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What is it like to take an Organic Chemistry class with lab online?

March 16, 2021

One year ago, the College moved to primarily remote learning and operations. Thanks to our wonderful faculty and eLearning technology support, we can conduct engaging courses online with our students safely and globally, including classes with lab like Organic Chemistry! Check out the video below from last spring quarter in Dr. Astrid Perez’s class.

Dr. Astrid Perez was born and raised in Puerto Rico. She transferred to University of Washington, completed a B.S. in Chemistry, and later returned to earn an M.S., and a Ph.D. She has been teaching at the Community College setting now for over 25 yrs., allowing her to interact with her students, encouraging them, and celebrating in their successes.

As she has lived through her share of challenges, such as having English as a second language, having a disability, having to take care of children while in school, and then being a single parent, to name a few, she can relate to many of the difficulties her students face. After having been treated differently for how she looks or sounds, Astrid wants her students to know that they are always welcomed at her office, free of judgement; she’s proud to say her office is a safe place.

Student Stories: Volunteering and Other Remote Experiences

March 4, 2021

Today we’re hearing from two Vietnamese students who have recently volunteered and gotten involved on campus (remotely) with other activities! Make sure to check out the @shoreline_international Instagram for more ideas on how to Engage and Achieve!

My name is Nguyen Xuan Thien Thanh. I am an international student from Vietnam. I have been in the U.S. for 4 years. I attended my high school junior year in Spokane, Washington. I love dancing so it would not be surprising that I was a member of the school’s dance team. Then I moved to Michigan to complete my last year of high school. I was a volunteer for FIRST robotic championship for Michigan state with my host mom, who was also one of the head coaches of the team. After that, I chose Shoreline Community College to be my next stop in my education path. My first year at Shoreline was full of happiness and surprises from my friends, as well as some challenges of course. Unfortunately, because of the pandemic, I had to start my second year with online courses. I have less opportunities to interact with people face to face and spend most of the time in my room. My home country was locked down as well. During the quarantine time at home, I searched online looking for different virtual volunteering opportunities. I really want to help some people while I can spend more personal time now with volunteering.

As a result, I signed up to volunteer at ReWA (Refugee Women’s Alliance). My assigned task was to help people who speak Vietnamese register and vote in the 2020 U.S. presidential election. We confirmed with the ReWA staff if we are eligible to help as international students before receiving the training to offer translation assistance and direct the community members on different helpful website for voting information. Moreover, we would answer their phone calls as well as messages to help them in the voting process. This experience was both fun and meaningful. I had a chance to connect with the local Vietnamese community as well as learning about the democracy and voting in the U.S. I helped about 40 people during October and early November.

Next, I look forward to volunteering for the Global Showcase, which is an annual cultural event organized by International Student Leaders at Shoreline Community College. Even though it will be a virtual event in spring, it would still be a great opportunity for Vietnamese students work together on promoting our language and culture. I’m excited to attend and participate in Global Showcase. Not only campus community can check out our work, we will get to share with more people globally in the current online environment.

Hello! My name is Vo Dang Long and I go by Jack. I have been in the U.S. for 3 years, and this is my second year at Shoreline. I was an exchange student in Cleveland, Oklahoma during my first year in the U.S. During my high school exchange year, I joined an organization named Business Professional of America. This organization helps students build their leadership skills and promote many events bring contributions back to the community. I participated in many volunteering activities, such as helping sell food at the town food bank and holding activities at Special Oklahoma Olympic both winter and summer games.

Coming to Shoreline has been a great experience for me! The time of living in the Residence Hall on campus helped shape my personality better. I was able to get involved in more events with the convenient access as living on campus and more activities held by Resident Assistants. I made a lot of new friends during my first quarter at Shoreline. While everyone’s life has been different since mid-March when the pandemic hit globally. I am grateful that we still have good access to online learning and interacting with others online in order to stay safe and health. To keep myself staying active and engaged, I have tried to find more opportunities, like applying on-campus jobs and volunteering online. I applied for the ASG (Associated Student Government) as well as the ISA (International Student Ambassador). I hope I can get to learn more and help others at the same time.

