Fitting in at the University of Texas at Austin
时间:2019-01-12 作者:英语课 分类:2016年VOA慢速英语(七)月
Fitting 1 in at the University of Texas at Austin
EDITOR'S NOTE: This story is part of a new ongoing 2 series about international student life at colleges and universities across the U.S. Please join us over the next several weeks as we bring you stories about these amazing individuals and the American higher education system as a whole.
Diana Ayoub did not think she would study in the U.S. after finishing high school.
Ayoub was born in Cairo, Egypt. She says the Egyptian education system is all about memorization. There are few chances for students to get experience using what they learn in the classroom.
Making the choice to attend a university in a foreign country is never easy. But Ayoub felt the education system in her home country lacked the resources and methods she desired.
By her first year in high school, Ayoub knew she needed to leave Egypt to get the kind of education she wanted. So she enrolled 3 in the African Leadership Academy, or ALA, in 2012.
The ALA is a special private high school in South Africa. With students from 45 different countries, the ALA trains leaders to help solve issues across the African continent.
Ayoub did not know how to apply to schools in the U.S. The ALA college counselors 4 helped her move through the complex application process. She also applied 5 to the African Leadership Bridge scholarship program to help pay for her education.
"I had no idea what was an SAT, I didn’t know what was a GPA. I didn’t know I had to write college essays and applications … But thank god I got good support from my college counselors."
Then, Ayoub chose to seek an undergraduate degree in economics 6 at the University of Texas at Austin in 2014.
The University of Texas at Austin, or UT Austin, was founded in 1883. The public research university is one of fourteen schools in the University of Texas system. UT Austin is located in Austin, the capital city of the state of Texas.
With a world-class music scene, Austin is called the “Live Music Capital of the World”. The city is also famous for its wild outdoor art and ethnic 7 food trucks. In recent years, many technology companies have moved into the city. The cost of living has risen.
Some people are worried that Austin is losing its artistic 8 spirit. There is an effort to support local business called “Keep Austin Weird 9.” This motto appears on T-shirts and bumper 10 stickers around the city.
Every year the city holds a large festival celebrating new music, art and technology called “South by Southwest.” President Barack Obama spoke 11 at the event in 2016.
Ayoub is a Coptic Christian 12, a religious minority in Egypt. She knew what it felt like to be different from most people before coming to the U.S. But Ayoub says that in Austin everyone is different, so everyone is accepted for who they are.
"There is no one weird in Austin. It’s normal to be weird. … I knew that I’m never going to be judged for my culture or my background."
The decision to study at UT Austin was not as difficult for Carlos Galdeano. Galdeano is from Mexico City, Mexico, a four-hour flight from Austin. He says moving to Austin did not require much money.
Galdeano also received a scholarship after enrolling 13 at UT Austin in 2012. The scholarship came from the Mexican government agency called The National Council for Science and Technology.
Galdeano is earning his doctorate 14 degree, or Ph.D, in civil engineering, studying how water and energy are used.
He wanted to study under some of UT Austin’s more well-known professors. Daene McKinney, David Maidment and Michael Webber are all experts in Galdeano’s field of study.
Galdeano says the main problem for him was what he thought about the U.S. before arriving. The U.S. and Mexico have long had a difficult relationship. The media in both countries often comment on the negative beliefs that people in the U.S. have about people from Latin America.
Some people in the U.S. believe the border between the countries should be closed.
Galdeano was concerned he would be treated poorly because of his nationality or race. But soon he learned many people in the U.S. are welcoming to foreigners.
"Every time someone asks me … if I feel threatened or not wanted in this country I would say no. … Not all Americans think that way. … I was expecting people only thinking about themselves. But I really found that they also care a lot about other causes outside the U.S."
Galdeano had other problems when he arrived. His wife had an F-2 visa at first, which meant she could not work or study. This made life in the U.S. difficult for her. Also, Galdeano had to learn that some common Mexican customs were unacceptable in the U.S.
For example, people in Mexico often kiss each other on the cheek when they meet. Most people in the U.S. avoid physical contact, unless they know the other person very well.
But Galdeano says willingness to be open to new ideas makes life as an international student in the U.S. easier.
"You definitely have to be more tolerant 15. … So I think I’ve been growing more as a person … that way."
Galdeano is now a teaching assistant, or TA, for a class called “Projects with Underserved Communities.” Graduate students often work as TAs for professors in the same academic department.
Galdeano and the professor help the students in the class design projects serving rural communities in developing countries. The students work with non-governmental organizations in these countries.
