Resources for International Students

Resources for International Students

 

 

 

I will be teaching next year and I am still not confident about my language skills. What can I do?

The Derek Bok Center for Teaching and Learning offers a wide range of courses and workshops, as well as individual consultations, for international teaching fellows (TFs) at Harvard. If you are interested in improving your oral communication or teaching skills, visit the Bok Center early in your Harvard career; don’t wait until you begin to teach. To learn more, check the Bok Center website for offerings for the 2012-2013 academic year. If you would like to speak to someone about what would best suit your needs, contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view.

International graduate students who have not yet met the GSAS language proficiency requirement should consider registering for the Bok Center’s Classroom Communication Skills Course for International Teaching Fellows, which is designed to help students develop the oral communication skills necessary for teaching in the Harvard classroom.  Through intensive speaking activities and assignments, including microteaching presentations, students work on improving their oral English comprehensibility and accuracy, learn and practice general pedagogical strategies for teaching interactively, improve their impromptu speaking skills, and build the ability to interact effectively with undergraduates. With the instructor, students identify clear and achievable goals for the semester.  In addition to class meetings, students will meet individually with the instructor for 30 minutes per week and have the opportunity to meet with an undergraduate consultant weekly as well. The course is designed for students who have not yet met the English language requirement for teaching set by GSAS, or who have met the requirement but still lack confidence in their speaking skills.  Students in this course typically have TOEFL iBT speaking scores of 19-23.  An application and interview are required for course admission. This course is offered every semester. To apply for the course please contact  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . The deadline for applications for the Spring 2013 course is Friday, January 18. Enrollment is limited so we recommend that you register early to ensure a spot in the course.

Click here to learn more about the course.

The Harvard Writing Project consultants can help teaching fellows learn how to encourage their students to write better, more persuasive papers. HWP consultants are available to help organize special TF training sessions, to lead workshops on responding to student writing at staff meetings, and to develop course-specific teaching guides; please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. , HWP Director, This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it by e-mail or phone (617-495-5785) for information.

 

If I want to continue to develop my written and verbal English skills, is help available?

1) Institute for English Language Programs

You may want to improve your English language skills by taking Institute for English Language (IEL) Programs courses at the Harvard University Extension School or the Harvard Summer School. In all IEL courses, students read a novel and contemporary journalism as well as a wide variety of articles across the curriculum, and engage in a variety of speaking and writing tasks in order to expand their vocabulary, monitor and receive feedback on language problems, and gain wider cultural awareness. Brochures are available at the Extension School, 51 Brattle Street, or online. GSAS will pay tuition for one non-intensive IEL course in the Harvard Extension School or Harvard Summer School.  

PLEASE NOTE: Placement tests are required for all IEL courses. Go to www.iel.harvard.edu to see the schedule. To take a placement test, students must reserve a seat by noon on the day of the deadline.

Students may take a placement tests for January courses on Saturday, December 1 at 10:00 am or Friday, December 7 at 3:00 pm. Reservations for the placement tests for January Courses may be made starting on Monday, November 26.  NO LATE TESTS WILL BE ADMINISTERED.  

Students may take a placement test for Spring semester courses on Wednesday, January 16 at 3:00 pm or Thursday, January 24 at 6:00 pm. Reservations for the placement tests for Spring semester courses may also be made starting on Monday, November 26. NO LATE TESTS WILL BE ADMINISTERED.

To register for a class, once you have a placement test score, please go to www.iel.harvard.edu, select Forms in the upper right of the page, then click Course Registration under the Extension School forms heading, print and complete the form. Bring the form to GSAS at 350 Holyoke for processing and to obtain a voucher, and then take it to the IEL office at 46 Brattle Street.

January Session

The GSAS Student Affairs Office is pleased to announce that IEL is again offering two courses during the January term that are important for GSAS international students. Courses will begin January 4 and end January 26. GSAS and IEL understand that because of your busy schedules, you may have difficulty enrolling in fall and spring term IEL courses. Here is an opportunity for you to receive professional instruction during the January break. If you have been funded by GSAS for IEL courses or peer consulting, you are still eligible to take these courses.

  • IEL E-41 Pronunciation Levels A-E.
  • MWF 9am-noon or MWF 6:30-9:30pm, January 4 to January 26

Although English is a global language and is therefore produced with numerous acceptable rhythms and contours, nonnative speakers naturally wish to be understood in a variety of contexts, and particularly in international and multicultural situations where their interlocutors are also nonnative users of the language. Designed to promote the accurate articulation of ideas by the students enrolled in each class, this course utilizes a variety of media and texts that permit students to recognize and monitor their linguistic shortcomings and produce clear speech. Like all IEL courses, this class will reflect the term's theme and involve materials that flesh out consideration of the theme. If there are enough GSAS students to form a section at the respective levels of proficiency, other students will not be enrolled with them; if not, GSAS students will join other registrants at their level of proficiency in these classes.

