Dear forum friends and Jeannie,

This forum column I created is specially dedicated to Jeannie, a very unique friend of ours. I sincerely wish she would bring us all a brand new world of writing and thinking and communicating here in this Cabin where we are all expectantly going to enjoy ourselves and to be warmly welcomed as well as entertained by our cabin hostess, Jeannie.

As for the naming of this new column, I have made a bold proposal to call it Jeannie's Dream Cabin. If there any tiny bit of dissatisfation from our forum friends or especially from Jeannie, please do not hesitate to tell me your advice or suggestions and let me rectify it until it is after everybody's heart's content.

Now, Jeannie, it is all up to you when and how you will make a big difference here, my new hostess. This is, I believe, going to be a excitingly challenging job for you. But I promise once you have a go at it, you would love it and make the best of it for everybody here and yourself as well.

Good luck!

Charlie

Dear all,

The following is what I dictated from VOA Education Report. It is a
series reports for students who are interested in higher education in the Unite
d States. I will paste it here every Thursday as soon as it is broadcasted. I hope
it is helpful for you.

Jeannie


This week we begin a series of reports for students around the world who are int
erested in higher education in the United States. The last time we broadcast our
Foreign Student Series was two years ago. Since then, we have gotten more reque
sts for information about how to attend an American college or university. So, w
e will present new reports in our series with the most current information.

Each week we will discuss a part of the process for becoming an international st
udent in the United States. Students have many questions: How do I find out abou
t schools? How do I choose the right one for me? Which tests must I take? What k
inds of documents will I need? And a big question, How much will it all cost? Li
sten for answers to these and other questions over the coming weeks.

Our reports will describe the American system of higher education. We will talk
about financial aid and rules about employment. We will also discuss English lan
guage requirements. And we will tell you where to look in other countries for in
formation and advice about studying in the United States. Our reports will also
take you inside some of the colleges and universities in the United States. We w
ill explore programs of study and report on student life. Students who are not a
ble to come to the United States will find out how to take classes over the Inte
rnet. In addition, we will examine how the threat of terrorism has changed some
of the rules for study in the United States.

In researching our series, we talked to people in the education and government a
nd to foreign students. Planning is important to the success of an educational e
xperience. And that is the purpose of our series to help you plan. We would like
to hear from anyone who has a general question about studying in the United Sta
tes. We will answer questions in our reports. And we will try to answer as many
questions as possible during our series. Write to Special@voanews.com or VOA Spe
cial English, Washington D.C., 20237, USA.

[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-9-28 10:57 AM 编辑 ]

This is the Weekly US Education Reports (Part II)

This week in our Foreign Student Series we discuss the first steps to study in t
he United States.

Step one is to visit an American educational advising center. There are more tha
n four hundred of these offices around the world. You can find them through the
State Department website for international students. We will give that address l
ater. Or you can ask the Public Affairs office at an United States Embassy to te
ll you where to find the nearest advising center.

Step two is to start gathering information about the different choices in higher
education programs in the United States. Some schools, for example, offer one-y
ear certificate programs. These are in subjects like Computer Programming, Publi
c Relations, and Administrative Work. Junior or community colleges offer a two-y
ear associate degree. These programs can prepare students for skill jobs or if s
tudents want to continue their education. Many universities accept this work as
the first two years toward a bachelor’s degree. To get a bachelor’s degree, st
udents traditionally take general subjects during the first two years. These inc
lude areas like history, literature, mathematics, and science. After that they t
ake classes in their major area of study. At the graduate school level, a Master
’s degree can take up to three years to complete; a Doctorate can take four to
six years. But some medical specialties, for example, require years more of stud
y. Whatever you choose, educational advisors say you should begin to plan at lea
st two years before you want to start classes in the United States.

The address for the State Department website for international students is educa
tionusa.state.gov. If you would like to ask a question about education in the Un
ited States, send it to special@voanews.com. We cannot help with individual case
s but we might be able to answer a general question on the air as our Foreign St
udent Series continues.

[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-9-26 06:11 PM 编辑 ]

What is the difference between a college and a university? This is the subject o
f part three in our series for students who want to attend a college or universi
ty in the United States.

Colleges and universities have many things in common. Both provide a greater und
erstanding of the world and its past. Both provide education in the arts and sci
ences. And both can help prepare young people to earn a living. Students who com
plete their undergraduate studies either at a four-year college or a university
receive a Bachelor's degree. One difference is that many colleges do not offer g
raduate studies. Universities are generally bigger, offer more programs and do m
ore research.