If the students can raise the money needed, they can travel to those countries and make their projects happen. In 2016, Galdeano’s students were able to travel to India, Tanzania and Guatemala.
He says everything he learned about fitting in at UT Austin has helped him teach his students. Understanding differences and accepting different opinions is very important, he adds. The more people try to understand each other, the easier it is for them to solve the world’s problems.
Words in This Story
memorization – n. the act of learning something so well that you are able to remember it perfectly 16
enroll(ed) – v. to enter someone as a member of or participant in something
apply – v. to ask formally for something such as a job, admission to a school or a loan, usually in writing
counselor(s) – n. a person who provides advice as a job
application – n. a formal and usually written request for something such as a job, admission to a school or a loan
scholarship – n. an amount of money that is given by a school or an organization to a student to help pay for the student's education
SAT – n. a test where all test-takers take the same test under the same or reasonably equal conditions, widely used for in the process of accepting someone as a student at a college in the United States
GPA (grade point average) – n. a number that indicates the average of the numbers that indicate how a student performed in a class or on a test
essay(s) – n. a short piece of writing that tells a person's thoughts or opinions about a subject
undergraduate degree – n. a degree that is given to a student by a college or university usually after four years of study
weird – adj. unusual or strange
motto – n. a short sentence or phrase that expresses a rule guiding the behavior of a particular person or group
bumper sticker(s) – n. a strip of paper or plastic that has a printed message and that is made to be stuck on the bumper of a car or truck
doctorate degree – n. the highest degree that is given by a university
unacceptable – adj. not pleasing or welcome
tolerant – n. willing to accept feelings, habits, or beliefs that are different from your own
class – n. a series of meetings in which students are taught a particular subject or activity
academic – adj. of or relating to schools and education
- I'm going to a fitting tomorrow.明天我要去试穿新衣。
- The President's address was a fitting end to a bitter campaign.总统的讲话为一场激烈的竞选运动适时画上了句号。
- The problem is ongoing.这个问题尚未解决。
- The issues raised in the report relate directly to Age Concern's ongoing work in this area.报告中提出的问题与“关心老人”组织在这方面正在做的工作有直接的关系。
- They have been studying hard from the moment they enrolled. 从入学时起,他们就一直努力学习。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- He enrolled with an employment agency for a teaching position. 他在职业介绍所登了记以谋求一个教师的职位。 来自《简明英汉词典》
- Counselors began an inquiry into industrial needs. 顾问们开始调查工业方面的需要。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
- We have experienced counselors available day and night. ) 这里有经验的法律顾问全天候值班。) 来自超越目标英语 第4册
- She plans to take a course in applied linguistics.她打算学习应用语言学课程。
- This cream is best applied to the face at night.这种乳霜最好晚上擦脸用。
- He is studying economics,which subject is very important.他正在学习经济学,该学科是很重要的。
- One can't separate politics from economics.不能把政治与经济割裂开来。
- This music would sound more ethnic if you played it in steel drums.如果你用钢鼓演奏,这首乐曲将更具民族特色。
- The plan is likely only to aggravate ethnic frictions.这一方案很有可能只会加剧种族冲突。
- The picture on this screen is a good artistic work.这屏风上的画是件很好的艺术品。
- These artistic handicrafts are very popular with foreign friends.外国朋友很喜欢这些美术工艺品。
- From his weird behaviour,he seems a bit of an oddity.从他不寻常的行为看来,他好像有点怪。
- His weird clothes really gas me.他的怪衣裳简直笑死人。
- The painting represents the scene of a bumper harvest.这幅画描绘了丰收的景象。
- This year we have a bumper harvest in grain.今年我们谷物丰收。
- They sourced the spoke nuts from our company.他们的轮辐螺帽是从我们公司获得的。
- The spokes of a wheel are the bars that connect the outer ring to the centre.辐条是轮子上连接外圈与中心的条棒。
- They always addressed each other by their Christian name.他们总是以教名互相称呼。
- His mother is a sincere Christian.他母亲是个虔诚的基督教徒。
- They lashed out at the university enrolling system. 他们猛烈抨击大学的招生制度。 来自辞典例句
- You're enrolling in a country club, Billy. 你是注册加入乡村俱乐部了,比利。 来自辞典例句
- He hasn't enough credits to get his doctorate.他的学分不够取得博士学位。
- Where did she do her doctorate?她在哪里攻读博士?
- She's tolerant toward those impudent colleagues.她对那些无礼的同事采取容忍的态度。
- A tolerant person usually has breadth of mind.有宽容精神的人通常胸襟开阔。