As an international student from Japan, I think one of the biggest challenges for me has been to learn to write and to speak "American" English.
As an international student from Japan, I think one of the biggest challenges for me has been to learn to write and to speak "American" English. Students from Asia have a tougher time learning English compared to international students from Europe, South America, and Africa. When it comes to learning how to write essays in English, I have noticed that it is more difficult for me，and my Asian friends from Asian to express ideas effectively. For example, at my school all graduate students must take the GET (Graduate Essay Test). I failed the test when I first arrived and had to take a supplementary course. I think Asian foreign students have trouble passing the GET test due to structural issues (how to develop ideas) and problems with expression (how to use words) with English that are very different from how students in Asian countries are taught. For example, the typical Japanese writing style is to present the conclusion at the
end of the essay. In American English writing, the conclusion is supposed to be revealed in the introduction. Also, the Japanese prefer to use vague and indirect expressions because this style is considered to be more proper. Since junior high school, we have been trained to write using a circular logic in which our points "circle" around the main conclusion that is only presented at the end of the essay. In contrast, the American English writing style is more linear and direct. It requires your points to be clear and presented in simple sentences.Obtaining proficient English skills is very important ...
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end of the essay. In American English writing, the conclusion is supposed to be revealed in the introduction. Also, the Japanese prefer to use vague and indirect expressions because this style is considered to be more proper. Since junior high school, we have been trained to write using a circular logic in which our points "circle" around the main conclusion that is only presented at the end of the essay. In contrast, the American English writing style is more linear and direct. It requires your points to be clear and presented in simple sentences.Obtaining proficient English skills is very important for completing graduate studies in the U.S. When I first arrived, my English instructors commented that my essays were not clear enough and that my main points were weak. I could not understand why my essays were considered poor especially since I worked very hard on them. Despite all my efforts, I had to repeat the same course the following semester. Most classes at my school require students to write term papers (from 15 to 20 pages), as well as a thesis (60-80 pages) at the end of the master's degree program. If you have poor English writing skills, assignments take a lot more time and it's difficult to get good grades that you need to graduate. I highly recommend that people who want to study at graduate schools in the U.S to receive training for English writing beforehand.Importance of Self-ExpressionAnother challenge I have faced as an international student in the U.S. is expressing myself using words and expressions in English. In the U.S, students are expected to give oral presentations and to speak up during class discussions. I have noticed that international students from Asia generally have trouble speaking in public because in Asian countries, students need only listen to lectures and rarely have the opportunity to speak up in class.Although I have been here for nine months, I still lack confidence about joining class discussions. Before giving an oral presentation to my classmates and professor, I spend a lot of time preparing a draft that I then read aloud. Without a written draft, I am at a loss for words about what to say. Oral presentations are a big source of anxiety for me. Unlike the native speakers in my classes, I cannot make an impromptu presentation without forgetting what to say or feeling paralyzed by nervousness. Fortunately, the faculty at my school is cooperative and willing to spend extra time with students so they can learn. Although my English is difficult to understand at times, my professors try hard to help me improve. The teaching style in the U.S is much more relaxed than in Japan, and professors here are more generous with their time.Advice to Prospective StudentsMy main regret is that I did not get enough practice speaking English in Japan before coming to the U.S. Obtaining practice in spoken English is difficult in Japan because there are very few native English speakers with whom to practice and to learn. Even though I have been in the U.S for nine months I still do not speak English fluently, but each day I continue to improve and to learn. Self-expression -- both written and spoken -- is an important skill to have before attending graduate school in the U.S. Although you may not speak English well right now, you should practice as much as possible, and preferably with a native speaker who uses the proper pronunciation, grammar, and syntax, and who can teach you American idiomatic expressions. If so, you will develop the ability to speak in a short time once you arrive here, and have more time to enjoy American life and get good grades.Next semester I will work as an intern at a local television station and will learn about video and computer production and editing. Afterwards, I plan to return to Japan and to get a job in the television industry where I want to direct, edit, and produce TV programs. Maybe you, too, can fulfill your dreams by studying in the U.S. But, remember my advice: the two most important things are to improve your writing ability and spoken language skills before you come here to study
