7 things you NEED to prepare before STUDY ABROAD | International Student in UK

Summary

This video offers essential advice for prospective international students preparing to study abroad. It emphasizes the importance of mastering academic English, research skills, and self-study, as well as having background knowledge in one's field of study. Additionally, the speaker highlights the significance of life skills such as cooking, time management, personal finance, and communication. The video aims to equip students with the necessary skills to thrive academically and personally during their study abroad experience.

Takeaways

• 📚 Familiarize yourself with academic English and writing, as it differs from general English and is essential for university-level essays and critical thinking.
• 🔍 Develop strong research and self-study skills, as you will be responsible for a significant amount of independent learning outside of class.
• 📘 Learn to use academic resources like Google Scholar and develop efficient reading techniques such as skimming and scanning for effective study.
• 🎓 Gain background knowledge in your intended field of study to ease the transition into university coursework and to understand industry-specific terminology.
• 🇬🇧 Be aware of and adapt to the local accent and culture of the country you will be studying in to avoid comprehension issues in lectures.
• 🍳 Learn basic cooking skills and familiarize yourself with common household chores like laundry and cleaning to maintain a healthy lifestyle abroad.
• ⏰ Prioritize time management by using tools like calendars and to-do list apps to stay organized and meet academic deadlines effectively.
• 💰 Keep track of your personal finances using apps or systems to avoid overspending and to budget for unexpected expenses or travel.
• 🗣️ Improve communication skills and be proactive in networking, joining clubs, and societies to build a valuable social and professional network.
• 🌟 Be independent and take responsibility for your actions and decisions to ensure personal growth and success during your study abroad experience.

Q & A

What is the main topic of the video?

The main topic of the video is the essential skills and preparations needed for studying abroad, with a focus on the experiences of an international student in the UK.

Why is academic English and writing important for studying abroad?

Academic English and writing are important because they are different from general English and are expected to be known by students before they arrive at the university. These skills are crucial for writing university-level essays, referencing, and critical thinking.

What does the speaker suggest about the amount of self-study required during university?

The speaker suggests that self-study is very important, as there are only a few classes in a week and students are expected to do a lot of research, reading, and self-study on their own.

Why is Google Scholar mentioned in the video?

Google Scholar is mentioned as a resource for finding academic papers, but the speaker also emphasizes the importance of knowing how to use university library systems effectively.

What is the significance of having background knowledge in the course one is going to study?

Having background knowledge is significant because it helps students understand the course material better and makes the study journey less challenging, especially when the course content is complex.

Why is it important to be familiar with the accent of the country one is going to study in?

Being familiar with the accent of the country is important for comprehension during lectures and interactions, as it can be difficult to understand the local accent if one is not accustomed to it.

What are some of the life skills discussed in the video?

The life skills discussed in the video include cooking, doing chores, time management, personal finance management, communication skills, and being independent.

Why is time management considered the most important skill in the video?

Time management is considered the most important skill because it allows students to make the most of their time abroad, effectively plan for deadlines, and avoid last-minute stress.

How does the speaker suggest keeping track of personal finances?

The speaker suggests using apps like Notion to keep a record of income and expenses, which helps in managing personal finances effectively and avoiding unexpected financial issues.

What is the role of communication skills and being independent in the context of studying abroad?

Communication skills and being independent are crucial for building a network, making friends, joining clubs and societies, and being responsible for one's choices and decisions during the study abroad journey.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Essential Academic Skills for Studying Abroad

The first paragraph emphasizes the importance of preparing academically for studying abroad. It suggests that students should be familiar with academic English and writing, including referencing and critical thinking, as these skills are crucial for university-level essays. The speaker, based on their experience as an international student in the UK, mentions that students from government-funded schools might find this transition challenging. They advise students to learn about writing styles and structures to avoid stress when faced with tight deadlines.

05:01

🍳 Life Skills and Time Management for International Students

The second paragraph focuses on life skills necessary for a successful study abroad experience. It starts by discussing the importance of cooking and doing chores, as students are likely to do this daily. The speaker recommends learning basic recipes and how to use laundry machines. Time management is highlighted as the most important skill, with the speaker sharing their use of Google Calendar and a to-do list app to stay organized. They also stress the importance of planning ahead to avoid last-minute stress. Additionally, personal finance management is touched upon, suggesting the use of apps like Notion to track spending and save for travel. Lastly, the paragraph concludes with the significance of communication skills, networking, and independence for both academic and professional success.

Keywords

💡Academic Skills

Academic skills refer to the abilities necessary for successful learning and achievement in an educational context. In the video, the speaker emphasizes the importance of being proficient in academic English and writing, including understanding how to reference, think critically, and construct arguments. This is crucial for international students studying abroad, as they are expected to know how to write at a university level without additional guidance.

💡Academic English

Academic English is a specialized form of English used in higher education settings. It is distinct from general English due to its formal tone and specific vocabulary. The script mentions that students should be familiar with academic English to succeed in university-level essays and discussions, which is different from what might be taught in high school or learned in everyday conversation.

