Monday, December 27, 2010
The State Department has rules for giving permission to foreign students studying in the United States. The rules can be found on the State Department’s travel Web site: travel.state.gov. Under Services, go to Visas for Foreign Citizens to Come to the United States, Non-immigrant Visas, Student and Exchange Visitor Visas and Applying for a Foreign Student Visa.
Every foreign student who has been accepted by a college or university to study in this country must have a legal document called a visa from the United States government. The rules for getting a visa have changed a bit over the past decade, requiring more stringent security and background checks.
National security is the most important issue in deciding if a person should be permitted to enter the United States. It now takes a longer time for a person to receive permission to enter the country. This past summer, a new policy took effect. It requires additional security investigations of men between the ages of sixteen and forty-five from twenty-six countries. Officials say these men are waiting the longest for their legal papers.
A State Department spokesman said visa applications that used to be approved in days are now taking much longer. This is because officials must see if the name of each student appears on lists of foreigners with possible links to terrorists. Officials say that future security investigations are expected to take less than one month from the time of visa application.
The State Department says international students are not being studied any more closely than people who want to enter the United States for other reasons. But students must enter the country before their college classes begin. So they must apply for the visa as soon as they can to permit enough time for approval.
Other new rules have also taken effect. For example, universities must place a confirmation document on a State Department Web site for every international student they admit.
We will continue to post any updates to these rules and regulations, so keep checking back to make sure you are properly covered to be a student in the United States.
Every foreign student who has been accepted by a college or university to study in this country must have a legal document called a visa from the United States government. The rules for getting a visa have changed a bit over the past decade, requiring more stringent security and background checks.
National security is the most important issue in deciding if a person should be permitted to enter the United States. It now takes a longer time for a person to receive permission to enter the country. This past summer, a new policy took effect. It requires additional security investigations of men between the ages of sixteen and forty-five from twenty-six countries. Officials say these men are waiting the longest for their legal papers.
A State Department spokesman said visa applications that used to be approved in days are now taking much longer. This is because officials must see if the name of each student appears on lists of foreigners with possible links to terrorists. Officials say that future security investigations are expected to take less than one month from the time of visa application.
The State Department says international students are not being studied any more closely than people who want to enter the United States for other reasons. But students must enter the country before their college classes begin. So they must apply for the visa as soon as they can to permit enough time for approval.
Other new rules have also taken effect. For example, universities must place a confirmation document on a State Department Web site for every international student they admit.
We will continue to post any updates to these rules and regulations, so keep checking back to make sure you are properly covered to be a student in the United States.
Tuesday, December 21, 2010
Today we are all part of a “Global Village”. The Internet continues to have exponential growth, as even more people are becoming aware of this “Global Village” on a personal level. People correspond with others from around the globe on a regular basis, products are bought and sold with increasing ease from all over the word and real time coverage of major news events is taken for granted. English plays a central role in this globalization and it has become the de facto language of choice for communication between the various people that live on this planet.
Many English speakers do not speak English as their first language. In fact, they often use English as a sort of backup language in order to communicate with other people who also speak English as a foreign language. At this point students often wonder what kind of English they are learning. Are they learning English as it is spoken in England? Are they learning English as it is spoken in the United States or Australia? One of the most important questions seems to be left out: Do all students really need to learn English as it is spoken in any one country? Would it not be better to strive towards a global English? Let me put this into perspective. If a business person from China wants to close a deal with a business person from Germany, what difference does it make if they speak either US or UK English? In this situation, it does not matter what version of English they use to communicate, as both parties are likely to understand each other.
Communication enabled by the Internet is even less tied to standard forms of English as communication in English is exchanged between partners in both English speaking and non-English speaking countries. I feel that two important ramifications of this trend are as follows:
These questions and more should be addressed in order to give ESL students the education they need in the English language so it will be affective in their lives.
Many English speakers do not speak English as their first language. In fact, they often use English as a sort of backup language in order to communicate with other people who also speak English as a foreign language. At this point students often wonder what kind of English they are learning. Are they learning English as it is spoken in England? Are they learning English as it is spoken in the United States or Australia? One of the most important questions seems to be left out: Do all students really need to learn English as it is spoken in any one country? Would it not be better to strive towards a global English? Let me put this into perspective. If a business person from China wants to close a deal with a business person from Germany, what difference does it make if they speak either US or UK English? In this situation, it does not matter what version of English they use to communicate, as both parties are likely to understand each other.
