The best way to start speaking a language while making new friends abroad

So you found your dream apartment, settled in your new home, and are doing everything you can to adjust to your new destination. You know that learning French, Spanish, Italian, Portuguese, German, or whichever foreign language is native to your new country, is paramount to integrating and experiencing the true native culture. Although beginner or intermediate language courses can really improve your language skills,  it can't really prepare you for the moment when you will need to say your first sentence, order food, or ask for directions at the train station in your new language. What you really need now is a tandem who will get you speaking- fast.

Writen by Danielle Neubauer 

You may have tried speaking to strangers on the street by joining sentences using the latest words learned your language class, but you’re not really making any sense, and let’s face it, your accent is a clear indication of where you come from. 

Sound familiar?

Well, we have a solution for you. 

You need to find someone who has an incentive to sit in front of you and listen to your blabbering, with some heavenly unexplained interest and super human patience to correct every third word you say...

 That perfect someone is a tandem.

The word “tandem” means to mutually work together as team. A tandem is someone you can meet up with to practice a language of your choice, which also happens to be their mother tongue, and visa-versa.  

Everyone should get one!

(It's also free.)
This is a great way to minimize the cost of your studies abroad and save up the money you would have spent on a tutor. 

The business model is somewhat of a non-profit B2B based on "give and take". No money involved! ...(Or maybe just paying for the coffee you treat yourself to while you two talk.)

Still sound weird? Well, here are some motives which explain the benefits to both parties:

Your tandem’s motive: You speak the language that they want to learn, and that suggests that they are interested in learning about your culture too. You’re like an exotic creature in their land, and besides from learning their language, they want to get to know you. 

Your motive: Practicing the language. Finally having someone explain the small gestures you’ve been seeing people do in your new home but never really understood or had someone to talk to about it. They can give you a local’s insight into where to go, what to see, and what not to do (in their native language, of course!), and most importantly listen to you.  

How to do it?

You might feel really embarrassed at first, trying to mumble your first words in the chosen language. Don’t worry about your tandem judging you, because once you switch roles, it will be their turn to impress you. The point is to correct the mistakes the other one makes, until the language you are practicing is flawless.

5  Strategies for finding your perfect tandem:

Potential Tandems are everywhere. You just need to learn to spot them. Here’s a few ways you can go about finding the right One:

1. Language exchange groups:

Every major self-respecting city has language exchange groups. These groups make the cities global, hip, and welcoming to strangers and international students. In the event that your city doesn't, make sure to gather up a cool crew and create your own. 

2. At your university:

Many universities in the world organize these meetings to allow their international students to integrate into the country and meet new people. If you haven’t heard about anything like this, knock on your international office door, and ask the staff members about it. They can give you all the details and point you in the right direction.  

3. Hostels - a meeting point for people from all over the world: 

Some Hostels in your town might also host language exchange meetings. Although you might not want to associate yourself with tourists, a language exchange meeting at a hostel is actually not a bad idea! It could be a meeting point for a lot of locals and international students like yourself, who want to learn that foreign language. Call the closest hostel around and give it a shot.   

4. Facebook pages:

The most effective way to find tandems is through Facebook pages and events. If you search for tandem groups in your city or language, trust me, you’ll be able to find quite a few people who are interesting in meeting up for a coffee, and blabbering in their language of choice. You can even write your own post on what exactly it is that you are looking for, and the right person will find you.

Before you contact your potential tandem, make sure that you are presenting yourself on social media in a way that is not going to freak them out.  You can do that using Rep'nUp, to scan your profile.

5. On the street and here, there and everywhere!

You would be surprised at the amount of people that are interested in learning your language. Doesn't matter if it's widely spoken or not, there will always be that one person in a group that has taken up trying to learn it. If you find someone like that, don't hesitate. Ask them if they want to be your tandem. 

The beautiful thing about “tandeming-up” is that it serves a number of purposes. You get to meet awesome people who are open minded enough to take interest in your culture and your language too. This makes the interest mutual. Second – you get to practice and improve your language of choice and make as many mistakes as you can. Third – you make local friends who will make your stay so much more interesting and give you a genuine experience in your new home. 