In October, 2020, I signed up to volunteer at an organization called ReWA (Refugee Women’s Alliance). It is an organization created to help communities such as providing 10 wrap-around social services for every member of the family, from infant to senior in which they delivered in over 50 languages and dialects, are designed to make a long-lasting impact in others and help them thrive in the Puget Sound community.

My position was to help people in the Vietnamese-American community in the voting process of the presidential election in November. I needed to spend at least 2-3 hour a week to answer phone calls and messages to direct people to the right place with explanation of what they need to do in Vietnamese. Sometimes I would feel overwhelmed with time management as taking four classes, preparing for university transfer applications, working as an ISA, spending time online with families and friends, plus volunteering! It was definitely challenging when I had 3-4 exams and labs during some weeks while volunteering. When I now look back the total amount of volunteering hours that I kept track of, I feel proud for this accomplishment of myself. I definitely think I made a good choice to volunteer even though my schedule was already a little busy. I got to step out of my comfort zone, challenge myself to reach higher, improve my time management skill, and I really enjoy learning new things!

End-of-Year Message from Shoreline Community College President to International Students

December 31, 2020

End-of-Year Message from Shoreline Community College President to International Students

Dr. Cheryl Roberts, the President of Shoreline Community College, recorded a special video for our international students and parents! As we are embracing a new year full of hope, we want to share with our international students that we are so proud of what you have accomplished in 2020. Remember we are always here for you. Together we are a #PhinFam!

Here is the full transcript of President Roberts’ video above, along with some great photos to share!

Hello! My name is Dr. Cheryl Roberts, and I have the distinct pleasure serving as the President of Shoreline Community College.

I wanted to take a moment to extend a heartfelt “thank you” to our current international students who have been on quite a journey with us this year. Some of you went back to your home country to continue your Shoreline education online, surrounded by those you love. Some of you stayed here in Seattle, living with American homestay families or in our beautiful on-campus housing while adjusting to a new way of learning with us that successfully kept you and your classmates safe. Whichever decision you made, we know it took courage and tenacity to continue your education during a global pandemic. We are so incredibly proud of you! And to the parents and families of our international students, I want to “thank you” as well. Parenting during a global pandemic is no easy task, and we know the love and support you have provided has empowered your student to be the best that they can be during this time. Please know that we care deeply about our students and have taken great care to ensure that they are still getting an excellent education and the services they need to be successful.

After so much that has happened this year, I am thrilled to share with you and offer news of hope for the future. As many of you know, the United States is preparing to welcome a new President in January who is a champion for U.S. Higher Education and is widely expected to be especially welcoming to international students. President-elect Biden said in July, “Across the world, people come to this country with unrelenting optimism and determination toward the future. They study here, innovate here, they make America who we are.” Of course, we could not agree with his sentiment more, and are optimistic about the direction of educational policy.

We are equally excited to note that President-elect Biden’s wife, Dr. Jill Biden is a strong advocate for U.S. Community Colleges. As a current professor at a community college in Virginia, she has often stated that community colleges are “one of America’s best-kept secrets”. As second lady in the Obama Administration, she even hosted a White House Summit on Community Colleges. We are confident that she will continue being a strong supporter of community colleges! I had a great opportunity to meet Dr. Jill Biden when I served on the American Association of Community Colleges as a Board of Directors member. She is indeed a champion of higher education and particularly community colleges. We are so fortunate that she will be our First Lady.

And, of course, we are delighted to note that the incoming Vice President Kamala Harris has strong personal ties to international education. Both of her parents were former international students, with her mother hailing from India and her father from Jamaica. They met as Ph.D. students at the University of California, Berkeley, a campus to which many international students like you transfer to in order to complete a 2+2 degree. Like President Obama, whose father was also an international student in the U.S., her personal story highlights the extraordinary possibilities of America, where a child of international students can ascend to the highest office in the country within one generation.

