Congratulations on getting into the University of Michigan, one of the top public universities in world! Whether you were a high school graduate who had to spend countless hours studying for the SAT and TOEFL/IELTS while simultaneously finishing your school exams, or you were an undergraduate who had to give the GRE/GMAT (and TOEFL/IELTS as well) to get into graduate school. For what it's worth, your hard work and determination brought you into this fine institution and now you will get to work with the Leaders and Best.
Since I mentioned TOEFL/IELTS, I would like to take this chance to enlighten my fellow incoming students that the speaking portion of those tests is not a true reflection of how people speak in the United States. Just like other languages, English is filled with various idioms and phrases that do not follow the usual definition of the word itself. For example, during my first year here, people used the word ‘steal’ when they wanted to borrow something. Startled, I said yes without thinking and then go into introspection on whether he/she had actually stole a furniture in my presence. Another such case arises when someone gives the wrong information at first and then corrects himself/herself by saying ‘I lied’ after realizing their mistake. Surely, the context of that word would apply after one had found out that he/she was incorrect, but saying that before seems to lighten the embarrassing situation between the speakers in my opinion
English is not an easy language to master especially if your native language belongs to a different language family (Language Tree) but there are opportunities to improve here at Michigan. Since last year, Sweetland Centre for Writing started a new program called Chat Café where small groups of international students engage in current topics with a native English speaker who facilitates the discussion. Another way of improving is through the Language Resource Centre’s (LRC) Conversation Partner program where you can find a language partner who wants to learn your language in exchange for teaching their own. The same goes for the Language Exchange Club (LEC) in Michigan. The English Language Institute (ELI) have Speaking Clinics for the University’s Academic community that is designed to provide short-term coaching on specific English speaking goals. In addition, just like Sweetland’s chat circles, ELI also has Conversation Circles where international students and scholars at U-M are provided with opportunity to practice English in an informal, casual setting. The best part of all of these programs is that they are free of cost. If these do not work out, you can still takes classes through Sweetland (Writing 240) for undergraduates or through ELI for graduate students.
So that is all I have for now. I hope it serves useful to my fellow incoming undergraduate and graduate students. Even if you do not make any American friends or embrace the televised entertainment here, you will be compelled to communicate in English in the university setting regardless. As a result, you will inadvertently become more proficient in your second language and soon may sound like a native speaker as well. However, should you doubt that your English is sub-par, remember what brought you into this competitive institution in the first place. English is just one aspect of your plethora of skills, hence your acumen in other subjects is what got you here too. So give yourself a pat on the back and get ready to be a Wolverine.
GO BLUE!
Irfanul Alam
Summer Orientation Peer Adviser
B.Sc. in Cellular and Molecular Biology
Country of Origin: Bangladesh
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