The link is to an entry by Brianna Davis who spent a year teaching English in China. Brianna's post list suggestions for Resolutions for the New Year.  She also explains what resolutions are and their significance culturally in the USA.

New Year's Resolutions are a tradition in the USA. What a resolution is is very simple. A resolution
is a goal. Americans at this time of year draw up a list of goals they wish to achieve and these
are referred to as their New Year's Resolution.

Common resolutions are; Lose Weight, Stop Smoking, Exercise and even Earn More Money.

This practice is so common that during January in the USA it is common to hear one person say to another, " How's your new year's resolution coming."

Right now, before the busyness of the New Year takes over your daily life take a look at Brianna's list. Some of her suggestions could prove useful for your life on Planet College in the USA.

And Happy New Year from Planet College International.

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Found In Translation

A popular film Lost In Translation features the actor, Bill Murray, who travels to Japan and there encounters the difficulties of a visitor to a foreign land with no language skills.

As an International Student you may have ecountered and probably overcome many such obstacles.
By now your experience in the USA has prepared you for the unexpected. The flexibility you have developed can quite possibly be useful in applying for and finding work.

First of all it is important to note whether according to your Visa you are permitted to work in the USA. If not you have probably come in contact with other International students who earn money working what is called her 'under the table'.  This phrase means the employer pays cash to the employee, often in the form of a check, without the usual taxes and other deductions required.
Some students, through this means, work in the areas of child care, coaching, instructing skills such as music or yoga and even as translators.

If you are considering or have pursued some under the table work you should be aware that at some point you may be liable for taxes on your earnings.

If on the other hand you are eligible to work legally in the USA a publication, US NEWS AND WORLD REPORT, has some guidelines and insights you may find useful here.

 What ever you choose it is always wise to consider your overall situation, school schedule, living situation and immigration status. Informed decisions are in the long run the most useful.

TOEFL And You Update.

Because the TOEFL, the test of English as a foreign language, looms so large for so many International Students here in the USA Planet College is presenting this update as a reminder.

The original entry said this.

TOEFL, the test of English as a foreign language, is required for entrance to 2400 American Colleges and Universitys.  Additionally, many government agencies, scholarship programs and licensing certification agencies use this score to evaluate the English speaking abilities of non-native English speakers. A test this pervasive requires careful, thoughtful preparation for International Students to complete with success. With the TOEFL looming so significantly in your academic future - entering ' TOEFL' into the search engine of your choice will return thousands of sites-  becoming aware of  a few basic facts is helpful. Here they are.

The TOEFL is administered in two separate forms.  One is paper, The TOEFL PBT. The other is through the Internet, the TOEFL iBT.  You must take the the TOEFL at an authorized testing center. The cost of the TOEFL ranges from US $160.00 to US $225.00 depending on where you take the test.

The TOEFL is divided into four sections. Those sections are Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening.
Each section is evaluated and scored by both a computer program and a human.  For each section there are time allowances, usually between 60 and 100 Minutes.  Each section is scored separately and the separate section scores are then totaled to arrive at the students cumulative score or total score. There is no passing score for the TOEFL.  The significance of your TOEFL score depends on the score required for admission to the school or schools of your choice.

Due to these conditions it is very important for you to determine the TOEFL score requirements for the University to which you are applying..

Every institution has different requirements and your success as an applicatn, a potential student, depends on understanding the requirements of the school of you choice.

And Planet College adds this.

Due to the significance of the TOEFL for so many students Planet College reminds you that the basics of preparing and completing an examination apply to the TOEFL as well as any other test.

For useful hints to achieving your desired score use this link, a previous Planet College post.

International Students Day Here's Your Chance!

This is from CollegeWeekLive

Join CollegeWeekLive’s BIGGEST international event of the year. Presented by the U.S. Department of State and EducationUSA, International Students Day is your chance to ask questions directly to 150+ top universities.

When: November 18, 2015 from 4:00AM to 4:00PM EDT *

Where:Online at collegeweeklive.com/international (login after you signed up)

Bonus: You will have a chance to win a $1,000 scholarship when you visit 5 or more college pages during the event!

If you are an International Student who is curious about attending college in the USA this could be an ideal opportunity to learn more and possibly find a school. 

Join us today! Sign up now to reserve your space!

*EDT means Eastern Daylight Time in the US. Check your local time to make sure you don't miss this opportunity.

Mid-Terms and Holidays

Right now International Students like most college students in the USA are involved in Mid-Term Madness. Projects are due and of course there are tests to take. Amid this typical college grind a holiday or any excues to party could seem like an oasis in the desert.

