2022 was an unusual year for me as I started a new journey in a different country. I packed my bags and got ready to go. After a 14-hour flight and traveling halfway around the world, I finally set foot on this foreign land. Everything here was strange and new to me. With the joy and excitement of arriving here for the first time, I was full of expectations for the upcoming study abroad life and ambitions for the new semester.
However, the start of the new semester quickly proved my naivety. Challenges were found in every corner. The first, most difficult challenge is language. It turns out that as an international student, even if you already have a qualified language certificate before enrolling, this still does not guarantee that you will encounter no obstacles in attending classes and communicating. Especially in Canada, you will encounter teachers and classmates with accents from different countries. It was a challenge for me as a newbie who needed to finish a master’s degree in environmental engineering.
Fortunately, this is not insurmountable; it just takes more time than it does for local students. I hope that the following methods can be helpful to you as an international student as well!
No. 1: Preview before classes. Download the courseware in advance. You are expected to familiarize yourself with both meanings and pronunciations of frequently displayed vocabulary. It is best to form a subconscious reaction. In addition, you also need to pay attention to some special occasion words, such as the symbols in the calculation process, and the instruments in the experiment, which are widely encountered by a student studying environmental engineering. After persisting for one semester, you will be able to use them proficiently with lots of repetition.
No. 2: Ask your professor for help. Each class has office hours. When you do not understand anything about the class content, please do not hesitate to use this time to seek help immediately. Especially at the beginning, some course content is often missed because the teacher speaks too fast, which can easily cause some confusion. This is all normal. But don’t be discouraged, when the second semester begins, you will be surprised to find that keeping up with the course content is not that difficult.
No. 3: Make good use of school resources. As an international student, the discomfort you feel when you first arrive will cause huge psychological pressure. It’s time to take advantage of the psychological counseling provided by the university. At the same time, you can participate in some activities held regularly by each college, and you will meet some new friends who have similar experiences. In addition, check in with the campus writing assistance and English communication club regularly, and you will gain benefits.
The path to a master’s degree for international students is not easy. All the difficulties encountered should not be underestimated. But there are always more solutions than difficulties. If you are willing to work hard, great success will be achieved.
written by: Jingyi Liu
Jingyi is a second year MSc student studying in University of Alberta in Dr. Arlos Lab and she is also co-supervised by Dr. Matthew Ross from MacEwan University. Jingyi completed her Bachelors in Environmental Engineering at Xi’an University of Architecture and Technology (XAUAT). Her research is focused on microplastics fate and transport in drinking water treatment systems. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, climbing and other activities that allow her to be in close contact with nature. Jingyi is an active volunteer for Future Energy Systems as well.
IWA YWP Canada 