I have been back home for two months, and I have not been idle since I came back. Busy with projects, writing papers, looking for jobs, chatting with parents and friends I haven't seen for months, so that I want to give up writing a report on my visit to school. But when I was filming a video, I was suddenly grateful and moved by everything in the United States, new york and Columbia, so I turned on the computer and decided.
Three months, no matter how long or short. I feel lucky to be able to study in the best university in the world during my study. I am very grateful to my parents, my tutor and the lovely village head for their support. Here, I met many outstanding students of Columbia University and gave me a chance to communicate with these outstanding people at zero distance.
In fact, all kinds of raiders must have been written by other friends. You can refer to Cian's interview report for all kinds of American life, so write some emotional content. I don't know if it has any substantive effect, but I hope it will inspire my later friends.
In foreign countries, you must communicate with your parents more. However, no matter whether your family is good or not, you have to pay more energy than usual during the period when your parents let you live and study abroad. My mother said that every time my father saw a riot or shooting incident abroad, his heart was tied up and he definitely wanted to call me. As long as my mobile phone is dead, or WeChat doesn't return, they will be worried. Don't use chicken soup to say "worry is the worst gift" and "90% worry is useless". You are their child, and their worries are out of control. If you don't worry, you are not your own.
Maybe not all parents are as neurotic as my parents, but I can't emphasize it enough to reassure my parents. This is the duty of being a child.
There's not much we can do. Here are some of my thoughts:
(1) Always tell your parents that you are safe, especially when you go out to play, always keep your cell phone on. Once I went to a friend's house to play, and my mobile phone was in my bag for several hours. My parents sent WeChat, but I didn't reply. I'm particularly anxious. I asked my brother in America to call me and finally got in touch with me.
(2) Share your harvest and feelings with your parents here. Don't say you don't have time. If you spend a little time brushing your circle of friends and shopping, they will feel very gratified.
(3) Going back to China to buy this and that for friends, but what about parents? Don't forget them. The quality of health care products in the United States is good, and the price is only 1/3 at home. Various vitamins, intestinal probiotics and collagen (Move Free is a local American brand, take home 12 bottles, which is good for bones. It's expensive in China, but it's reasonable in the United States. This kind of food must be eaten in America, and my friend's parents have eaten it, which shows that domestic products have no effect.
(4) Of course, we should study hard and give them a satisfactory answer with excellent results. After all, going abroad is also an investment.
The quality of contacts expanded at Columbia University is very high. They really made me realize that "Excellence" is not only a high grade point, but also a so-called all-round development of morality, intelligence, physique and beauty. It has its own unique way of thinking and is making neat changes for the world. They read books with curiosity and pass the time in a unique way.
For example, Shen, who is preparing to return to China to run a school for her children's mental health growth, has studied extensively all over the country, and Zhang Si, the founder of my entrepreneurial team. ...
There are also friends who participated in the visit program with me, such as Du Yue, who was inseparable from me, and traveled all over the west coast of the United States with me. Even after returning home, we still keep in touch.
Thinking of them, I feel very warm and grateful to them, which makes me feel that the world is really beautiful.
Here, the relationship between teachers and students is more like that between friends. They are my language teachers and my ideological mentors. The teachers at Columbia University are really good. They communicate with them attentively, not only in class, but also in your life, in your ideal and in your point of view. They will give you different inspiration and you will gain more than you expected.
The teachers touched me with a few small details, such as Linda, the head teacher. I asked her about shorthand, and she patiently explained it to me. Then she actually gave me a lot of printed materials for my study and reference in the second class. For example, Christopher, who knows that I am a vegetarian, told me that the quality of agricultural products in farmers' markets is much higher than that in supermarkets, and the prices are acceptable.
What moved me the most was Kathryn, perhaps because we are vegetarians, and she felt particularly predestined. She introduced me to a free yoga studio, talked with me about how to cook, and introduced my books on meditation ... many details made me feel like I had met a long-lost confidant.
Thank them for giving me knowledge and dreams.
Many friends will put expanding their contacts in a very important task of visiting the school, and don't go to any bars or parties. Do you want to fly around with a blonde who just went to America and can't speak English fluently? I'm not encouraging people to communicate only with China people, but China students at Columbia University are really a good starting point for you to integrate into the Columbia circle. They will give you a lot of advice and take you into the circle of our school.