💡Referencing

Referencing is the practice of acknowledging the sources of information used in academic work. It is a critical academic skill, as it prevents plagiarism and gives credit to original authors. The video script highlights that students studying abroad should know how to reference properly, as this will not be taught at the university but is expected to be known.

💡Critical Thinking

Critical thinking is the ability to analyze and evaluate information in a logical and objective manner. The script points out that students should be able to think critically, which is essential for evaluating arguments and forming well-reasoned opinions in academic work.

💡Research and Self-Study

Research and self-study are key components of independent learning. The video emphasizes the importance of being prepared to engage in extensive self-directed learning, including reading academic papers and using resources like Google Scholar. This is particularly important as students are expected to manage their own study time outside of formal classes.

💡Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a freely accessible web search engine that indexes the full text or metadata of scholarly literature across various publishing formats and disciplines. The script mentions Google Scholar as a valuable resource for finding academic papers, but also notes that university library systems may offer more comprehensive resources.

💡Background Knowledge

Background knowledge refers to the pre-existing understanding or information that a student has about a subject before beginning a course of study. The video script advises students to have some foundational knowledge in their field of study, as this can facilitate a smoother transition into university coursework.

💡British Accent

The British accent refers to the various accents spoken in the United Kingdom. The script mentions the importance of being familiar with the British accent for international students studying in the UK, as it can affect comprehension in lectures and daily interactions.

💡Time Management

Time management is the ability to effectively organize and plan the limited time available to accomplish tasks. The video stresses the importance of time management for students studying abroad, as it helps to balance academic responsibilities with other life aspects. The speaker uses tools like Google Calendar and to-do list apps to manage their time effectively.

💡Personal Finance Management

Personal finance management involves the organization and tracking of one's income and expenses. The script advises students to keep a record of their spending to avoid financial surprises and to budget responsibly. The speaker uses an app called Notion to track their finances and save money for travel.

💡Communication Skills

Communication skills are the abilities to effectively express ideas and thoughts in various modes, such as speaking, writing, and listening. The video emphasizes the importance of communication skills for networking, making friends, and professional development. Being able to communicate effectively is crucial for both academic success and personal growth while studying abroad.

💡Independence

Independence in the context of the video refers to the ability to take care of oneself, make decisions, and be responsible for one's actions. The speaker mentions that students should be independent as they will likely spend a significant amount of time alone while studying abroad. This includes being responsible for one's choices and decisions.

Highlights

The video discusses essential skills for studying abroad, applicable to international students worldwide, not just the UK.

Academic English and writing skills are crucial, as university education assumes prior knowledge of referencing and critical thinking.

Students should be prepared for self-study and research, as classes are limited and independent learning is expected.

Familiarity with Google Scholar and academic libraries is necessary for effective research.

Background knowledge in the chosen field of study can significantly ease the academic transition.

Understanding the local accent and culture is vital for comprehension and successful integration.

Culinary skills are important, as students are likely to cook daily and should know basic recipes.

Mastering laundry and cleaning tasks is essential for maintaining a tidy living space.

Time management is critical for balancing studies, work, and personal life.

Using tools like Google Calendar and to-do list apps can aid in effective time management.

Avoiding procrastination and planning ahead for deadlines can prevent last-minute stress.

Personal finance management is key to tracking spending and avoiding financial surprises.

Apps like Notion can help keep track of income, spending, and savings.

Communication skills and being independent are vital for networking and personal growth.

Joining clubs and societies can lead to new friendships and potential job opportunities.

Being responsible for one's choices and decisions is crucial for personal development.

The video provides a comprehensive guide for students preparing to study abroad, covering both academic and life skills.