Communication enabled by the Internet is even less tied to standard forms of English as communication in English is exchanged between partners in both English speaking and non-English speaking countries. I feel that two important ramifications of this trend are as follows:
- Teachers need to evaluate just how important learning “standard” and/or idiomatic usage is for their students.
- Native speakers need to become more tolerant and perceptive when communicating with non-native speakers of English.
These questions and more should be addressed in order to give ESL students the education they need in the English language so it will be affective in their lives.
Friday, December 17, 2010
Since the 1960s, the bilingual education debate has had its place in the media. Discussions of the good and bad of bilingual education are believed to have originated from two acts, the Civil Rights Act (1964) and the Bilingual Education Act (1968) that played such a dominant role in shaping laws for bilingual education.
Lately, the pros of bilingual education have become a critical topic of much scrutiny among scholars, parents, teachers and various educational organizations. Understanding various bilingual educational benefits will help us take an unbiased stand on the effectiveness of a bilingual educational system.
For those that have no idea, in bilingual education, students are taught over a period of time in their native language and English is treated as a second language. It is taught at the same time and only when the student is believed to have attained a certain proficiency in their native language. Supposedly, this makes it easier to master English. Technically and simply speaking, bilingual education is any educational system that encourages teaching more than one language.
Of course, depending on the type of multiple languages used to teach, there can be various types of bilingual educational systems. According to proponents of bilingual educational systems, the most important benefit of bilingual education system is that a student who is from a non-English speaking background can easily learn English. From their work, it is easier to pick it up during his language development, in his native language as well as English.
Besides, it’s great to be proficient in more than one language. What problem does it create if a student is well conversed in English as well as his mother’s native tongue? Besides that, a child who is exposed to multiple languages will be able to develop a better sense for appreciating differing cultures and understanding vastly different societies.
After all, now we’re living in a global world, so being multilingual is always an asset in firms and business works. One added bonus to more people taking advantage of becoming bilingual is that a child can easily use his native language in groups and he won’t feel ashamed of it.
Often, the case is that the speaker of a foreign language is just aware of their native tongue and may face problems like hesitation and clarity when expressing themselves. The bilingual educational system would be a beautiful form of education as the non-English speakers can learn English, even while strengthening their cultural bonds by remaining proficient in their mother tongue as well.
Lately, the pros of bilingual education have become a critical topic of much scrutiny among scholars, parents, teachers and various educational organizations. Understanding various bilingual educational benefits will help us take an unbiased stand on the effectiveness of a bilingual educational system.
For those that have no idea, in bilingual education, students are taught over a period of time in their native language and English is treated as a second language. It is taught at the same time and only when the student is believed to have attained a certain proficiency in their native language. Supposedly, this makes it easier to master English. Technically and simply speaking, bilingual education is any educational system that encourages teaching more than one language.
Of course, depending on the type of multiple languages used to teach, there can be various types of bilingual educational systems. According to proponents of bilingual educational systems, the most important benefit of bilingual education system is that a student who is from a non-English speaking background can easily learn English. From their work, it is easier to pick it up during his language development, in his native language as well as English.
Besides, it’s great to be proficient in more than one language. What problem does it create if a student is well conversed in English as well as his mother’s native tongue? Besides that, a child who is exposed to multiple languages will be able to develop a better sense for appreciating differing cultures and understanding vastly different societies.
After all, now we’re living in a global world, so being multilingual is always an asset in firms and business works. One added bonus to more people taking advantage of becoming bilingual is that a child can easily use his native language in groups and he won’t feel ashamed of it.
Often, the case is that the speaker of a foreign language is just aware of their native tongue and may face problems like hesitation and clarity when expressing themselves. The bilingual educational system would be a beautiful form of education as the non-English speakers can learn English, even while strengthening their cultural bonds by remaining proficient in their mother tongue as well.
Thursday, December 16, 2010
We all know that learning English is important for living in the United States of America. However, finding ESL classes means so much more to those that need them. The differences from one country to the next can be vast. Each country has very specific laws, routines and customs. ESL classes fulfill a very important role in alerting immigrants to the specifics of American society. These concepts take much longer to become clear without guidance and instruction. ESL classes are a proactive measure to ensure that immigrants understand their rights and responsibilities.