How do I know so many friends from Togo University? In fact, there is a high-quality reading institution called Lushan Society (WeChat WeChat official account: lushannyc), which was founded by a group of thoughtful young people. Lushan Society is a non-governmental, non-religious and non-profit public welfare organization organized by the people spontaneously. The aim of this organization is to improve the comprehensive quality of independent thinking and judgment of middle class and college students in China. At present, they hold free activities twice a week in new york: Reading Friendship Association (at Columbia University) and Leaderless Group (at new york University). They have activities every week and can send public messages regularly, so they can keep an eye on them at any time.
Basically, I take you to read a book every week, which can stimulate people's innovative thinking. Don't forget to ask for a micro-signal. Keep in touch with them more. You can really learn a lot from them.
First: Don't be shy, speak up.
In fact, this has little to do with practicing oral English, but practicing mentality and communication skills. No matter how good spoken English is, I dare not say that it is equal to zero. The purpose of language is communication, and it is also an ability to make people understand the information you want to express in time when your vocabulary is poor.
You know, the United States is a country where everyone has it. Your English is not good, your pronunciation is not standard, and there are many grammatical mistakes, but no one blames you. Foreigners are used to it! Especially in new york, they face people whose second language is English from all over the world every day. Put yourself in others' shoes. If you meet a foreigner with poor Chinese in the street, you will tell them patiently.
Second: read the newspaper and know what is happening in the world.
Christopher, my "male god" teacher, told us that American universities assume that students "know what is happening in the world", which is a basic literacy and an important indicator of enrollment. For people like me who don't care about the world, there is nothing to say in class because they don't watch the news at first. When others are talking about the American election, the Middle East war and the legalization of homosexuality, I know nothing and can't talk together.
What shall we do? There is a free New York Daily at the corner on the second floor of Lerner Hall, which is available every day. Once you take it, it's a thick stack. Basically, you have to read the title first, and then start from the field you are familiar with. I study information management, so I prefer business modules. You can also watch science and technology entertainment, which can ensure the daily reading.
Third: do shadow exercises.
In the pronunciation class offered by Columbia University for China students, a senior ALP teacher said that listening to a TED talk and then doing shadow exercises is the fastest way to improve oral English and listening. He has seen a student do shadow exercises for a week, and then the whole person is different. )。 Shadow practice, as its name implies, is to repeat the original words almost synchronously with English recording. Shadow practice method trains 15 minutes every day to practice accent and listening for simultaneous interpretation students, so as to improve the speed and sense of language.
This is a common way for interpreters to practice simultaneous interpretation skills, which can enhance their listening and speaking synchronization ability and short-term memory ability. Many international interpretation research institutions regard shadow practice as one of the tests to measure the entry level of interpreters.
At the end of the semester, I passed the qualification assessment. After returning home, I passed the advanced BEC easily, and it is said that I only passed 10%. Listening to BBC and CNC is basically stress-free, and foreigners dare to speak, which is inseparable from studying in ALP.
Tourism is actually a very important part in the process of visiting schools. Better arrangements are: go to new york and some surrounding cities on weekends, such as Washington, Boston and Philadelphia; You can go to the west coast or Miami during spring break, and you can stay for a few more days to go to another place after that.
During a short trip, Du Yue and I almost measured the earth with the soles of our feet. After a day's walk, we are very tired, but we can see many different scenery. I think traveling must feel the local customs like the locals.
After the tour, Maxi signed up for a group tour (no car). Many people are reluctant to participate in group tours, but those who want to visit more places in a short time can still consider it, especially in the western United States, where there are many natural scenery, and people like Yellowstone National Park may not be able to enjoy the fun of driving. For safety reasons, it is recommended to sign up for a group tour. My classmates and I signed up for a trip called "Seagull Holiday" in the United States, and the comprehensive price and service can be praised by 4.8 stars (no rebate T T, really recommended).
Now back at school, I feel different from my previous negative self. I think I have my own dreams and goals, and I hope I can do something for the world. Dreams are a space where you can imagine the future. The future is a place where people with dreams, creativity and hard work can get together.
Goodbye new york, goodbye Columbia University, goodbye all the friends here, and thank you for your dream of "making the world a better place". I hope that one day, we can get together again because of our dreams.
In addition, a student organization named Jimmy's Public Student Organization of Columbia University will organize students to teach in summer. On July 24th, I will go to Yunnan to teach with them for two weeks. The curriculum design is very interesting, and I hope it can also bring children a happy two weeks. Students who have time recommend it.
Thanks again!