Modern universities develop from those of the Middle Ages in Europe. The word "u
niversity" came from the Latin "universitas". This described that a group of peo
ple organized for a common purpose. The word "college" came from a Latin word wi
th a similar meaning, "collegium". In England, colleges were formed to provide s
tudents with places to live. Usually each group was studying the same thing. So
college came to mean an area of study. But a college can also be part of a unive
rsity.

The first American universities divided their studies into a number of areas and
called each one a college. This is still true. Programs in higher learning may
also be called schools. The University of Arizona in Tucson, for example, has ei
ghteen colleges and ten schools. They include the Colleges of Pharmacy, Educatio
n, Engineering and Law. They also include the Schools of Architecture, Dance, an
d Public Administration.

College is also used as a general term for higher education. A news report might
talk about college students even if they include students at universities. Or s
omeone might ask, where do you go to college?

Today most American colleges offer an area of study called Liberal Arts. These a
re subjects first developed and taught in ancient Greece. They include language,
philosophy and mathematics. The purpose was to train a person's mind instead of
teaching job skills.

Our foreign students series continues next week with a report about online educa
tion. You can find our reports at voaspecialenglish. com. And international stud
ents can learn more about higher education in the United States at educationusa.
state. gov.

[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-9-26 06:14 PM 编辑 ]

Hi, Jeannie,

It's so good to have you back with us again with all the above good stuff! How have you been doing?

Simply can't believe you have long been working hard on your dictation work! Amazing!

You patience and perseverence will surely serve you a long long time!

Yours,
Charlie

Online education is our subject this week as we continue our Foreign Student's Series. Our reports are for students around the world who would like to attend a college or university in the United States.

Programs where students take classes by computer over the Internet offer a way to earn a degree from home. Online learning is also called Distance Education. Many American colleges and universities have been offering it for years. One example is New York University in Manhattan. The School of Continuing and Professional Studies began online classes in 1992. Its virtual college has taught more than ten thousand students from across the United States and other countries.

Last year the School of Continuing and Professional Studies launched NYU Online. It offers NYU's first online programs to earn a bachelor's degree. Programs are offered in three areas - Leadership and Management; Information System's Management and Social Sciences. University officials say classes are highly interactive where students communicate with each other and their teachers. Some classes require students to all log in at the same time so they can attend live lectures by a professor. Students can also ask questions and work together on team projects. The university says classes are taught by NYU professors who have been trained in online teaching. International students must take two admissions tests before they can be accepted into the program. These are the SAT and the TOEFL. We will discuss these tests later in our series. The cost to attend NYU online depends on how many classes a student takes. It can cost as much as 15,000 dollars a year. NYU offers no financial aid for international students in this program. You can get more details at nyu. edu.

Many other schools offer online education. Students should be especially careful of programs that offer a degree in return for little or no work. These are known as Diploma Mills and are illegal in the United States. Educational advisors also say that before you enter any program, make sure the work will be recognized in your country. You should also make sure the schools you are considering are accredited. That will be our subject next week.

[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-9-28 11:06 AM 编辑 ]

US Higher Education Report (Part V)


This is the VOA Special English Education Report. And this is the fifth week of our Foreign Student’s Series about higher education in the United States.

Earlier we talked about the first steps to take if you want to study in America. We also discussed the differences between a college and a university. And we look at online education. We said last week that students should find out if a school that interests them is accredited. But just what does that mean? Accreditation is a process. The goal for a college or a university is to show that its programs meet accepted levels of quality. The United States Department of Education does not accredit schools. But the law requires the Secretary of Education to publish a list of private accrediting agencies recognized as dependable.

Accrediting agencies are non-profit organizations. They develop educational goals, then they examine schools to make sure those goals are met. The first step in the process is for a college or a university to request accreditation. Then the school does a study of itself to measure its performance against the requirements. The accrediting agency sends a team of specialists who decide if the school meets the standards. The agency will observe an accredited college or university every few years.

Schools must be accredited in order for students to receive government financial aid. Accreditation also makes it easier for students to move credits from one school to another. And going to an accredited school can help in getting a good job later.

One accrediting agency is the Council for Higher Education Accreditation. It says the United States has more than 4000 accredited colleges and universities that award degrees. More than 2500 other accredited programs do not award degrees. The agency's website lists schools and programs that are accredited by recognized organizations in the United States. And it talks about when to suspect that a program is not really accredited. The address is chea.org.

And that's the VOA Special English Education Report. You can find the earlier reports in our series at voaspecialenglish.com. Next week learn about government rules for students who want to study in the United States.