Not everything is easy to figure out. Every country has different practices related to finding work.. Different countries and language backgrounds have different styles of written applications and interviews have different functions. In ESL classes students can learn what will be required of them when they apply for jobs in the U.S. Knowing the expectations of employers will ease the difficult task of finding employment.
Coping with native speakers can be a problem too. In ESL classes students have the opportunity to gain familiarity with native speaker speech and the strategies for coping with it. This will be crucial if immigrants are to integrate easily into society or the workplace. Both established and new residents will feel more comfortable and avoid misunderstandings and tension if there is good communication between them.
Probably the best effect is that ESL classes will ultimately assist immigrants’ ability to find work, to have an income to buy goods and services, to pay taxes and to live cohesively within the community. Without ESL classes this may not occur.
The reasons for taking ESL classes are many and varying, but some of the most important ones are listed below:
Not everything is easy to figure out. Every country has different practices related to finding work.. Different countries and language backgrounds have different styles of written applications and interviews have different functions. In ESL classes students can learn what will be required of them when they apply for jobs in the U.S. Knowing the expectations of employers will ease the difficult task of finding employment.
Coping with native speakers can be a problem too. In ESL classes students have the opportunity to gain familiarity with native speaker speech and the strategies for coping with it. This will be crucial if immigrants are to integrate easily into society or the workplace. Both established and new residents will feel more comfortable and avoid misunderstandings and tension if there is good communication between them.
Probably the best effect is that ESL classes will ultimately assist immigrants’ ability to find work, to have an income to buy goods and services, to pay taxes and to live cohesively within the community. Without ESL classes this may not occur.
The reasons for taking ESL classes are many and varying, but some of the most important ones are listed below:
- ESL classes help all immigrants improve their English.
- ESL classes help immigrants to find work
- ESL classes help students cope with native speakers.
- ESL classes teach about the opportunities, rights and responsibilities of living in the U.S.
- ESL classes provide an environment to teach about racial tolerance and multiculturalism
- ESL classes contribute to the alleviation of poverty
- ESL classes contribute to the growth of the economy
- ESL classes contribute to the alleviation of unemployment
- ESL classes demonstrate human rights in action
- ESL classes demonstrate support for social cohesion
Sunday, December 12, 2010
Despite the quick rise in popularity of Spanish, the dominant language in the United States of America is still English. It does not matter where you work, eventually English is necessary in your job. It is more than just wise, it is necessary to Learn English to make yourself more useful to employers and to remove the salary cap you have placed on yourself. Trying to get by without perfecting the language, or at least having a firm grasp on English, is a sure method to never advancing at work.
Look at all the communications that are involved in one day at work. It does not matter if you are a laborer, salesman or manager. If you preform labor as your work, then you most likely have to talk to your fellow workmates and your supervisor, maybe two. Maybe all of them speak your language, that is not English, and so you get along just fine at work. Of course, the parts and the maintenance of anything you do is in English, which means someone always has to explain what is going on, what new thing needs to be done, or what directions are being given by the manager or foreman. Simply because you cannot Speak English fluently, someone else has to be designated to explaining everything to you. Being a hard worker will not keep your job safe.
As a non-English speaking member of the team, you are a liability.
For anyone moving up the ladder in their workplace, or trying to move up the ladder, not having a firm foundation in English really hinders your potential. A position like manager requires communication to those employees you direct, the ones that are your equal that must be coordinated with, and the superiors that expect flawless execution of orders, as well as, clear and concise reports. Guess what language those reports had better be communicated through?.
Besides needing English to properly communicate with the several different levels of business once in an organization, it is also needed to promote ones self. Networking is a difficult task when your English is shaky and unreliable. Accomplishing it well means making new associates that are happy to converse with you about things work related and outside. Struggling to communicate through a language barrier is not fun for anyone, making it much harder to make contacts. No one wants the task of deciphering whatever it is you say on a constant basis.
Do yourself a favor and sign up for bettering your English. Just getting through the interview process for a job requires some handle on it. Make it easier on yourself and Learn the English Language that controls this country. It only makes sense.
Take control of your career and your future; improve your English today.
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