One such holiday is arriving soon. On October 31, across the nation and across college campuses an unusual and unusually festive holiday is held. The holiday is Halloween. Haloween has traditionally been an opportunity for students to dress up in costumes, usually the more bizarre the better and party! Party! Party!

If this is your first term on a USA campus you are bound to be invited to join in the fun. Don't be shy. This is your school's last chance to celebrate anything before finals.

To learn more about Halloween on campus simply type Campus Halloween Festivities into your favorite search engine. And Enjoy!

Labor Day And No Rest For You.

Coming up this weekend is a cherished American Holiday, Labor Day.
This holiday was created in the late nineteenth century to honor working men and women.  During the eighteenth century many labor unions had formed based in trades such as carpentry, iron work and teamsters. As these unions grew they joined forces in order to present a united voice seeking better pay and working conditions for their members.

Simultaneously various municipalities set aside an individual day to recognize working people. Soon a national movement resulted and by 1885 a national movement for Labor Day emerged. This movement resulted in Labor Day being observed nationally on the first Monday of September making a three day weekend for some workers.

Celebrated as it is Labor Day is also unofficially recognized as the ' end of summer.'  Most students by this upcoming weekend have been hard at work on their term and welcome this upcoming three day weekend.

Since you too probably are by now totally immersed in school work you will probably be fully involved studying over this three day weekend. So, study on. There will be time for holidaying soon enough.

Signs of School Starting

If this is your first term in college in the USA you have probably begun noticing the annoucement of Back To School Sales.

America is an exceptionally consumer oriented culture. Consumers is the term socioligist and economists use for buyers. Buyers buy products.

Products of all kinds are for sale all over the country 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In the USA you can purchase anything from a hamburger to an automobile anytime of the day or night.

Advertisers are businesses which help companies sell the goods and services which they produce or provide. Advertisers use numerous means to tell buyers where and how to spend their money.

One of the tactics that has evolved in American culture to maximize the effect of advertising is Seasonal Selling. Products related to the time of year are heavily advertised through various media, television, magazines and the internet as that 'season' begins.

This Season, this time of year, is known in advertising as Back To School. You have probably already seen and heard numerous advertisements for products and services relating to attending school. Common products range from school supplies, books and paper, to articles to furnish your dorm room such as blankets, microwave ovens and mini-refrigerators.

Because you are quite likely on a limited budget it would be wise to review these sale announcements. If you are not yet fluent in English enough to make sens of these ads ask a friend who is  to help you. Spending carefully now can help you save money through the upcoming school term.

Also, you will get some practice in seasonal buying which will prepare you for the upcoming Holiday Season, the biggest USA holiday season of all!

The Greatest American Holiday

This weekend the Fourth of July will be observed all across the USA. This holiday which commemorates the founding of the United States of America is celebrated enthusiastically in every area of the country.

Planet College International has an extensive explanation of this holiday click here . Celebrations nationwide nearly always include a fireworks display.  Above is a preview of what you can expect.

Have a Happy Fourth of July!

June And The Celebrations Continue Part 2

As June rolls on you will notice two other celebrations in addition to Graduations. One is Father's Day which in the USA is  observed on the third Sunday of June. As the title clearly explains this is a day where Father's are honored. Traditionally this recognition is through gifts and meals. If you are not able to be with your own father perhaps some friends might invite you to join in their family celebration.  If this should happen it is not likely that you would be required to contribute a gift or a meal. Just your presence would be enough.

The second celebrations which have traditionally been observed as part of June are weddings. June has for some time been a month when many couples schedule their actual wedding ceremony. It is generally thought that this has evolved from the same conditions which caused Commencements to be scheduled in May and June. The weather is more likely to be pleasant and agreeable for an outdoor celebration. Also, many couples meet in college and June is a convenient time for them to marry after having graduated. Thus they begin their new life together.

With all this happening right on campus June can be a festive month for an International Student. Enjoy!

June And The Celebrations Continue

If graduation ceremonys were not completed on your campus during May those ceremonies will probably populate the early days of your June calendar.  On many USA campuses the actual ceremony where diplomas are awarded is called Commencement. 

This title could be confusing to an English Language Learner. Searching your English Dictionary ap you would learn the primary definition for commencement is ' to start'.  The second definition is ' ceremony for conferring diplomas' and degrees. 

Why would a ceremony which clearly signals the end of a long road for most students be designated with a word which means beginning?

The explanation lies in the origins of the USA's education traditions. Education in the USA is largely modeled after the traditions of Europe, particularly Northern Europe, specifically England and Germany.  Those countries experience long, grey, overcast winter months.  By the time the Spring months ocurr everyone is ready for a happy celebration usually outside in the sunshine. Because the granting of a degree to a student is considered a beginning, the beginning of their career and adult life, the actual outdoor ceremony is called Commencement signaling another beginning for the students.