We continue our series of reports about how foreign students can attend a college or university in the United States. Our subject this week is government rules and requirements for entering the United States to study. Every foreign student who has been accepted to study in this country must have a legal document called a visa from the United States government. A visa permits a foreign citizen to travel to the United States and request permission to enter the country.

The rules for getting a visa can be found on the State Department website. The address is unitedstatesvisas.gov. Another State Department website for students from other countries is educationusa.gov. If you are requesting a visa for the first time, you may have to appear at the American embassy in your country to talk to an official.

Each student should communicate with the embassy to find out if such an interview is needed and when it can take place. It is important to apply for the visa early. State Department officials say national security is the most important issue in deciding if a person will be permitted to enter the United States. Officials must find out if a student is on any list of people with possible links to terrorists. Embassies can not issue a visa more than ninety days before the start of the educational program in the United States. If you are a student studing in the United States for the first time, you will not be permitted to enter the country more than thirty days before the start of your classes. Foreign students accepted at an American school will receive a document called a Certificate of Eligibility

The State Department says each student must enter the country using the certificate provided by the school he or she will be attending. It is a violation of the law to enter the country on one school's certificate but attend another school. You are permitted to stay in the United States on a student visa for the links of your period of study. That means you can stay as long as you are a full time student. Your college or university will provide the government with reports about your education as long as you continue to study there. We will have more information about that next week. Our foreign Student Series is online at voaspecialenglish.com.



[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-10-12 11:21 AM 编辑 ]

US Higher Education Report (Part VII)

Last week, we discussed rules for getting permission to enter the United States to study at a college or university. Now, in part seven of our Foreign Student Series, we discuss a computer system that holds information about international students and exchange visitors to the United States. It is called the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System, or SEVIS. It went into effect in January of 2003.

All schools in the United States must enter information about each foreign student they admit. SEVIS brings together more than 10,000 American schools and exchange visitor programs. It links them to the Immigration and Customs Enforcement, the largest investigation agency in the Department of Homeland Security.

The government uses the system to let a school know when one of the school’s students has entered the country. The school then must report within 30 days whether the student is attending classes. The school must also report if the student leaves school.

In 2005, law enforcement officials investigated more than 85,000 possible violators. Almost 600 of them were later arrested for violating the student and exchange visitor rules. Violations include not attending classes, being expelled or suspended from school, or failing to continue as a full-time student.

The Department of Homeland Security says SEVIS now lists about 770,000 students and exchange visitors in the United States. Family members who travel with them are also listed. SEVIS has records about more than 115,000 family members of those student and exchange visitors.

In 2004, the United States began to charge each student and exchange visitor 100 dollars to help pay for the system. The money also helped pay for the development of the SEVIS website. The site now permits students and exchange visitors to examine their SEVIS information and payment record online.



US Higher Education Report (Part VIII)

This week, we talk about the application process for American colleges and universities. This is part eight in our Foreign Student Series.

Earlier, we explained how to begin a search for schools by going to one of the American educational advising centers around the world. We also discussed the rules for entering in the United States. And we talked about programs that can be completed online.

But if your goal is to come to the United States to study, then it is time to make a list of colleges or universities that interest you. Be sure to choose more than one. Directors of foreign student admissions say students should apply to at least three schools.

Some students want to attend a small college. Others want to go to a big university. If a really big university appeals to you, then there are ones like OhioState. That university in Columbus, Ohio, in the Midwest, has almost 52,000 students. There are students this year from around 150 countries.

OhioState provides international students with an application on its website. You can pay the application charge online with a credit card. Or you can print the forms and mail them with the payment.

Many colleges and universities have their applications and also their catalogs online. A catalog is the publication in which a school tells about its programs. You should start on your applications at least two years before you want to begin studies.

Completing a college application can take some time. But answering all the questions is not enough. Another important step is taking admissions tests. The SAT is the college entry test that American high school students most commonly take. Another one is the ACT.

Colleges and universities may also require international students to take the TOEFL - the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

We will begin discussing these tests next week.



[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-10-28 04:06 PM 编辑 ]

US Higher Education Report (Part VIIII)

The TOEFL is an important test for non-native English speakers who want to attend an American college or university. TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language. And it is the subject this week in our Foreign Student Series.

The Educational Testing Service is moving to end the use of the paper-and-pencil version of the TOEFL. And on September 30th ETS stopped offering its existing computer test. The new version is called the TOEFL IBT, or Internet-Based Test.