Lastly, of course, we are bolstered by hope with the announcements about several potentially viable vaccines that hold promise to bring an end to the emergency measures that we have all adjusted to this year. This, coupled with President-elect Biden’s renewed focus on combatting the pandemic, gives us hope that we will be able to welcome students back to our beautiful campus soon.

As President-Elect Joe Biden said in his victory speech, “For American Educators this is a great day for all of us. You’re going to have one of your own in the White House”. This renewed focus on education in the highest office in the U.S. promises great opportunities for international students. And as we say in the Dolphin Nations, we are all Phins Up, and we are All In!

A Simple 5-Step Guide to Survive Finals

December 7, 2020

Can you believe it is almost the end of Fall Quarter already? Wow! This is another quarter with remote learning, and we know 2020 has been a very challenging year for many people, college students included of course.

As we are getting closer to the holidays and start planning the last month of the year, many of us are also thinking about finals week, and how in the world we are going to go through the stress of this last week of the quarter.

The thoughts of getting good grades, doing the math to see how many points we need to get a 4.0, finishing up the endless study guides, and even deciding whether we have time to see friends can be very overwhelming.

We created a guide of 5 simple study tips that will help you overcome the stress and anxiety, and hopefully help get you safely through finals week. Here they are!

1. Beware of due dates

Knowing when your finals will take place will prepare you to study with enough time in advance. At the beginning of the quarter, it may seem like final exams are far away, but keeping track of how much time you have to study, and this will help you organize your schedule and study in time.

2. Really Use Office Hours

This is an important step. Talking to your instructors and having a one-on-one interaction with them (especially during a socially distanced world), will help you understand the class better. Professors are always willing to help you succeed in the class, so don’t hesitate to ask questions!

3. Take breaks

It is important to let our mind rest. Since we are currently doing most of our work on a screen, your body needs breaks to perform at its best. When you take breaks, you let your body reset and return to work recharged to studying again. Even a 15-min break will make a difference.

4. Use apps to create flashcards

Flashcards are a great way to review topics and study for finals. There are multiple apps that allow you to create flashcards and play around with them. Try with Quizlet, create your own, and test yourself. Doing this in times where you would normally waste time on social media can help a lot!

5. Sleep

To perform well in any type of activity, it is important to stay well-rested and sleep well. Your mind and body need it, so make sure you are getting enough sleep to be able to absorb all the information you need for final exams.

Easy, right?

The most important part here is to congratulate yourself for all the hard work you’ve done so far. Taking the time to appreciate what you have done throughout the quarter will help you begin Winter 2021 with a great and positive attitude.

Remember that Shoreline has many alternatives to support you in your studies. Don’t hesitate to reach out if you’re struggling in school. Being in college in a pandemic is not easy but you made it through another quarter, great job!

Winter 2021: Fun Classes in BUS, CMST, PSYC, and more!

December 4, 2020

Fall Quarter is almost over! We’re already looking ahead to Winter Quarter. Have you registered for classes yet? If you’re still looking for some exciting classes in Business, Communications, or Social Science, check out these classes that might fulfill some of your requirements! Ready to register? Check out the full class schedule here and see how to talk to your academic advisor here.

PSYC 230: Multicultural Psychology (5 credits)

How does culture influence the brain? Why are stereotypes so widespread? What is implicit bias? This class helps students understand the relationships between individuals and culture.
Video Introduction
Pre-requisites: 2.0 or better in PSYC 100.
Fulfills: Multicultural Understanding requirement or Social Sciences distribution requirement

CMST 285: Critical Intercultural Communication (5 credits)

Money. Power. Identity. Relationships. Explore the dynamics and complexities of cultural clashes in our increasingly globalized and modern world.
Pre-requisites: ENGL 099 or EAP 099, or placement into ENGL 101.
Fulfills: Multicultural Understanding requirement

SOC 112: Introduction to Criminology (5 credits)

Are you looking to become an FBI agent or police officer? This course gets you to think about ways to engage and change our criminal justice system.
Pre-requisites: Recommended that students have earned 2.0 or better in ENGL 101 (concurrent enrollment OK)

GEOG 204: Weather, Climate, Ecosystems (5 credits)