Spring Semester

For a listing of Spring semester courses, check www.iel.harvard.edu.

 

2) Bureau of Study Counsel

Another option for international students seeking to improve their English language skills is the ESL (English as a Second Language) Peer Consultation Program at the Bureau of Study Counsel. Undergraduate and graduate peer consultants work with international students who are non-native English speakers to help them improve their oral communication skills in English. Students work with peer consultants to fine-tune their general speaking and listening skills in English, understand American idioms, learn more about U.S. and Harvard cultures, develop social conversational skills, and practice for oral presentations for classroom or professional contexts. The peer consultants are not available to assist with writing skills or help with editing.

It is advisable to request a consultant as early as possible.  Students interested in the ESL peer consultation program should call 617-495-1814 and make an appointment with Rise Shepsle to discuss a referral to the Bureau’s ESP Peer Consultation Program. GSAS will provide a GSAS student with $925 of funding for a peer consultant.

In addition, the Bureau of Study Counsel offers the Harvard Course in Reading and Study Strategies twice in the fall (September/October), twice in the month of February, and once in the summer. Some of the topics covered in the Reading Course include the mechanics of reading, reading with a question, remembering what you read, and navigating longer texts.

January Term Course Offering

In January 2013, the Bureau of Study Counsel is offering a version of the Harvard Course in Reading and Study Strategies tailored to students for whom English is not their native language.  The course will meet two hours per day for five days -- Monday, January 14, through Friday, January 18, 2013, 3 to 5 p.m.

What is the aim of the January course?  The course for students for whom English is a non-native language will help students develop a repertoire of strategies for reading expository text.  The course will also devote particular attention to the structure of American academic/expository texts, the implicit assumptions about authority at work for American academic writers and readers, and students' experience of adjusting to Harvard courses and classrooms.

Is this an ESL course?  This is not an ESL course, i.e., a course in how to read English.  It is a course in how to approach reading American expository texts at an advanced level (i.e., at an undergraduate, graduate, or professional level).

How should a student decide which version of the course to take?  Any student is welcome to take either the term-time/summer version of the course or the January course tailored to non-native English readers.  Many students for whom English is a non-native language have taken the term-time/summer version of the course and found it very useful.  At the same time, many such students have indicated that they would value a course with a focus on the particular concerns and needs of non-native readers.  Students in either version of the course can speak with their instructor about how to make the best use of the course given their particular needs and challenges. 

What is the cost of the course?  Is financial assistance available?  $25 for students in Harvard College and the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences; $150 for all others. 

How do students register for the course?  When and how do students pay for the course?  Advance registration is required.  Please register in person at 5 Linden Street, Cambridge, MA.  We cannot accept registration by phone or email. Payment in full is required upon registration.  Cash and checks are accepted.  Harvard students may term bill (except students in the Harvard Extension School). 

The Student Affairs Office encourages international students to take advantage of these opportunities. If students have any questions about the IEL courses or peer consulting, they should contact Rise Shepsle, Assistant Dean of Student Affairs, by phone (617-495-1814) or e-mail.

 

Is it possible to discuss with someone specific questions about papers I am working on or general concerns about writing?

Students, including those for whom English is not a first language, may make an appointment at any stage of their writing for one-hour conferences with This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , the GSAS Writing Tutor. All consultations are free and confidential. GSAS also provides a list of proofreaders and editors. Proofreading and editing services are paid for by individual students.

The Bureau of Study Counsel offers a Dissertation Writers Support Group each semester to graduate students in the Graduate School of Arts and Sciences, Graduate School of Education, the Harvard Kennedy School, and the Harvard Business School Doctoral Programs. The focus of the group is on the writing experience, rather than the writing content.  The group provides support and problem-solving around issues such as time management, procrastination, task/work structuring, motivation, and managing the kinds of life factors that can interfere with the writing process.  The group does not teach writing skills or read/edit drafts. If you are interested, schedule a half-hour pre-group consultation meeting with Niti Seth or SungLim Shin by calling the Bureau at 617-495-2581.

In addition to the dissertation writers' support group, graduate students may also sign up for other Bureau workshops (e.g., on perfectionism, speaking up in class, learning style, etc.) or make an individual appointment with a Bureau counselor (which, like the group, will tend to focus on the writing experience rather than the writing content).

For more information about writing resources for GSAS students, including international students, please go to http://gsas.harvard.edu/writing.

 

I live in a GSAS residence hall. Is it possible for me to meet informally with other international students to discuss problems I face as an international student?

Several Resident Advisors (RAs) have a particular interest in English as a Second Language and in assisting international students. You can contact any of the other RAs, as well.

