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4 Free Tools to Help International Students Improve English Skills

By WTOP Staff

The language barrier is something that all international students aspire to overcome in their years in a U.S. university or college. International students are encouraged to immerse themselves in the American environment and initiate conversations with American students in order to quickly improve English skills.

However, for prospective students who have never had a chance to visit an English-speaking country, or current students who are too shy and afraid of their accents to speak frequently, improving their English skills can truly be a struggle. Here are four free, easy-to-use mobile tools that can help international students be more comfortable building their English skills.

[Here are five ways international students can boost their English skills.]

1. Sounds: Sounds: The Pronunciation App has an intelligent platform that allows you to learn English pronunciation from its most basic level. Every English word has a unique pronunciation, which is denoted by a special symbol. You will learn these symbols in the very first steps.

Once you have mastered them, you will be better able to pronounce words with an American accent. The premium version offers practice exercises and quizzes that will help you remember all words and symbols. If you have a smartphone and are still worrying about your pronunciation, this app is a must-own.

2. Elevate: This brain-training app helps you build a comprehensive set of skills — including reading, listening, speaking and writing — without requiring hours of practice. It’s a fun and entertaining app that challenges you to win every game with your English skills.

Whether you win or lose, all the answers will be on display, so you will have a chance to go over what you have done. It also offers a daily practice schedule and results, so you can compare your results over time to see how much you have improved.

[Check out apps that can ease the transition to life in the U.S.]

3. Google Translate: Google Translate does more than help translate words and paragraphs. The app also has a microphone feature that allows users to read what they want to translate, and have it immediately displayed.

You can take advantage of this feature as a way to see if the words or phrases you pronounce are similar to what appears in the app. For example, a friend of mine meant to say “dog,” but Google Translate thought it was “duck”. Afterward, he typed in “dog” and “duck” and found the correct way to pronounce the two words. This is a great way to both practice and fix your mistakes at the same time.

4. Siri: Even though Siri is a programmed tool designed to interact with users via their iPhones, it has a large amount of English dialogue to offer.

[Learn how to build academic English skills before arriving in the U.S.]

Talking with Siri is amusing and especially useful for building your English skills. You ask questions and at the same time learn the proper ways in which you should answer those questions. More importantly, you have to pronounce every word correctly to convey your meaning, or Siri will not be able to understand you.

These apps are fantastic tools for you to build your English skills, especially when used consistently. Sometimes, you may have a busy day, but spending 15 minutes a day on one of these apps will bring tremendous results.

Interacting with native students is also extremely crucial, so don’t just rely on these tools, but instead, step out of your comfort zone and speak up.

More from U.S. News

How U.S. Colleges Gauge International Students’ English Skills

5 Ways International Students Can Improve Conversational English Skills

Build Academic English Skills Before Arriving at a U.S. College

4 Free Tools to Help International Students Improve English Skills originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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