How and why does climate change? How do we know that climate changes? This course examines weather and climate on our plant on regional and global scales, and from time scale of seasons to millennia.
Pre-requisites: Placement into or completion of ENGL 099 or EAP 099
Fulfills: Lab Science distribution requirement

PSYC 225: Drugs and Behavior (5 credits)

Oregon just voted to decriminalize possession of heroin and cocaine. Our views on drugs are changing. From prevention to addiction to treatment, from individual effects on behavior to policy decisions, get ready for a deep dive into the world of drug use.
Video Introduction
Pre-requisites: None
Fulfills: Social Sciences distribution requirement

BUS 247: Social Media Marketing (5 credits)

You most likely have a social media profile, but is having a presence of Facebook the same thing as doing business on Facebook? You are already familiar with the platforms, so let’s expand upon your knowledge and creativity to benefit businesses and launch your career.
Video Introduction
Pre-requisites: Recommended that students have completed BUS 120 or ENGL 279.

BUS 143: Materials Management (4 credits)

Amazon, Costco, Walmart target, and the thousands of online retailers – How do they manage so much inventory? Supply Chain Management is a growing industry positioned to lead businesses into the future.
Pre-requisites: None
Fulfills: Requirement for AAAS in Purchasing and Supply and several certificate programs – ask your advisor for more details

INTST 200: States and Capitalism: Origins of Western Wealth and Power (5 credits)

The nation-state system and capitalism have come to dominate the way the world organizes its political and economic systems. This class will examine how these distinctly modern institutions evolved as Europe moved from the medieval period to the modern era.
Pre-requisites: None
Fulfills: Social Sciences distribution requirement

HIST 117: Western Civilization II: The Early Modern World (5 credits)

Explore the Renaissance, thinkers like Machiavelli, and More’s Utopia. Explore the Scientific, Glorious and French revolutions. Study history with primary documents.
Pre-requisites: Recommended that students have earned 2.0 or better in ENGL 101 (Concurrent enrollment is OK)

ANTH 130: World Cultures (5 credits)

This course will help you draw closer to people and places around the world, exposing you to cultural traditions both ancient and modern. We will examine megaliths, explores the Maya collapse, learn about Scandinavian reindeer herders, analyze K-Pop videos, and much more!
Pre-requisites: None
Fulfills: Social Sciences distribution requirement

SOC 270: Race, Power, Food (5 credits)

This course examines the politics of nutrition in the age of globalization. Together, we will revisit, re-envision, and re-articulate dominant understandings of history and culture as they relate to food.
Pre-requisites: Recommended that students have earned 2.0 or better in ENGL 101 (Concurrent enrollment is OK)
Fulfills: Multicultural Understanding requirement or Social Sciences distribution requirement

Bus 255: Principles of Management (5 credits)

Do you aspire to manage a team, department, or company? Explore management topics including organizational culture, ethics, entrepreneurship, innovation, change, and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Build skills to effectively lead in today’s dynamic work environments.
Pre-requisites: Recommended that students have completed BUS 104 and/or BUS 250

HIST 214 (and 214W): Pacific Northwest History (5 credits)

Dig deep into your historical backyard, exploring this region’s diverse past. Go beyond the popular tales you grew up with to learn the rich history of the Pacific Northwest from the First Peoples to you.
Pre-requisites: For 214, recommended that students have completed ENGL 101 (Concurrent enrollment is OK). For 214W, recommended that students have earned 2.0 or better in ENGL 101.
Fulfills: 214 fulfills Social Sciences distribution requirement. 214W fulfills Social Sciences distribution requirement and meets UW’s “writing intensive” criteria.

BUS 218: Sustainable Business Strategies (5 credits)

How do leading organizations deliver long-term value to all stakeholders? Why should we think globally before acting locally? Use systems thinking to explore the nature of purpose-driven business, and how to make progress on the UN Sustainable Development Goals.
Pre-requisites: None
Fulfills: Sustainable Business Leadership certificate requirement

Thanksgiving 2020

November 25, 2020

Thanksgiving is a federal holiday that is celebrated in the United States on the fourth Thursday of November. Did you know that it originated as a harvest festival, just like the Mid-Autumn Festival and other similar festivals that are celebrated in many other cultures? There are multiple stories about where and when the first “real” Thanksgiving was celebrated, but it is believed that settlers and colonists from other countries who came to the United States for the first time wanted to celebrate and give thanks for their first successful harvest.