Mazen Elfakhani – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Sujoyini Mandal – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Cian Power – This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

 

I have been a graduate student for several years and would like to help new GSAS international students. What can I do?

Think of applying for positions such as Dudley Fellows or resident advisors in the GSAS residence halls.

You can also assist with the GSAS summer English Language Program for incoming international students. Contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

We encourage international students to sign up to host an incoming international student in the Host Student Program. The goal of the program is to help incoming international students feel welcome and comfortable as they make the transition to life in the US and in GSAS. Look for an invitation to participate in your email in April.

 

How can I meet students from other countries and other GSAS departments and continue to develop my English language skills?

Get involved at Dudley House, your graduate student center, which hosts social events, intellectual/cultural events, arts outings, film series, literary events, public service opportunities, athletics, and musical groups.

 

Whom can I talk with in GSAS about any academic or personal concerns?

  • Garth McCavana, Dean for GSAS Student Affairs, has general responsibility for the welfare of graduate students and monitors students’ academic status and progress and is available to discuss any concerns that may arise. He will refer students to additional sources of assistance if necessary.

    Offices: Holyoke Center, 3rd floor, 617-495-1814; Dudley House, 3rd floor, 617-496-3362; e-mail

  • Ellen Fox, Director of GSAS Student Services, is the primary resource for all GSAS students about any academic or personal concerns. She serves in an advisory role and provides support and information about counseling and other services for GSAS students. Ellen supervises the Resident Advisors, one of whom resides on each floor of the GSAS Residence Halls.

    Office: Dudley House, Rm. B2, 617-495-5005; This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. .
     
  • Darryl Zeigler at the Harvard International Office serves as the international student advisor for all GSAS students. He is responsible for advising students on matters related to their immigration status and is available to discuss any concerns that may arise.

    Office: Holyoke Center, Rm. 864, main number: 617-495-2789 or direct number: 617-495-0640;  This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.  

Another good source of help is the Bureau of Study Counsel, a campus resource for academic and personal development. The Bureau offers individual counseling about the concerns that come up for students in their efforts to learn and live at Harvard. Counseling is free and confidential.

The Bureau also offers a number of workshops and discussion groups. For a full listing, check out the Bureau’s website at bsc.harvard.edu and look under the “Workshops and Discussion Groups” tab. Among the workshops that are often of interest to graduate students is a group called “What Are You Doing with Your Life” for graduate students who wish to explore their purpose, passion, and potential, along with the conflicts and challenges they feel in defining who they are, what they are doing, and where they are going in life. Interested students should schedule a half-hour pre-group consultation meeting with Sheila Reindl or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. by emailing them or by calling the Bureau at 617-495-2581.

In addition, all Bureau counselors are available to discuss writing strategies and the writing process with students in individual counseling sessions.

Office: 5 Linden Street, 617-495-2581; bsc.harvard.edu.

 

For travel within the U.S., do I need to carry documentation?

When you travel within the boundaries of the United States, you will not normally go through immigration inspection procedures. If you travel by car or bus near a border area (for example the Canadian border) you may encounter immigration “spot checks.” It is advisable to carry your passport, I-94 card, and visa documents in these areas. If you are traveling within the United States by plane, you should also travel with all of your immigration documents, as you may be asked to show official identification. Finally, it is advisable to carry at minimum a photocopy of your I-94 card, visa document and the biographical page of your passport whenever you are traveling outside the Boston area.

If you have any further questions about travel and documentation, please contact This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it at the Harvard International Office.

 

I have heard about January @GSAS. What activities would be of interest to me?

January@GSAS is a flexible series of events designed to help you acquire essential research and professional skills, prepare for your career, master some new interests, or just relax and have fun. Given Harvard’s winter break, January is one time of year when things slow down, and that makes it a good time to turn attention to your own professional and personal development. Past January programs have included Personal Money Management, Computational Science Ventures, Business Applications for the PhD, Counteracting Stress, and Building a Powerful Online Identity.

As part of January@GSAS, the Graduate Student Council sponsors a series of mini-courses on a broad variety of intriguing topics. These noncredit courses, taught by GSAS students for GSAS students, engage topics of discipline-spanning appeal, designed for a diverse audience of nonspecialists. You can apply to teach a mini-course, or you can take one — enjoying an opportunity to step back from your own line of scholarly inquiry and step into other perspectives. Visit www.gsas.harvard.edu/january for information. 

 

How do I keep up with information relevant to my graduate student experience?

Please read the GSAS Bulletin’s print and online editions for news, features, and events. Consult our website for information about program requirements, policies, and resources for students. Each month, Dean Garth McCavana sends an e-mail newsletter to students with important announcements and timely events. Finally, we encourage you to participate in the activities offered by Dudley House.