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4 Tips to Follow if you want to Study Abroad - From Ales Jug

When asked "where’s home?", Ales answers, "it's where the family is". This is because Ales has been for years commuting between the city he's from in Slovenia to Boston, where he is currently doing his second Ph.D. degree and teaching, at Worcester Polytechnic Institute. With 5 degrees in fire and health safety, maritime, transport and entrepreneurship, it's quite clear that Ales has hacked the code to gettinginto basically any program he wants. After hearing about his impressive journey, we decided to expose some of his tips and get a true professional's insight into how to do it like a pro. 

One of the qualities that make Ales so inspiring is his view on opportunities. He believes that the path that he took of going abroad to study happened to him by chance, after an opportunity showed up. When he finished his first degree in Slovenia, he happened to bump into one of the deans in his university at a coffee shop. After introducing himself, the faculty member convinced him that it would be a good idea for him to do his second degree in fire and health safety  in the United States. He saw this as an opportunity, and went on a quest to finding the right program in the States. 

Back when Ales decided to study in America, the internet wasn't very developed and other than a few brochures he received, he didn't have a lot of information on how to study abroad. He took a flight to the States for a congress, to search for the right program. He scheduled a meeting with one of the professors from Worcester Polytechnic Institute when he arrived. He was surprised by the extent to which that professor helped him, and the amount of time he spent talking to him. He recommends others to not be afraid, and do the same. Personally go talk to a professor and see how they can help you. 

Personal contact has always helped Ales. He finds this the most effective way to gather all of the information that you need when trying to do something you've never done before. Before studying abroad, it's impossible to know about all difficulties you will face, but if you talk to someone who has already done it, they know exactly what you need to expect. 

Ales found that personal contact allows you to get information, but it also allows people to get to know you and want to help you. When a professor meets you and knows who you are, they would probably be more interested in having you on their team in comparison to someone they haven't met and don't know anything about. 

To go through the process of studying abroad is kind of like entering a dark tunnel. You don't always know what to do, and the path isn't always bright. Don't be scared of the unknown! Try to embrace and enjoy the feeling of figuring out what to do along the way. It's kind of like a puzzle which you need to solve, and every step of the way you get another piece to complete it. Ales also believes that the best way to deal with this feeling, is just to dive into the water and start swimming and learning as you go. 

Ales is also an entrepreneur himself. After finishing his Masters, he realized that a big problem in the world is that research in universities isn't effectively distributed to the masses. To solve that problem, he founded a startup which brings health and fire safety to people in different parts of the world like Africa and East Europe. Ales has a true passion for entrepreneurship, and is also helping students at Worcester Polytechnic Institute develop their own ideas, and succeed in their fields of study. 

If these tips helped and inspired you, help others too, by sharing. 

Let us know what you thought by commenting down below and following us  on: 

Instagram,        Twitter,          Facebook,        LinkedIn

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How to Calculate the Living Expenses and Tuition of Studying Abroad in the United States

So you got into Columbia University, Princeton, Stanford or your dream college school, and now you are finally going to make your dream come true and move to the United States. You say goodbye to your friends, kiss your parents goodbye and you are ready to pack your bags and get on the first flight to New York, San Fransisco or Boston. Just as you are about to walk out the door, you realize there’s only one question that’s holding you back. How much is it going to cost and how will you pay for it?

Whether you want to study law, engineering, mathematics, science or art, it is no secret that studying in the United States isn’t very cheap. On the positive side, international students can apply to student grants and scholarships that can cover these expenses or use other tricks to save money while studying abroad. 

   

How much will it cost to Study in the States?

American schools can be divided into three main categories according to the cost of their tuition and living expenses.  

1.      

1. The Ivy Leagues: 

These are considered some of the best universities in the world because of their excellent study facilities and professional reputation. MIT, Stanford, Harvard, Princeton and Columbia University are just a few famous names that fit into this category which attract thousands of international students from China, India, Europe and basically everywhere in the world. If you are not sure which one would fit you best, take the personality test to find out. These universities have the highest tuition costs, but also offer their students, the best financial aid. So if you rocked your GRE tests, you have an impressive statement of purpose and you are talented enough to get accepted into one of these schools, the tuition costs shouldn’t hold you back.