There is some controversy that surrounds American Thanksgiving, though. Some portrayals of the first Thanksgiving show that this harvest feast was a time when the European settlers were peaceful with the Native Americans who lived here long before Europeans arrived. However, European colonization of the United States was not entirely peaceful, and it is possible that the first Thanksgiving does not symbolize peace. It’s important to acknowledge both positive and negative parts of a country’s history and how history can impact our experiences today.

Nowadays, American Thanksgiving is a holiday that most people celebrate by having a large traditional meal with their family and loved ones. Traditional foods that are served reflect the foods that were native to this country, such as turkey, potatoes, squash, corn, and green beans. In fact, so many Americans eat Turkey on Thanksgiving, that sometimes the holiday is colloquially referred to as “Turkey Day”!

Another tradition that many Americans like to participate in is the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, which has been held in New York City every year since 1924. It is the world’s largest parade! Most Americans watch this on television on the morning of Thanksgiving.

Many people also like to watch American football (not soccer) on Thanksgiving. Almost every level of football, from high school to professional, will play games on this day. Football is very popular in the United States, and one theory is that football was used to encourage people who didn’t like Thanksgiving in the 1800s to enjoy it a little bit more.

Finally, the day after Thanksgiving usually marks the beginning of the holiday shopping season in the U.S. and you may know it by the name “Black Friday.” It’s possible that this started because many Thanksgiving Day parades include Santa, which lets people feel like Christmas is coming soon! Black Friday now extends in many countries and you can often find good deals in many stores.

Of course, everyone also has their own traditions and customs for Thanksgiving. Some families may eat a meal of foods traditional to their own culture. Some people like to celebrate “Friendsgiving” with their friends either instead of, or in addition to celebrating with their family. How do you celebrate Thanksgiving? Do you have any special traditions or customs? We hope you enjoy this year’s holiday safely and happily!

Join Us to Celebrate International Education Week 2020

November 6, 2020

What is International Education Week?

International Education Week (IEW), November 16-20, 2020, is an opportunity to celebrate the benefits of international education and exchange worldwide. This joint initiative of the U.S. Department of State and the U.S. Department of Education is part of our efforts to promote programs that prepare Americans for a global environment and attract future leaders from abroad to study, learn, and exchange experiences. (iew.state.gov)

Each year, International Education Department at Shoreline Community College will hold a series of events to celebrate IEW. And this year, we are going to celebrate #IEW2020 virtually with students, alumni, family, friends, employees and community members together!

How to support and celebrate #IEW2020:

Download and use IEW themed Zoom virtual background at https://bit.ly/2TYVc0o
Mark yourself as “Going” on the #IEW2020 Facebook event page (https://fb.me/e/29HOdBYcw) or add the post on IE’s Instagram (@shoreline_international) to your story.
Invite your friends to join us in the #IEW2020 events below.

1. Photo Contest:

The theme is “New Hobby”. Open to everyone to submit and vote by liking on Instagram @shoreline_international. Only current Shoreline students are eligible to win the prizes. Submit your photo at https://shoreline.formstack.com/forms/iew_photocontest before Sunday, November 15th by 11:59 PM, PST.

2. Flag Trivia:

Tuesday, Nov. 17th at 6:00 PM. Join Zoom (ID: 206 546 4697) from your laptop so you can join the trivia on Kahoot from your phone to test your knowledge of world flags!

3. Virtual Cuisine:

Share a popular recipe from your culture and submit pictures and/or a short video to https://shoreline.formstack.com/forms/iew_food before Sunday, November 15th by 11:59 PM. International Student Leaders will turn the submissions into Instagram stories and post on November 17^th.

