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·¢ÐÅÕ¾: BBS ˮľÇ廪վ (Tue Apr 13 12:40:20 1999) WWW-POST
from "http://www.osu.edu/students/csss/faq.html"
"http://www.acs.ohio-state.edu/students/csss/" is helpful.
Coming Students' Frequently Asked Questions
This page provides questions and answers frequently asked by news students.
CSSS takes no
responsibility of consequences resulting from the information on this page.
Information on
this page is only reference for you. CSSS thanks Ding Yi and Li Jun for
providing part of the
questions and answers. If you found wrong information in this page, or if you
want to
contribute additional information, contact csss@osu.edu. Thanks.
1. What is the climate in Columbus?
Very cold in winter and hot in summer, but classroom and office are
air-conditioned the whole
year. It is somewhat similar to the climate in Beijing, but much more humid
---- a lot of rain
through out the whole year, even in the winter.
today's weather in Columbus
2. What is the time difference between Beijing and Columbus?
Normally 13 hours late than the BJ time, but 12 hrs. in summer (between the
first sunday of April
and the last sunday in October) . One more point: Columbus and Beijing have
the same longitude
(40 degree).
3. How big is the OSU campus?
The main campus is not very big. A bicycle is helpful and easily available.
There are also
campus bus (free) running around campus.
4. How many Chinese are there at OSU and in Columbus?
About 800 - 1000 Chinese from Mainland China, 500 Chinese from Taiwan, and
200 from Hong
Kong. There are many Chinese Americans in Columbus, est. 20,000.
5. Is it easy to get access to Chinese food?
There are many Chinese grocery stores and restaurants here. You can get
almost any Chinese
stuff you want in the Chinese grocery stores, some of which are on bus line,
and the bus is free to
OSU students. Within walking distance from the main campus, there are several
Chinese
restaurants, and a fast meal is generally $3-5.
6. How about living expenses?
In Columbus, monthly rent for a room is roughly $180 - 350 per person,
depending on its quality
(and your luck). Food costs less than $150, if you cook for yourself.
7. How to rent a room?
There are on-campus dormitories, which are well-maintained and providing you
good
opportunity to practise spoken English, although most Chinese students who
have lived there
failed to grasp this advantage. But it is not convenient to cook there, and
the rent is a little high.
For off-campus housing, there are a lot available within walking distance or
on bus line, and you
can find cheaper room, but the quality can not be guaranteed. To find a cheap
and fair house off
campus, you'd better arrive at OSU at least 10 days before the deadline given
on Form I-20, or
ask a friend to help you find one. If you know someone here, the best way is
to ask he/she for
help.
The lease of house usually lasts for one year. Normally from early Sep. to
the next August.
8. How can I get pick-up at the airport?
If you have friends here, you can contact them for help, or you can conatct
CSSS at
csss@osu.edu. CSSS will arrange someone to pick up you at the Columbus
airport. Normally
persons from OSU International Friendships, Chinese Church, Chinese students
are such
volunteers to help you. What you need to do is to tell CSSS you first name,
last name, gender,
your airline, flight number, arrival time and whether you will need a
temporary housing. If you
change your schedule, please inform CSSS.
One important issue is: do not ask more than one organization or person to
pick you up. We
understand that you have concerns about whether the person will show up, but
we will definitely
pick you up if we received your message and gave you feedback. In the past,
some Aermican
friends asked one day's off, went to the airport only to find that the
Chinese student left with
other person. Therefore, please do not ask more than one source to pick you
up. Also, remember
to write down the name and the telephone number of the person who will pick
you up.
In case no one meet you at the airport, you can call any one of CSSS committe
members (keep
phone numbers) from airport, then wait someone to pick you up or take Taxi to
OSU..
Usually, you will be met by people at the gate where you come out of the
plane. Otherwise, you
should WAIT in the "luggage claim". Don't leave until you meet somebody
there. If you believe
you should contact the CSSS, call them from the airport using the paying
phone.
Important !!! To be nice and responsible, if for any reason, you cannot come
with the flight,
please DO inform us. If you have arranged someone else to pick you up from
the airport, please
DO let us know by any means.
9. What stuff shall I bring to U.S.?
You can bring some basic items that will be used immediately after your
arrival. For example, a
thin quilt might take too much place in your luggage, but it is useful. In
fact, you can find almost
everything you need in stores, but some of them might be astonishingly
expensive in comprison
to the price in China. For example, a kitchen knife might be more than $10
here. So as long as
your luggage does not exceed the weight limit, you can bring as much as
possible, even if you
find some to be unnecessary after arrival. Clothes are a major concern. For
short (say, a male
less than 175cm) and/or thin people, a suggestion is to bring enough clothes,
since it might be
very difficult to find suitable ones here. But there are plenty of cheap
shoes here, and you can
find things on sale easily. An exception is slippers, which are relatively
expensive. Keep in
mind, don't allow your luggages exceed required weight and size by airline.