Let’s take Harvard for example. According to them, their yearly standard student budget for 2016-2017 is estimated to be around $63,025 without taking personal spending into consideration. This includes $43,280 for tuition, $3,794 for additional fees, $9,894 to rent a room at the university and $6,057 for the board. But don’t let these numbers scare you. Talk to former international student at the university of your choice to figure out how to get a fully funded scholarship at the top university of your choice. 

2. State Universities:

As their name suggests, these universities are usually public institutions that are funded by the state or district which they are located in. To study in one of these universities costs less than in the ivy leagues because they get subsidies from their state to encourage students to enroll, making the tuition significantly less. Some of the top public schools that attract international students from all over the world include the University of California (Berkeley), University of California (Los Angeles), University of Virginia, University of Michigan and the University of North Carolina (Chapel Hill).

The tuition at these universities vary according to the applicant's background, study program and the school of choice. The University of California for example, requires a student to have a yearly budget of $32,384, which includes $13,518 tuition, $14,992 room and board costs, $2,612 for a student health insurance plan and $1,262 for books and supplies.

3. Community colleges:

These colleges offer students an associate’s degree which is a two-year program, counting as the first half of the bachelor’s degree. Students can later complete the degree after transferring to a university. Out of the three categories, this is the easiest to get into as well as the cheapest option. Some of the best community colleges include the Gordon Cooper technology center, Knox County Career Center and Charles A. Jones Career and Education Center.

At the Gordon Cooper technology center for example, the average yearly study budget is $23,247, which includes $5,697 for tuition, $300 for books and supplies and $17,250 for room and board costs.

Now that you have an estimation of how much it will cost to study in the States in different universities, find out how you can study for free by reading our blog and talking to a coach who will help you get all of the information about getting a scholarship, a grant or a loan. 

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Salman's best tips to succeed in studying abroad

Excited about his new research position at the University of Louisiana, one of the first things Salman said in his video interview with GradTrain was “welcome to my new office!” 

Out of millions of prospective students, who dream about studying abroad, Salman made his dream come true last summer. He sent six applications to different universities in the United States, got accepted to 5 of them, and started his masters at the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, where he now studies with a full scholarship. Here's your chance to hear his success story, get inspired and get tips for studying abroad.

Salman has been to over 6 countries but still characterizes himself as being raised in a very typical Bangladeshi family. He believed that after finishing his first degree in engineering, in Bangladesh, he will go on to find a typical job in the field, and pursue a “normal life” in Bangladesh. Fortunately for him, things went better than planned.

During his undergraduate degree, Salman started working in a lab in Bangladesh, to gain work experience. He worked in research with Dr. Nadim Khandaker, who completed his PhD in a reputed US university. Although he wasn't a straight-A student, he was very dedicated to his research and his team was very happy with his work. When he finished his first degree, his professor inspired him to get his advanced degree in the United States. Salman's professor knew from experience, that Salman’s career can take a huge leap if he did his masters in the US.

Starting the process

Salman started the process by searching the web for programs of his interest and figuring out the requirements necessary for applying. He found out that there are a lot of parameters to take into consideration when applying, and that it really isn't an easy task. He needed a strategic plan! 

First of all, he found out about the GradTrain admissions predictor, that anlayzes you background automatically and helps you choose the right school that you can get accepted to. He put in his required field of study and schools. He found and was able to significantly narrow down his choices.

Next, instead of spending many more hours researching what he should do to apply, he started finding out who can help him. While all his friends were signing up to agencies which filled out applications for them or helped them retake their tests, Salman decided to try something different. He found GradTrain, and began taking video sessions with a GradTrain coach who went through the study abroad process who could help him.

Salman had many questions, which only someone who went through the process would know the answers to. One of the main things that Salman needed advice on, was whether he needs to retake his tests to have a higher chance of getting accepted to a university. Now, when asked to give advice to international students, he says: "Don't waste your time on redoing tests."