May Finals Graduation and Parties!

As noted a year ago May on USA campuses is the month of finals. It is also the traditional month of graduation ceremonies. And definitely after the drugery and anxiety of finals and the joyous celebration of graduation it is time to party. Go here for all the exciting details.

Mastering English Knock Yourself Out

The purpose for most International Students to complete their education in the USA is often two fold. One, clearly, is to complete the requirements for their degree program and graduate. To this end many International students choose a major which will begin paying them back for their time money and effort promptly. This is probably why Business and Science particularly Computer Science are the top choices for International Students in the USA. That is for a major field of study.

There is one other subject that International Students study or at least practice daily, English. Or more exactly the American Brand of English.

Most International Students must necessarily study English for their education.  This form of English is strict and demanding as many students who have attempted the TOEFL can attest.

 Writing coherent English for school papers and reports is one form of English which most International Students master at least adequately.  There is another form of English which is equally challenging and ultimately equally critical to the International Student's eventual success. That is spoken English. Not the kind that candidates for public office use or even the kind that television and film performers use.
No.

The kind which is essential for communication in the global economy in which International graduates will be performing is termed ' colloquial'.  Colloquial English is the English you hear every day in class, at events, while shopping and when celebrating with your American friends.

More importantly colloquial English will be the English you will be speaking on the phone or in person to your American colleagues and American customers when you begin your career.

If you check the translation dictionary on your smart phone you'll find that 'colloquial' means ' common or everyday.' This means that the everyday speech, literally the 'common tongue' that you hear is the most used and therefore the most useful you will find in your USA experience.

By now you have probably heard phrases like ' Knock yourself out' and " No problem'.  Everyday English is laced with dozens of these terms.

There is one sure way to gain mastery of colloquial English.  Practice speaking with your native English speaking friends. They are the students who use these phrases constantly. Their everyday speech is largely made up of colloquial phrases.

This kind of real life practice is invaluable for gaining confidence in your English speaking ability. So next time you meet a native English speaker, " Knock yourself out.'  Pretty soon when someone asks you if you can speak English you will be able to say, " No problem."

St. Patrick The Easter Bunny Spring Break And You.

March in the USA has many opportunities for students to celebrate. You may have observed just about a week ago the numerous celebrations of St. Patrick's Day on or around your campus.

If that day was not explained it's origin is this.

During the 1840's there was a famine in the country of Ireland. Many Irish people emigrated to the United States. They brought with them their habits, customs and celebrations. Principle among these was St. Patrick's Day. In Ireland, largely a Catholic country, the day is dedicated to the man who brought Christianity to Ireland. Traditionally he is known as Patrick and St. Patrick's Day is a religious holiday in Ireland.

Once here Irish Immigrants continued celebrating  this day and a great deal of alcohol use was associated with this celebration.  While alcohol is no longer an indispensable part of any St. Patrick's Day celebration you probably have noticed that many advertisers use the St. Patrick's Day theme , characterized by rich green coloring, to sell their products.

This practice by advertisers will continue for two additional celebrations which will occur this week.

First, Easter, a traditional observation of the beginning of Spring, always celebrated on Sunday, is just about here. Easter has become symbolized by a figure of a happy rabbit known as The Easter Bunny. Children in the USA are sometimes told if they are good they will awaken to find a basket full of candy from the Easter Bunny on Easter morning. Advertisers have adapted the Easter theme, a rainbow of colors and a figure of a large happy bunny to sell their products.

Finally, simultaneous with the arrival of Spring many American schools schedule a break from the regular class schedule, usually a week.  This break is known as Spring Break and again many advertisers adopt the theme of College Spring Break to sell travel packages, excursions and opportunities for students to getaway and party.  You have probably seen the posters on campus featuring fit, healthy, attractive students on a beach during the day and in a club at night and partying, partying, partying.

These holidays, as close together as they are, can add up to a kind of " March Madness" for International Students who have not fully experienced American Culture. To help you understand
Planet College International has provided these posts.

Please click through and learn more. Happy Easter.

Enjoy your break.

Term Holidays

This period of time on campus as winter becomes Spring contains several significant holidays and celebrations.
The 2015 Calendar for the USA shows these and list holidays which are celebrated as well as those which are observed. It is easy to tell which holidays are pending by the kind of advertising which is prominent directly before the holiday.

