Planet College is likely snowed in on many campuses across the USA. However if you are an International Student who is here for the first time or have not been here long you may be surprised at the holiday celebrations which continue through the month of February and very likely most of them are celebrated on your campus.
Planet College has an extensive explanation of the February USA holidays here. The first celebration which may be campus wide where you are is the Lunar New Year, February 8 this year. You may be from a culture already familiar with this celebration.
Perhaps your campus will be celebrating Mardi Gras, the very next day, Tuesday February 9. If so get ready to party!
The next holiday will be February 14, a very interesting celebration known as Valentine's day, February 14. This day is dedicated to love in many forms but particularly romantic love. So if some one says " Will you be my Valentine?' You must be very special to them and this is how they are telling you so.
And finally according to the calendar used in the USA this is a leap year, a year with one extra day in addition to the traditional 365 days. The added day is February 29. In the USA February usually has 28 days. In some areas of the USA it is a tradition that on leap day, February 29, women ask men to marry them, a reversal of the traditional practice of men asking women.
So where ever you are on Planet College in the USA it's February and get ready to celebrate!
Sunday, January 31, 2016
Wednesday, December 30, 2015
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.
.
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.
.
Wednesday, December 9, 2015
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.
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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2015
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.
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.
Monday, November 16, 2015
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.
Friday, October 9, 2015
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!
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!
Monday, August 31, 2015
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.
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.
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