His coach helped him create a strategic plan to focus his attention in the direction that best fits his background and ambitions and with the coach’s guidance, Salman upgraded his application package. Salman advises to look at your overall profile, and find out what your weaknesses and strengths are when applying. The coach also helped him better understand what US universities are looking for and what to emphasize or de-emphasize in his essay. 

Following his success and based on his positive experience with GradTrain, after getting accepted to the university of his choice, Salman requested to become a GradTrain coach himself, to help the future generations of international students who want to follow in his footsteps.. You can get advice from Salman by scheduling a 1:1 meeting with him.

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How to boost your chances of getting the best scholarship

More students than ever enroll in U.S. colleges and Universities every year - nearly 20 million. Close to 12 million of them, or 60%, borrow annually to help cover costs. For the 1 million international students in the US, the issue is even more severe, whereas most of them (65%) need to fund their education by themselves or with the help of their family. Simultaneously, the job market is becoming less secure for college graduates and it takes longer for students to find a well-paying job. Having students loans to repay creates extra pressure for college graduates who are frequently forced to settle for a job that will help them pay off their loans rather than have the career they truly want.

By Sgt. Gabriela Garcia 

Simultaneously, more and more scholarships are available on the market. Many companies and institutions establish scholarships as a part of their corporate responsibility programs. The great part about these scholarships is that many of them don’t require a high GPA or standardized test scores. Many of them make decisions based on essays and recommendations, creating opportunities for students who generally heavily rely on loans to finance their education.

There are two challenges associated with private scholarships: finding and securing these opportunities. There are various sites, such as ScholarshipOwl, that aggregate scholarship offerings and help navigate and streamline the application process. Once students find a scholarship that matches their profile, such as their location, major or ethnicity, they need to create an application that will be worthy of scholarship consideration.

Here are a few tips on filling out those scholarship applications:

1. Don’t rush into it. Allow at least a week to process your answers and several weeks to perfect your essay.
2. Write your answers using a word processing software first rather first, rather than directly filling in the application form. This will allow you to spell check instantly and think over your responses. After spending some time on editing your answers, go over them with someone who does essay editing for a living, e.g. your English teacher, a guidance counselor, or you can hire an English tutor to work on these with you. Don’t get someone else to write these for you - the answers will not be genuine. You need to own your responses, making sure they are well-written. Once your answers are finalized, fill in the forms online.
3. Write the most amazing, emotional and effective essays you can. Unsure what to write about? In order to write good essays, you need to have positive real life experiences. How do you get those?
1. Volunteer
2. Teach
3. Hike across the U.S. in the summer or get your family to go on a road trip
4. Get a hobby that allows you to interact with people; maybe even help people
5. Raise money for a good cause
6. Start a company
7. Become ridiculously good at something

By Adegante - Own work, GFDL,
 httpscommons.wikimedia.
orgwindex.phpcurid=13819892

When you have those life experiences, you will easily find something to write about on a variety of topics.

4. Get really good at writing. Spend 30 minutes each day writing a blog or an essay. Get help editing them and going over them. Take writing courses at school and online. Join writing groups. You will need this skill way beyond high school and college, and now is the time to develop the discipline of writing. Once you are used to writing, you overcome the infamous writer’s stumbling block and take half the time to write those essays.
5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help! Get friends, teachers, guidance counselors, parents and everyone else on board. Get them to review your applications and give you feedback.

ScholarshipOwl, an automated scholarship search and application service that matches students to hundreds of scholarships, offers an opportunity to high school, college and grad school students to reduce the burden of student loans by sourcing and automatically submitting relevant scholarship applications.

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Which Top University were You Born for?

Were you born to study at a top university in the U.S.? 

Take the Personality Quiz to find out!

By Trexer (Own work) [GFDL (httpwww.gnu.orgcopyleftfdl.html) or CC-BY-SA-3.0 
(httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa3.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

For more information about matching the best school to who you are, don't hesitate to 

contact us at: info@gradtrain.com. 