9. How much money shall I take to U.S.?
Since for the first month you need to buy a lot of stuff as well as pay
deposit for housing, it is
highly recommended that you bring at least $1000. If you have $1500 at hand,
you will feel much
better. If you do not have enough money, Office of International Education
can provide a loan up
to $1000, with a annual interest of $70 (in 1997). Also you can ask your
friends here to lend you
some money for a short term.
10. I'm offered a TA position, and I heard that I have to pass a Speak Test
to become a qualified TA. Can you tell me about it?
It is required that all international TAs have to pass the Speak Test. If you
failed in that test, not
only you would have to take 1 or 2 spoken English courses, but also your
stipend might be
reduced by several hundred dollars a month. Here different department has
different policy. Say,
an unqualified TA in the Zoology Dept. still receives full stipend, whereas
in Chemistry
Department, the stipend would be over $300 less than normal. So you'd better
contact your
department and ask about their policy.
The Speak Test is identical to the old version of TSE test given by ETS. Last
year they used the
new version on seleted students in addition to the old version. So it is
highly recommended that
you take a TSE workshop at New Oriental, etc.
It is said that TSE score might be accepted as a proof of TA qualification,
and you'd better
contact your dept to make sure. If so, it is suggested that you take a TSE
test in China, because
those English teachers here are very picky and it is extremely difficult for
Chinese students to
pass the Speak Test, whereas those graders at ETS have a lower standard and
it is easier to get
a satisfactory score in TSE.
Anyway, you have to prepare for the Speak Test. First, take a TSE workshop or
at least find
related materials to get familiar with the style of TSE, both new version and
old one should be
paid enough attention to. Second, speak as much English as possible to
cultivate your fluency,
confidence, etc. Third, "correct" your pronunciation: here at OSU, the
"standard" pronunciation
assumed by the Spoken English Program is somewhat different from what is
taught in China as
American English. You might be astonished at the fact that the word "not"
should be pronounced
as [na:t], so is "stop", "hot" (the difference between "hot" and "heart" is
that the latter is [ha:rt],
where [r] is typical American style), etc., because the letter "o" in British
stressed closed
syllable should be pronounced as [a:] here. The letter "a" in British open
syllable such as in
"grass", "class", "after" should be pronounced as in closed syllable (the
same vowel as in
"glad"), in stead of [a:]. If you can pronounce those words this way in the
Speak Test, the grader
will be greatly satisfied. They are also very picky at the distinction
between "th" and "s", so
make sure the tip of your tongue touches your upper teeth when saying "the",
"both", etc. Other
common mistakes by Chinese students are "l" in "call", "world", and the
distinction between
"live" and "leave", etc. (although they are easy to tell when in pair, make
sure you not pronounce
"live" as "leave" in conversations).
To practice English might ruin your last months staying in China, and the
English courses here
are indeed helpful. But as long as you care the possible loss of money,
please follow my advice.
12. How to find someone here for help?
You can find some one here to help in various aspects from finding room,
picking up at airport,
to providing information. Most Chinese students are here willing to help new
students, you can
ask the graduate studies secretary in your department to introduce you to an
old Chinese student,
or find one through your department web sites.
Visit CSSS web site frequently to get latest news. Take advantage of CSSS
mailing list and
news group.
13. How early should I arrive before the quarter starting?
At least 10 days before class start. What you need to do before class
include:
Rent room
Orientation by OIE
Take English replace test (you may not be required)
Conatct advisor
Sign up courses
Other required by advisor, depaerment, and school.
14. What airline should I take? Can I book ticket from US?
There are many airlines flying from China to US. Some students take Northwest
(US company),
or China Eastern. Some take Korean or Japanese airlines. There is no direct
flight from China to
Columbus. You need transfer in other city. Transfer is convient.
I doubt you can book ticket from US (you may if you have credit card). As we
know, the price
difference is not too much comapre to ticket you buy in China in RMB. If you
have friends or
relatives in US who can pay you airfair in advance, you can ask them to buy
ticket for you in US.
Otherwise, you had better buy ticket in China.
15. What voltage is power in US?
It is 110 V (not 220 V). So electric devices brought from China will not work
unless you have a
convertor.
Last update: Apr 2nd, 1999
Copyright © 1999 CSSS
All Rights Reserved.
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