Transcripts

hello everyone so now you may be

wondering what you should prepare before

study abroad well actually this is like

the most frequently Asked question of

all time a lot of people come and ask me

what they should prepare so in this

video I'll be talking about some of the

most important and essential skills that

you may need for studying abroad by the

way this topic doesn't just apply to UK

University but this also apply to other

universities around the world as

International students I'll be talking

this based on my experience of

international student life in UK so yeah

I'll be talking to two plus the first

part is about the academic skills that

you many and second part is about the

life skills so let's dive into the

number one I can read English and I

can't make writing so please please be

familiar with academic English and

academic writing

um it's a little bit different from

General English and in University there

will be no one to teach you about like

the referencing or how to think

critically and making evaluation or a

certain topic how they make arguments

they will be literally no one to teach

you how to write University level essay

and you are expected to know that before

coming here so please pick your family

go with Academy English if you finish

your busy education from like private

schools like private high schools or

international schools well you may be

familiar with all of these four but if

you come from like government-funded

public high schools then it's a little

bit challenging and you know things are

different so yeah you shift from

yourself with like writing styles and

structures and all the things so that

you won't be so stressed when you have

to produce a 3500 report within a night

or so number two research and self

studies this is very very important

please prepare to do lots and lots of

self-study honestly speaking there is

only a few classes in a week and the

rest of the week you have to do a lot of

research you have to read a lot of paper

and you have to do a lot of self-study

and please be familiar with Google

Scholar you know Google Scholar is a

it's a place where you can find most of

the academic papers but well actually

you know university has a better Library

System than the Google Scholar but if

you don't know how to use them properly

then what's the point likewise please

learn some of the first reading

techniques like skimming and scanning

and actually if you've taken my is

courses or you know like a TOEFL or some

of the English standardized tests then

you will be already familiar with all of

these but if you haven't please be

familiar with some of the first reading

technique because it is going to help

you a lot okay number three is the

background knowledge thirdly please have

some background knowledge of the course

that you're gonna study in the study of

work Journey so yeah you know what like

noise is really really help so if you're

gonna pursue a degree in marketing or a

management then you should have some

background knowledge on marketing you

should know what 4p is already and if

you're gonna study like economics or

accountants then you should take

economics and accounting in your A

Levels or JCS because it's gonna help

you a lot another thing is that if

you're gonna come to studying UK please

be familiar with British assets because

you know what when I come here I didn't

really understand much about what

they're talking because for me

production is a little bit heavy and

yeah I couldn't comprehend everything

what they were talking in the lecture I

couldn't like 100 understand what the

professor is okay so yeah it kind of

puts some sort of pressure on me

honestly so what I'm trying to tell here

is that please be familiar with the

accent of the country that you are going

to study okay so in terms of my academic

skills I talk about like academic

English and engagement writing research

and self-study and background knowledge

of the course so now let's talk about

the let's say life skills is more

important than you can number four

cocaine skills and chores does anyone of

you watching this video cook every day

at home and when I say every day I mean

literally every day not one or two times

a week or one or three times a month

does any one of you cook so when you

here you're likely to cook almost every

day well of course I understand that

some of the uni Halls are clear and they

provide food and meals for you but

honestly it's not even that good So

eventually you'll end up cooking some

different salts so please learn to cook

if you don't know how to cook and when I

say cocaine I didn't mean like a huge

very nice and delicious and fancy meals

I just mean that you should know how to

do some of the basic recipes so you can

learn a lot of like easy College

friendly recipes on YouTube then you'll

be able to cook something for yourself

when you're hungry at 2 A.M in the

morning well I know I don't need to

mention this but I'm gonna mention to

you anyways and that is there is no how

to use the washing machines and you know

drying machines please know how to do

your laundry and how to clean your room

and stay organized it's gonna help you a

lot otherwise your room is going to be

such a mess like my room I mean I clean

every almost every day but still

sometimes it's still natural five is

time management this is like the most

important thing name of this whole video

I know there's a lot of important things

but I mean time management is more

important than all the things that I

mentioned before because if you know how

to manage your time wisely and

effectively you will make the most of

your time in your study abroad Journey

so for me I usually use Google Calendar

for my University schedule and my work

schedule and I use this output structure

app for my to-do list I always have this

proper timetable of like to-do list and

what I'm gonna do for the whole day you

know what some people just like to be

very organized and well flat and I'm

like one of them so please don't judge

me okay and also please don't

procrastinate and don't waste your time

because your time is very limited and

also plan ahead for everything if you

don't plan for all your upcoming

deadlines midterm exams including like

job interviews and everything then you

will find yourself so stressing out at

3am in the morning and you are gonna be

like so sad so please plan ahead and

have a very very good time management

skills because it's Gonna Save A Lot

just let me know if you want to know how

I manage my time effectively as a

student just comment down below and also

if you haven't like subscribed my

Channel please go and subscribe it now

here and yes so number six is Your

Personal Finance Management please have

a proper track of all your spending

maybe your parents send you a lot of

money or maybe you earn a lot of money

from your part-time job but trust me if

you don't have a proper record of what

you are spending or how much you will

spending at the end of the month you're

gonna be like where does all my money go

and also don't be like you know hello

mom please everybody I'm so broke no no

don't be like that okay that's so

embarrassing so for me to keep track of

all the all my spending record I use the

app called notion I know a lot of you

are like familiar with notion app

already so I use that for all my income

that I kept from my part-time job and

all the like side work that I do and for

all the spending that I do and I also

save some amount of money for the travel

because I love traveling so much but

anyways move on to our last round number

seven is the communication skills and be

independent it is important not just for

your study abroad Journey but also for

your professional career and for your

life in general your network is very

very important so please don't be shy

talking to other people to other Society

join the clubs there's a lot of clubs

and societies available in your

University so please join them and make

new friends because you never know you

you may get your first job in UK by

joining all of these you just don't know

so please make a lot of friends and also

be curious about what's happening around

you and also please be independent

because around 70 of your time you will

have to spend alone so please be

independent and please be responsible of

yourself please be responsible of your

choices and all the decisions you make

so in terms of my life skills I

mentioned about the cookings and doing

chores and the time management skills

financial management skills and some of

the communication and being independent

I hope you now know what you should

prepare our first study abroad and I

really hope this video will be

beneficial to you and if you want to

know more about my videos you can check

this out here and please don't forget to

like And subscribe here and hit the

notable down below for all the outcomes

[Music]