This is the first time that I have studied abroad, it is also the first time that I have studied in other language that my mother tongue, and at the beginning this can be very challenging. My problems were caused mainly by living, speaking, and studying in English. I remembered that the first month I had constant headaches.
What I did to improve my English?
- I brought a recorder to my class and I asked for permission to tape the lectures, so when I got lost I could listen to them again.
- I registered in UBC’s program Academic English Support Program (http://cstudies.ubc.ca/academic-english-support-program/) and went to all the writing and speaking classes that my schedule allowed.
- I corrected my papers in UBC’s Writing Centre (http://cstudies.ubc.ca/writing/resources.html) and read books about the formal and stylistic conventions to write in academic English.
- I practice my speaking in a friendly environment and taught my own language in UBC’s Tandem program (http://www.tandemubc.ca/)
And just another tip, when I was saying to my friends that I was coming to study to Canada they will advise me about the cold. Well, in Vancouver is not a matter of cold (if we compared to the rest of Canada) the terrible thing is the lack of sun, for that I take vitamin D every day.
Best luck with your studies!
Magdalena Vergara