The TOEFL IBT has been used since 2005 at testing centers in the United States, Canada, France, Germany, Italy and Porto Rico. In March of this year, it was expanded to other countries in Europe and to Africa, Eurasia, the Middle East and Latin America.

The charge for the TOEFL IBT is different in each country. Until the TOEFL IBT is offered in a country, the pencil-and-paper test will continue to be used.

The TOEFL measures the ability to read, write and understand English. The new test represents about ten years of work by ETS. The testing service redesigned it to measure not just knowledge of the language, but the ability to communicate in English. The four-hour test now includes a speaking part, in addition to reading, writing and listening.

Each part of the test is worth a possible thirty points. So the highest score on the TOEFL is 120 points. Different colleges and universities require different minimum scores on the TOEFL. So be sure to find out the score requirements of the schools that interest you.

Experts say the best way to prepare for the TOEFL is to use English as much as you can. The TOEFL website offers advice to help you prepare. The address is toefl.org

More than 6,000 schools and agencies in 110 countries use the TOEFL. But students who have already earned degrees from colleges in English-speaking countries may not be required to take it. And recently we received an e-mail asking if another English test can be used instead of the TOEFL when applying to American schools. Listen next week for the answer.

********************************************************

US Higher Education Report (Part X)

This week in our Foreign Student Series we continue our discussion of college entrance exams. So far we have talked about three tests that are widely accepted by American schools. These are the SAT, the ACT and the TOEFL. The TOEFL is the Test of English as a Foreign Language.

Now we have a question from a student in France about another test. Cire Kaba plans to enter an American college or university. The question is: when applying to a school in the United States, can the TOEIC replace the TOEFL? The TOEIC is the Test of English for International Communication. The short answer to the question is “No”.

Admissions offices at American colleges and universities generally do not recognize TOEIC results. The same is true of scholarship and exchange programs as well. But some schools and English programs in the United States do use the test. So we thought this would be a good chance to explain the TOEIC.

ETS, the Educational Testing Service in Princeton, New Jersey, develops and administers both the TOEFL and the TOEIC. It says the TOEIC measures the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment.

Non-native English speakers take the test to demonstrate their English language skills when applying for jobs. Organizations also use the TOEIC to measure progress in English training programs. And they use it to consider people for placement at the right level in language programs. Several thousand companies, English programs and government agencies use the TOEIC. The test is offered in about sixty countries.

The TOEFL is based on English used in the classroom. The TOEIC is based on English used in the workplace. But the Educational Testing Service says the test does not require knowledge of special business words. It says the questions come from real situations like attending a company meeting.

The TOEIC measures listening and reading skills - and, beginning in December. ETS will offer speaking and writing tests. For a link to the Educational Testing Service website where you can get more information about the TOEIC and the TOEFL, go to voaspecialenglish.com.


[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-11-22 11:11 AM 编辑 ]

A few weeks ago we talked about the Test of English as a Foreign Language or TOEFL. A listener in Cambodia named Fida asks if American colleges and universities also accept the IELTS exam.

IELTS is the International English Language Testing System. It was developed by University of Cambridge ESL examinations. Cambridge ESL says the test measures true-to-life ability to communicate in English for education, immigration or employment. The IELTS tests listening, reading, writing and speaking skills. It uses a mixture of accents and spellings including British English and American English. The test is used by government agencies, schools and professional organizations in 120 countries. And yes, that includes the United States.

The many American schools that accept the IELTS can be found on the web at I-E-L-T-S dot org. Some schools accept both the TOEFL and the IELTS. But the graduate school at Duke University in Durham, North Carolina, for example, says it prefers the IELTS.

The listening and speaking parts are the same for everyone who takes the IELTS. But people have a choice of reading and writing tests, either academic or general training. The listening test takes 30 minutes. There are forty questions based on a recording. The reading test takes 60 minutes. Students answer 40 questions based on three written passages. The writing test also takes 60 minutes. Students have to write two essays. One essay has to be at least 150 words long and the other at least 250 words. The shorter one is a description of something. The longer one has to support an argument. The speaking test takes less than 15 minutes. The score is based on a recorded talk between a student and a test examiner.

And that’s the VOA Special English Education Report written by Nancy Steinbach. A link to the IELTS website can be found at voaspecialenglish.com. You can also find mp3 files and transcripts from our Foreign Students Series. Next week our subject will be the GMAT, a test for getting into graduate programs in business and management.

[ 本帖最后由 jeannie 于 2006-11-30 01:19 PM 编辑 ]