1. What did my students wish they knew before college?

2. About myself Thank you for inviting me to visit your class. Thank you for inviting me to visit your class. My students think I’m lucky to get to “visit” South Korea – and I agree. My students think I’m lucky to get to “visit” South Korea – and I agree. I teach college writing and journalism at Northern Virginia Community College near the U.S. capital. I teach college writing and journalism at Northern Virginia Community College near the U.S. capital. I am a former journalist. I am a former journalist.

3. About My Students The students at my college come from more than 150 different countries, including South Korea. The students at my college come from more than 150 different countries, including South Korea. The students in my classes range in age from 16 to 67 years old. The students in my classes range in age from 16 to 67 years old. Most of my students intend to transfer to four- year colleges and universities. Most of my students intend to transfer to four- year colleges and universities.

4. More about my students Some students earned excellent grades in high school and wish to save money. Some students earned excellent grades in high school and wish to save money. Other students did not earn good grades in high school but now intend to do well in college. Other students did not earn good grades in high school but now intend to do well in college.

5. A Korean student She grew up in Korea and attended high school and college in Korea. She grew up in Korea and attended high school and college in Korea. She also attended college in the United States. She was recently accepted to a prestigious university called Georgetown. She also attended college in the United States. She was recently accepted to a prestigious university called Georgetown. She earned excellent grades and was one of my best students fall semester. She earned excellent grades and was one of my best students fall semester.

6. What does she wish she knew? U.S. college students must study hard the way Korean high school students study. U.S. college students must study hard the way Korean high school students study. College classes are smaller in the U.S. (if you attend a community college). College classes are smaller in the U.S. (if you attend a community college). Teachers know your name.Teachers know your name. You will work in groups (the way I think you do in this class).You will work in groups (the way I think you do in this class). Community college tuition is inexpensive. Community college tuition is inexpensive. Smart students attend community college to save money and then transfer to a four-year college.Smart students attend community college to save money and then transfer to a four-year college. Community colleges have good ESL classes.Community colleges have good ESL classes. Colleges offer you help if you need it.Colleges offer you help if you need it.

7. What do you want to be? My students wish they planned more before starting college “I wish I had looked into what degree I wanted to achieve a little more. I started off thinking I wanted to do one thing, but changed my major at the beginning of spring semester. I ended up losing out on a semester of college, which is why I'm working a little more this summer.” “I wish I had looked into what degree I wanted to achieve a little more. I started off thinking I wanted to do one thing, but changed my major at the beginning of spring semester. I ended up losing out on a semester of college, which is why I'm working a little more this summer.”

8. Too much freedom? Many of my students wished they knew how much freedom they would have to choose whether to attend classes and complete homework. Many of my students wished they knew how much freedom they would have to choose whether to attend classes and complete homework. “I wish someone told me that college is more of a free option whether to do your homework or not, unlike high school where your teacher keeps track of your homework on a daily basis.” “I wish someone told me that college is more of a free option whether to do your homework or not, unlike high school where your teacher keeps track of your homework on a daily basis.” Homework or the Beach?

9. Too much freedom? “I wish I knew about the amount of freedom I had. It tricks you, and can make you fall behind in your work.” “I wish I knew about the amount of freedom I had. It tricks you, and can make you fall behind in your work.” “I would have participated in more activities in high school, just so I got used to time management and not slacking off on homework.” “I would have participated in more activities in high school, just so I got used to time management and not slacking off on homework.”

10. Writing Skills How to avoid plagiarism – taking someone’s words without giving the person credit (these standards differ by culture) How to avoid plagiarism – taking someone’s words without giving the person credit (these standards differ by culture) “I wish I had enjoyed writing and I had become better at my spelling and writing skills from sentence setup to grammar.” “I wish I had enjoyed writing and I had become better at my spelling and writing skills from sentence setup to grammar.” Writing a research paper Writing a research paper Taking notes during a lecture Taking notes during a lecture

11. Final Thought “I wish someone told me that high school is the building brick for your higher education.” “I wish someone told me that high school is the building brick for your higher education.”

12. What else do I wish my students knew? Study skills Study skills How to read carefully and take notes in the book or on another sheet of paper How to read carefully and take notes in the book or on another sheet of paper Asking questions and asking for help is a sign of a good student Asking questions and asking for help is a sign of a good student How to plan enough time for homework How to plan enough time for homework Writing knowledge Writing knowledge Writing strong paragraphs with topic sentences and good details. Writing strong paragraphs with topic sentences and good details. Web sites can’t be trusted completely – www.dhmo.org Web sites can’t be trusted completely – www.dhmo.orgwww.dhmo.org This Web site urges people to ban water as a jokeThis Web site urges people to ban water as a joke College-planning skills College-planning skills Don’t work too many hours during college (if possible) Don’t work too many hours during college (if possible)

13. I hope all of you have wonderful college experiences! I hope all of you have wonderful college experiences!

14. Thank you for listening. Thank you for listening. I will look forward to your presentations – and to answering any questions. I will look forward to your presentations – and to answering any questions.