4. Folklore Panel:

Wednesday, Nov. 18th at 6:00-7:30 PM. Join Zoom (ID: 206 546 4697) to hear folk tales from different countries and regions of the U.S. shared by Honors College students.

5. Language Pods:

Thursday, Nov. 19th at 6:00-8:00 PM. Drop into Zoom (ID: 206 546 4697) breakout rooms for Language Pods in Arabic, Bahasa, Chinese, French, German, Korean, Japanese, Spanish, and Vietnamese. There will also be recommended playlist of songs in those languages.

6. Study Abroad Fair:

Friday, Nov. 20th at 12:00-2:00 PM (Zoom ID: 206 546 4697). The Washington Community College Consortium for Study Abroad (WCCCSA) will share five study abroad programs for 2021 and scholarship opportunities.

Student Blog Post: Tio “Aimee” Runtukahu, Indonesia

November 4, 2020

The following blog post was written by Tio “Aimee” Runtukahu, a current student from Indonesia who is a student worker in International Education. Read on to learn more about her time at Shoreline and her experience as a student worker!

*Aimee is a student office assistant in International Education (IE).*

I started working in the International Education (IE) Department in the Summer of 2020 as a student assistant to fellow international students. My position tasked me to help with the front desk during Express Advising. Moreover, creating small events and reaching out to new students during orientations. Since starting my position in IE, the campus has been fully online due to the pandemic. However, despite this, I am very grateful to have the chance to work in the office as it had allowed me to interact with many people daily.

My current project is creating an engaging short video for Shoreline students. Since we have been fully online, many international students have not met some of the current staff and student workers for so long. From my experience of going to Shoreline during its face-to-face operation from Fall 2019 to partial Winter 2020, the campus has had a very welcoming environment where everyone was so nice and friendly. Given that we no longer have the luxury to go to campus every day and meet with one another, having a video with lots of new and familiar faces would invite all current international students to keep on being engaged with the school. Hope you will enjoy this video!

Being a student at Shoreline is a very adventurous and exciting experience for me, and I believe for many of my other peers as well. The campus provides all students with the equal opportunity to gain more experiences. I took some of these opportunities to volunteer and work on campus and one of which is being a student assistant in the IE Department. What I love about working in the IE Department is how I got to keep on meeting new students and friends during the pandemic through working on campus before and now remotely. Moreover, I also got a lot of chances to show my creativity by hosting small online events for the college, like the Instagram Cooking Competition during the Summer!

It’s true that juggling a job while being a full-time student is challenging, and what makes working for Shoreline so enjoyable is the fact how everyone is so understanding and professional. Another thing that I would cherish from working in the IE Department is how I got to learn so much from everyone to be a part of a professional team and be more organized with my schedules and responsibilities.

Wanting to pursue my studies at Shoreline Community College meant that I had to leave my hometown Balikpapan, Indonesia to Seattle. It was not an easy experience to go through, however, meeting so many incredible fellow international students as well as American students had kept me away from feeling homesick. Aside from other Shoreline students, I had also found all the staff members, teachers, and other workers to be super kind and helpful. This welcoming and supportive environment has made me fall in love with Shoreline and made me very proud to be a part of it. Thus, as a current student worker, I am hoping to create that same atmosphere and environment for other international students!

"College Dogs": a stress-relief event before finals — First Winter at Shoreline

Thank you, Aimee, for your hard work as an International Education Office Assistant! We are excited to see your video project when it is complete.

Halloween at Shoreline!

October 23, 2020

Halloween is right around the corner! It’s celebrated every year on October 31. Did you know that the origins of Halloween date all the way back to an ancient Celtic festival called Samhain? During the festival, people would “light bonfires and wear costumes to ward off ghosts.”

Today, Americans celebrate Halloween in many ways, such as carving pumpkins, visiting haunted houses, or watching scary movies. One major tradition is trick-or-treating, most popular among children and families. You wear a costume and walk around your neighborhood, knocking on neighbors’ doors. When someone opens the door, you say, “Trick or treat!” The neighbor will give you a treat (usually candy) in order to avoid a trick.