If you want to learn more about studying abroad in the U.S. or anywhere else in the world, 

go to our Blog or ask a question on our Forum. 

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How to: choose your study abroad destination

The secret to success in having a stress-free application process is to plan strategically. With about 194 attractive destinations to choose from, and over 23,729 universities in the world, choosing where to apply for university abroad can get really confusing. Applying is not an easy task, and if you are already getting overwhelmed by how to start this process, this step by step guide is for you!

1. What do you want to achieve?

By Chestie Nut (Own work) [CC BY-SA 4.0
 (httpcreativecommons.orglicensesby-sa4.0)], via Wikimedia Commons

The question which you need to answer is: why do you want to study abroad? Take a pen and a paper, and jot down your top three reasons! Your motives will later influence your university application list, so it's very important that you take this step very seriously. Think about where you want to see yourself at the end of this process. Some people are interested in learning about different cultures, others have their career after their studies in mind. Do you want to open up possibilities for a better future in a new country? Do you want to have a top ranked university on your resume? Take the time to talk to family members, friends and people who already studied abroad who can help you better understand your motives. 

      2. Choose the character of your University

This is where you go into detail. Now that you know what you want to achieve, it's time to consider the parameters of your ideal study experience. Think about how important the location of the school is for you. If you need help choosing a country to study in, take this easy personality test to find out which city suits you.  If you want to stay abroad after your studies, make sure the university you pick is in a country that allows you to do that. Think about the language of the country, the culture, and ask yourself how important the reputation of the university is for you. Also, make sure to take your budget into consideration. How much are you willing to pay for the studies and living expenses? These are all important factors, which will make your life easier in the application process, and will save you time and money in the future. When you finish brainstorming, create a spreadsheet with all the parameters of your ideal university and study experience. 

    3. Locate the universities that match your answers

Now that you know what you are looking for, it's time to do some research. Hold on before you start your google search, because this is where it gets a bit overwhelming. With today's easy access to information, you need to stay focused. Have your spreadsheet open, and start listing the universities that match the top parameters that are most important to you. For example, if the location is the most important for you, list down all the universities in the area of your choice, which offer the study program which you are interested in. Stay open minded and list down even options that you haven't thought about before, as long as they match your criteria. 

After listing the universities, go through the other sections which you wrote down, and tick off each section which matches your ideal choice of school. You will be able to find all this information in the universities' websites. You need to get all of information  first, so that you end up with a list of matching schools that you would be happy to study in.

4    4. Find out the Requirements and your Chances of getting Accepted

Now that you limited your choices, it's time to find out what your requirements are to study in each university on your list. Each country and university has different application criteria for international students. If you have no idea what the criteria in your choice of country is, talk to someone who knows. Find someone from the same background as you. It's even better if they studied in one of the universities on your list. If you have already done some of the required tests, and you know what the criteria for each university application is, get advice to see how you can improve your chances of getting accepted. Talk to someone who already did it and knows what universities are looking for. 

If your dream is to study business or engineering in the United States, there are some advanced predictive tools now available that can help you find out which schools will accept you. Also find out how selective each university is by looking at the percentage of the students that are admitted. Try to match your characteristics to the ones that they are looking for to know where you best fit. 

      5. How many university applications should you send?

This is where you finalize your university application list. Your goal is on one hand, to open up your options, but also to save up as much time and money as you can. Since each application costs between $80-$250 (depending on program and school), choose your application list wisely.

Divide your university list into three categories according to your qualification: dream schools (“reach”), schools you are likely to be a good fit for (“match”), and some “safety” schools, according to your chances of getting accepted to the different schools. By doing this, you are ensuring that you will get accepted to at least one of these schools, but you are also opening up the option of getting accepted into a school above your qualification. Make sure that you will be satisfied with studying in each of these universities. With this strategy, you will have a comprehensive portfolio of ideally 5-7 schools that are the right choice for you.

For more information about how to apply and make your dream of studying abroad a reality, feel free to join us at GradTrain, or ask questions on our forums.    

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