A Blog With Answers for Foreign Students

10 May 2012

This is the VOA Special English Education Report.

International students have a lot of questions about studying in the United States. But what do you suppose is the most common question?

We asked an expert right here in our building. Jessica Stahl is editor of VOA's Student Union blog. Jess blogs for international students interested in American higher education.

JESSICA STAHL: "I think the number one question that I get is financial aid and scholarships. People always want to know, 'How do I get money?' I think that's everyone's biggest concern. Unfortunately, of all the questions I get, that's the one with the most complicated answer."

The short answer is this: Financial aid programs are often just for American students. But programs for international students do exist. You just have to look for them.

Jess says probably the next most often asked question is about language skills.

JESSICA STAHL: "'How do I improve my English?' Because they have to take the TOEFL to apply to colleges, so [there is] a lot of concern about getting up to the level they need on that exam."

Of course, one way many students improve their English is with Special English, like this program. But we like the Student Union's Glossary of Confusing Words used in education. Readers can send in suggestions.

One newly added word is "catalog." An international student adviser wrote to say that new students generally have no idea what a university catalog is. So the glossary now includes this definition: "A university catalog (or college catalog) is an official publication that contains all the information a current or prospective student might need about academics and student services at a university."