While many would be scared to go to school in a foreign country, others would jump at the chance. It could seem really exciting to others. Not only will children and young adults get to see more of the world, they can also get a better education than they could get at home.
Going to school in America has plenty of challenges. However, with a good attitude (and some help), you and your children can succeed. Here are some tips for international students.
Make sure that you choose the right school
If you don’t want to stand out, you should choose a school that has other international students. If they don’t, at least make sure that they have a diverse culture in the school. By having people of different cultures, you can learn even more about the world and how it works.
You might also want to choose a school that offers English as a second language. By offering these classes, they are prepared for any international students that come their way. They are often much better equipped to deal with international students.
Understanding the English Language
Not only should you brush up on your English, you may want to study common phrases and slang words that will be used. While it is important to have a good understanding of the English language, most people don’t talk in perfect English. Instead, they use plenty of phrases and slang words that may not make any sense to someone who just understands a little of the English language.
Don’t be afraid to ask if you don’t understand
English can be quite hard to master so don’t be afraid to ask someone to explain what they mean. You need to be able to understand what is going on around you so go ahead and ask them what a phrase or slang word means.
Make friends
It is important that you make friends at your school or it could be a long year. While you may feel more comfortable with other international students, you should make a point of trying to be friends with everyone. Not only will you feel more at home, you will be able to learn about the American culture by seeing it first-hand.
Get Involved
One of the best ways to do this is by getting involved in extracurricular activities. By joining sports or any other school activity, you will meet like-minded people. They should quickly become good friends and help you feel like you belong. This can really make your school year go much more smoothly.
Start to act like a local
One of the best ways to fit in is by acting like a local. If you have friends, spend time with their families. Learn where people shop and where people eat. As you make more friends, spend time with them doing what they normally would do. This is often cheaper and allows you to see what our country is really all about.
Learn to get around
While many people want to take cabs from place to place so they don’t get lost, it can get quite expensive. Instead, learn how to use the train, subway, and even the bus so that you can go where you need to, without asking for a ride (and wasting so much money).
Go on Adventures
If you have money, try to use it to see more of the country. Though you are in America to learn, it doesn’t hurt to see other parts of the beautiful country. Take a road trip or two to see some of the sights. Who knows when you will be back?
It can be hard to study in another country, though it is also an amazing experience. Not only will you get a good education in school, you will learn just as much from the people around you.
In order to make the process go as smoothly as possible, you need to start finding friends as soon as possible. Spend time with them doing the things that they normally do so that you can really experience the country. If you struggle to make friends, it may help to join in some extracurricular activities. Instead of just one friend, you could find a whole team of them.
Contact us to see how we can help your child succeed in America.