At Shoreline, the International Student Leaders traditionally hold an annual Halloween Party on campus. Students can wear costumes and join some fun activities, such as playing Halloween games or learning about other cultures’ scary traditions. Check out these pictures from last year’s event:

A traditional and silly game - wrap your teammate completely with toilet paper so that they become a mummy! — A traditional and silly game – wrap your teammate completely with toilet paper so that they become a mummy!

We got to see displays of ghost stories from around the world! — A traditional and silly game – wrap your teammate completely with toilet paper so that they become a mummy!

Missing the Halloween Party this year? Celebrate Halloween with us virtually!

Join us for a costume contest or pumpkin carving contest: Take a photo of your creative costume or pumpkin carving (virtual and drawn pumpkins are welcome) and submit it here by October 27. Submissions will be posted on social media for open voting until November 1, and we’ll announce winners on November 2.

Finally, join the ISLs for a live Zoom Halloween celebration on Thursday, October 29! Costumes are encouraged. We’ll have activities like sharing ghost stories, playing scary (or less-scary) games, and more. Join us on Thursday between 8:00-9:00 on Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87897254464

Have a safe and fun Halloween, no matter how you decide to celebrate!

Online Learning Tips

October 16, 2020

We’re a few weeks into Fall Quarter! Some students are in their third quarter of online learning, and our new students may be starting their first quarter of online learning. No matter how much or how little experience you have with taking your classes online, there are always new tips and tricks that can help you make the most of your learning experience. Check out these tips from some of our International Student Leaders (ISLs)!

Asking For Help:

“If you have any concerns or problems with studying class materials or reading stuff, remember that you can always find help directly from your instructors, friends, or school services (library, learning centers, online tutoring, etc.). Just emailing, finding them when you need it, you can get help as soon as possible. Don’t delay!” – Kate

“Go to the teacher’s office hour frequently! It is definitely one of the best ways to get in touch with the professors and ask questions directly during the online learning period.” – Bosco

To-Do Lists and Planning Ahead:

“Before my day ends, I like to make myself a ‘What should I do tomorrow?’ planner. I would list the bunch of assignments that are due in one up to five calendar days and also specify how long I would spend my time working on that particular task.” – Cheryl

“At the beginning of the week or day (your choice!), spend some time to think about what you hope to accomplish each day and estimate how long it will take to complete each task. Try to balance out the workload into a course of five to seven days, and reflect on how well your time was spent each day.” – Sophia

“With online classes, there might be more homework and assignments than face-to-face classes since there is a lot of stuff that you have to read on your own and learn. My tip for you is that you need a plan properly about what thing is important and among a lot of work, which ones should be done first.“ – Kate

“Setting a clear goal can help you stay motivated and avoid procrastination. Your goals should be specific and easy to measure, such as ‘I will watch the first three videos under week 4 in the module and complete the rough draft for my research paper.'” – Sophia

Learning Style and Environment:

Find a space at home that is quiet and away from distractions. Though we may be tempted to study/do our homework on our bed, in front of the TV, or near the kitchen, these are not the ideal place for studying. Also, always try to keep your desk as clean as possible to eliminate further distractions. Your study space should have enough lighting and a chair that you are comfortable sitting in. – Sophia

“As for me, I love love love to start early. Let’s take one example of my weekly assignment for this quarter, CS 141 long assignment, which is due every Sunday. Background story, I’m just not good at coding and stuff, but I like to do this homework by Tuesday so that I can ask my friend to help me in case I miss something or if my program doesn’t work. I would finish my task by Thursday to ask for my instructor’s feedback, and she would generously help me and return her feedback in less than one day. By then, I would receive a rough look at my assignment’s grading scheme, which I would then improve for the better. In the end, I would finalize my code by Friday and still have two more bonus days in case something goes wrong.” – Cheryl

“Which one is you, early-bird or night-owl? You feel good about studying at what time, morning, afternoon, or evening? Which time do you think is your best time for memorizing things? And of course, which time your brain may work less efficiently?” – Kate

Do you have your own ideas and advice for others? Leave them in the comments below! Good luck everyone and remember, we are here to help! Have a great Fall Quarter!