What did my students wish they knew before college?

What did my students wish What did my students wish they knew before college?they knew before college?

About myselfAbout myself

Thank you for inviting me to visit Thank you for inviting me to visit your class.your class.

My students think I’m lucky to get to My students think I’m lucky to get to “visit” South Korea – and I agree.“visit” South Korea – and I agree.

I teach college writing and journalism I teach college writing and journalism at Northern Virginia Community at Northern Virginia Community College near the U.S. capital.College near the U.S. capital.

I am a former journalist.I am a former journalist.

About My StudentsAbout My Students The students at my college come from more than The students at my college come from more than

150 different countries, including South Korea.150 different countries, including South Korea. The students in my classes range in age from 16 The students in my classes range in age from 16

to 67 years old.to 67 years old. Most of my students intend to transfer to four-Most of my students intend to transfer to four-

year colleges and universities.year colleges and universities.

More about my studentsMore about my students

Some students earned excellent Some students earned excellent grades in high school and wish to grades in high school and wish to save money.save money.

Other students did not earn good Other students did not earn good grades in high school but now intend grades in high school but now intend to do well in college.to do well in college.

A Korean studentA Korean student

She grew up in Korea and attended high She grew up in Korea and attended high school and college in Korea.school and college in Korea.

She also attended college in the United She also attended college in the United States. She was recently accepted to a States. She was recently accepted to a prestigious university called Georgetown.prestigious university called Georgetown.

She earned excellent grades and was one She earned excellent grades and was one of my best students fall semester.of my best students fall semester.

What does she wish she knew?What does she wish she knew? U.S. college students must study hard the way U.S. college students must study hard the way

Korean high school students study.Korean high school students study. College classes are smaller in the U.S. (if you College classes are smaller in the U.S. (if you

attend a community college).attend a community college).• Teachers know your name.Teachers know your name.• You will work in groups (the way I think you do in this You will work in groups (the way I think you do in this

class).class). Community college tuition is inexpensive.Community college tuition is inexpensive.

• Smart students attend community college to save Smart students attend community college to save money and then transfer to a four-year college.money and then transfer to a four-year college.

• Community colleges have good ESL classes.Community colleges have good ESL classes.• Colleges offer you help if you need it.Colleges offer you help if you need it.

What do you want to be? What do you want to be? My students wish they planned My students wish they planned

more before starting collegemore before starting college ““I wish I had looked into what degree I I wish I had looked into what degree I

wanted to achieve a little more. I started wanted to achieve a little more. I started off thinking I wanted to do one thing, but off thinking I wanted to do one thing, but changed my major at the beginning of changed my major at the beginning of spring semester. I ended up losing out on spring semester. I ended up losing out on a semester of college, which is why I'ma semester of college, which is why I'mworking a little more this summer.”working a little more this summer.”

Too much freedom?Too much freedom? Many of my students wished they knew how Many of my students wished they knew how

much freedom they would have to choose much freedom they would have to choose whether to attend classes and complete whether to attend classes and complete homework.homework.

““I wish someone told me that college is more of a I wish someone told me that college is more of a free option whether to do your homework or not, free option whether to do your homework or not, unlike high school where your teacher keeps unlike high school where your teacher keeps track of your homework on a daily basis.” track of your homework on a daily basis.”

Homework or the Beach?

Too much freedom?Too much freedom?

““I wish I knew about the amount of I wish I knew about the amount of freedom I had. It tricks you, and can freedom I had. It tricks you, and can make you fall behind in your work.”make you fall behind in your work.”

““I would have participated in more I would have participated in more activities in high school, just so I got activities in high school, just so I got used to time management and not used to time management and not slacking off on  homework.” slacking off on  homework.”

Writing SkillsWriting Skills

How to avoid plagiarism – How to avoid plagiarism – taking someone’s words without giving the taking someone’s words without giving the person credit (these standards differ by person credit (these standards differ by culture)culture)

““I wish I had enjoyed writing and I had I wish I had enjoyed writing and I had become better at my spelling and writing become better at my spelling and writing skills from sentence setup to grammar.”skills from sentence setup to grammar.”

Writing a research paper Writing a research paper Taking notes during a lectureTaking notes during a lecture

Final ThoughtFinal Thought

““I wish someone told me that high I wish someone told me that high school is the building brick for your school is the building brick for your higher education.” higher education.”

What else do I wish my students What else do I wish my students knew?knew?

Study skillsStudy skills How to read carefully and take notes in the book or on How to read carefully and take notes in the book or on

another sheet of paperanother sheet of paper Asking questions and asking for help is a sign of a good Asking questions and asking for help is a sign of a good

studentstudent How to plan enough time for homeworkHow to plan enough time for homework Writing knowledgeWriting knowledge Writing strong paragraphs with topic sentences and good Writing strong paragraphs with topic sentences and good

details.details. Web sites can’t be trusted completely – Web sites can’t be trusted completely – www.dhmo.orgwww.dhmo.org

• This Web site urges people to ban water as a jokeThis Web site urges people to ban water as a joke College-planning skillsCollege-planning skills Don’t work too many hours during college (if possible)Don’t work too many hours during college (if possible)

I hope all of you have wonderful I hope all of you have wonderful college experiences! college experiences!

Thank you for listening. Thank you for listening.

I will look forward to your I will look forward to your presentations – and to answering any presentations – and to answering any questions.questions.