First of all this month was a holiday celebrating Love in many forms but particularly romantic love. The holiday name is Valentine's day and it is celebrated on February 14, every year. You probably noticed advertisements for jewelry, flowers and candy in fancy wrapping which are considered gifts for a sweetheart, wife or mother.

The next holiday of note was Presidents Day. This is a Federal Holiday which is set aside every year to honor two American Presidents, George Washington, who was the first President of the United States and Abraham Lincoln who was the president during the American civil war, 1860 to 1865. Because both of these Presidents' birthdays are in February the holiday is celebrated in February and it is always on a Monday.  You probably noticed that banks and schools were closed on this day. This is due to the fact that Presidents' Day is a Federal Holiday, one of eleven holidays set aside for employees of the government, which is why Federal offices, such as the post office are closed on those days. A holiday on Monday means a three day weekend for many workers. Often retail tire shops and matress stores take advantage of htis long weekend to entice buyers into their stores with special deals.

The next celebration which you may have witnessed is called Mardi Gras. This year it was on Tuesday, February 17.  Mardi Gras is celebrated in many places, particularly in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana. This is a day dedicated to partying and revelry. This celebration was brought to the United States by immigrants from France.

The next holiday you may have observed was Thursday, February 19,  Lunar New Year or Chinese New Year. This holiday in the USA features fireworks and parades often featuring dancing dragon feature.

Next month, March, the beginning of Spring, presents many more opportunities to celebrate.

Enjoy your term!

Health Care Continued Who Pays and How?

Finally, the skateboarder's name was called.  Hyun approached the clerk and handed her the papers now filled out. Among the information requested was a line which read Responsible Party. When the clerk asked why Hyun had not filled in a name he replied he did not understand the meaning of the term Responsibly Party.  She replied, It is the person who pays your bill.  When the injured skateboarder explained that he thought the care here was free she told him it was not. She further told him that he could not be treated until the matter of who was responsible for paying the bill for his treatment.

After a conference one friend said Hyun could use his credit card to pay the bill. The clerk agreed to this. The skateboarder's injury was x-rayed and set in a small cast. He was directed to make an appointment with the doctor who had treated him.  This treatment, known as follow up visits, would not be free either but he could arrange payments with the treating physician.

The weary party of treatment seekers arrived back at the International Residence at four a.m. very tired and having learned a very important lesson about health care in the USA.

Nothing is free. Hyun's treatement for his injury totaled to over $4000.00. Health care in the United States can be very costly. And in the USA health care must always be paid for. If you do not have insurance to pay for your care you must have cash or some means to pay for it.  This is a hard and fast rule.

 If you are already here in the USA you may have had some experience with this requirement. If you have not yet you will.

If your campus has not provided you with health insurance and health care information UC Davis ,a large public university in California, USA ,has a page here which has an overview of the Health Care payment requirements and medical care  availability on their campus. They may not at all be similar to your campus but their descriptions are generally accurate.

If  you have not yet arrived at your campus in the USA it is advisable for you to get all of the care you can at home. You must also find out about your health insurance options which are available for you when you arrive.

Other wise you might end up with an expensive surprise like Hyun.

Student Health Insurance

Planet College recently had a conversation with a charming Fashion Merchandising Major, Yiu, from Hong Kong. During out conversation we discussed many facets of her experience as an International Student in the USA. Chief among her concerns  paying for health care. Specifically her confusion  had stemmed from an incident which had ocurred over the recent Thanksgiving holiday.

With the campus nearly empty some students from the International Residence decided to try skateboarding, a popular pastime with many students on Yiu's campus.  With the way clear and large areas to operate the skate boards the students were having fun until one fell and cracked his wrist. It was obvious that this injury would need attention so the students went to the campus student health center which was closed due to the holiday.

From the campus the students traveled to a local pharmacy, part of a large national chain which also includes a wellness center for treating some minor illnesses. After a brief examination, for which the pharmacy charged $45.00, the examining nurse told the students that she was not qualified to treat an orthopedic injury.  Orthopedic is the USA medical term for bone treatment. The injured student was directed to a local walk-in medical clinic where he could receive proper care.  A walk-in clinic in the USA is a medical care facility which is open to anyone without an appointment but as the student's learned the hours of such a facility are often limited frequently from approximately 7 a. m. to 9 p.m. When the students finally found the place it was closed. A sign on the door explained that if the injury was an emergency they should go to the emergency room of a local hospital.

By this time several hours had passed since the injured students initial fall and the injured student was in great pain and feeling ill.  The small party of students found the hospital and located the emergency room which was crowded. An attendant took the name of the potential patient handed him several pages of paperwork to fill out and explained that someone would be with them.  By then it was nearly midnight and the waiting area was filled with sick and injured people. (continued)