Learning the rules 学习新的规则
By Qiuling Wu, International Student Advisor, Dalhousie University
国际留学新生常常面临适应新规则的困难。想度过愉快的大学生活，国际生必须学习遵循新的社交常识和规范。
查理.泰森在《隐藏课程》中指出，当学生有疑问并需要学术上的帮助时，他们可以毫无顾忌地提出问题，而沉默的学生通常给别人留下消极的印象，这是大学里的学习规则。学生应当主动与教授建立良好的关系，因为高等教育十分鼓励、推崇积极的师生关系构建。如果教授对学生很熟悉，学生会获取更多学习、研究和实习等机会。
泰森的文章中还谈及了其它几个重点，例如遵守期限、准时赴约。这些看似无关紧要的小细节，却在加拿大高等教育体系中受到高度重视。
引用：查理.泰森（2014年8月4日）。文章《隐藏课程》，摘自《高校情报》。
International students often face difficult challenges of learning new and hidden rules. To succeed in university, students must learn to navigate a world of new social norms.
According to Charlie Tyson in “The Hidden Curriculum”, one common university norm is that students have to become comfortable with asking questions when they do not understand and seeking help when they need academic support. Students often suffer in silence because they do not want to give the impression that they are deficient. Also students should take the initiative to build relationships with their professors because strong faculty and student relationships are highly valued and rewarded in higher education. If students become close with their professors, they are more likely to have access to privileges such as research opportunities and internships.
Other important topics covered in Tyson’s article includefollowing deadlines and showing up for scheduled appointments. These may seem unimportant to some but are highly valued traits in Canadian higher education.
Source: “The Hidden Curriculum”, Inside Higher Education, August 4, 2014
10 things you need to know 给大家的十点建议
By Kay Balite, International Student Advisor, Mount Saint Vincent University
1. 确认签证、学习许可的截止日期，并把护照信息电子备份。
2. 按时出勤，主动与教授介绍自己。
3. 大胆提问，主动寻求帮助。
4. 建立学习小组，可寻求课外辅导。
5. 参加学术技能讲座（例如：学习技能、时间管理等）。均衡分配学习、工作和生活的时间。
6. 熟悉图书馆和图书管理员，掌握文献检索技能。
7. 在新学期前安排与导师见面。确保每学年与导师至少有一次会面。
8. 了解加拿大课堂礼仪以及作业和学习要求。
9. 建立社交圈。可参加校内外的志愿者活动，或组织各项活动，探索城市，尝试新鲜事。
10. 选择住校，尤其是大一。住校将有助于提高你的综合能力。
1. Know your visa and study permit expiry date and create electronic copies of all your immigration documents.
2. Attend class regularly and introduce yourself to your professors.
3. Do not be afraid to ask questions and to ask for help.
4. Form student study groups –hire a tutor if needed.
5. Attend academic success workshops (i.e. study skills, time management). Create a healthy school/work/life balance.
6. Learn and familiarize yourself with the library and know your librarians–master research skills.
7. Meet with your academic advisor before you begin your studies. From then on, schedule to meet at least once a year until you complete your degree.
8. Become familiar with Canadian classroom etiquette and assignment/study expectations.
9. Build your network as soon as you arrive. Volunteer –on and/or off-campus. Participate and become involved in different events. Explore the city and try new things.
10. Live on residence, especially in your first year. Living on residence strengthens your integration exponentially.
In and outside of the classroom 课堂内外
By Stefan Ferron, Executive Marketing & Sales Director, CLLC Halifax
1. 学习英文时切记英文是帮助你通向高等教育的阶梯。课外时间尽量少说中文，否则你的努力将付诸东流。
2. 与老师一起解决学习问题。建立良好的师生关系将更容易听取老师的反馈意见。
3. 了解并尊重学术规则。抄袭在加拿大的学术领域是绝不容许的，一旦发生，将可能被学校开除。切记使用他人研究成果时要注明出处。
4. 参加各项课外活动。无压力的环境能更好地锻炼英文。
1. While studying English, remember your purpose. English is your gateway to higher education. Don’t sabotage your efforts by speaking Chinese outside of school hours.
2. Work with your teachers. They’re there to help you. Develop a strong constructive relationship where you feel comfortable accepting constructive criticism. Your teachers are only there to help.
3. Realize and respect academic rules. Plagiarism is a serious academic offence in Canada for which you can be expelled from university. Never use anybody’s work without giving credit.
4. Join all extra-curricular activities. By doing this you can practice your English in a stress-free environment in a natural setting, rather than a classroom.
Establishing a business vs. job searching 创业与就业
By Victor Zhu, IT Service Management Coordinator, Halifax Regional Municipality
如果你对创业很执着，也不计较创业初期的低收入，哈法是年轻人创业的好地方。广泛建立社交圈和人脉关系会带给你意想不到收获。此外，要善于利用政府的各项针对创业的补助计划。
如果你想更好地均衡工作和生活，朝九晚五的工作也是一个不错的选择。人脉关系是成功就业的敲门砖。鼓励参加例如像大哈法合作局的联接项目等的就业扶植项目。最后，哈法是座小城，良好的口碑会让你走得更远。所以，建立和保持良好的口碑尤为重要！
If you’re determined and passionate about starting a business, and don’t care about income for the first couple years, there are many opportunities in Halifax where you can be a young entrepreneur. You may harvest unexpected opportunities from enhancing your networking skills and building a wide business network. Also leverage many of the government programs, grants, initiatives to help building your business successfully.
Being a 9-5 professional is not a bad choice where you would have better work and life balance. Networking is the key to landing a job. Take advantage of programs such as Connector Program at Greater Halifax Partnership. Don’t forget to build and maintain a good reputation! Words travel and Halifax is a small town. Good reputation will go a long way.
Focus on your goals 专注于自己的目标
By Jennifer Liu, Project Coordinator, Innovacorp; Director of Immigration & Diversity, Fusion Halifax
对于新生，让人烦恼的事情确实很多。但是，没有什么比树立明确目标更重要、更值得你去烦恼。以我为例，我在大学里的目标有三个：攒学费，获取加拿大工作经验和按时毕业。虽然实现这些目标的过程很辛苦，但同时我也很享受。我热爱我的每一个工作，这些工作机会让我不仅结交到很多朋友，更助我很好地融入了当地文化。
我觉得获得实习经验意义重大。通过不同的实习工作，我发掘了自己真正的职业兴趣——创业和项目管理。
所以，作为留学生，如果你专注目标、了解自己、勤奋学习研究，你将能很好地把握未来。
Nothing is more important than setting clear goals. I know there are so many things you attempt to worry about, but try to only worry about achieving your goals. In my case, my goals were to pay tuition, gain Canadian work experience and graduate on time, which I focused throughout my university years. Although I worked long hours to achieve those goals, I had fun. I loved every job I had, made amazing friends and learned the local culture.
For me, the most rewarding experience came from my co-op terms, which offered me the opportunity to figure out my real interest – entrepreneurship and project management.
So focus on your goals. Explore your options, do research and invest in your future. As an international student, you’ll have so much to offer.
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