VOA慢速英语:Experts Suggest Ways to Help International Students Make Friends with American Students

Last week, we told how some international students have few friends in their host country when they study overseas. One study in the United States found that thirty-eight percent of foreign students said they had no close American friends. Communications specialist Elisabeth Gareis studied more than four hundred fifty foreign students.
上周我们讲了一些国际学生在国外留学时在客居国交友不多的问题。美国的一项调查发现，38%的外国学生称没有亲密的美国朋友。沟通专家Elisabeth Gareis调查了450多名外国学生。

VOA Student Union blogger Jessica Stahl also investigated the issue. Her survey showed that seventy-five percent of foreign students said they have more than two American friends. But ten percent reported having no American friends.
美国之音学生会博主Jessica Stahl也调查了这个问题。她的调查显示，75%的外国学生称有两个以上美国朋友。但10%的人没有美国朋友。

Elisabeth Gareis teaches in the Department of Communication Studies at Baruch College in New York. She says efforts on how to improve relationships between the two groups of students have yet to be studied in detail. But she says these efforts should begin with the college or university, and that these institutions have been working harder.
Elisabeth Gareis在纽约巴鲁克大学传播研究系任教，她说尚未对如何改善两个群体学生关系的努力进行详细研究。但她说应从学院和大学入手，这些机构也一直在努力解决这个问题。

ELISABETH GARIES: “Institutions should build an infrastructure that promotes contact. And they can do that by, for example, bonding activities at the beginning of the academic year.”
Elisabeth Gareis：“院校应为促进沟通建立基础条件，比如，可以在学年初组织联系活动。”

She suggests taking walks, going on bicycle, field or camping trips, and attending parties, sporting events or film festivals. She says such activities should be held repeatedly to bring students together throughout the school term. Ms. Gareis also suggests that foreign students share housing with American students.
她建议组织散步、骑车、野外活动或野营，还可以参加聚会、体育活动或电影节。她说应多次举办这些活动，让学生们整个学期都能聚在一起。Gareis还建议外国学生同美国学生合住。

Michigan State University is known for its programs for international students. Last year, about five thousand nine hundred students from one hundred thirty three countries attended Michigan State. They made up perhaps twelve percent of the total university population. Peter Briggs directs the Office for International Students and Scholars at Michigan State. He says more foreign students are expected to register this week.
密歇根州立大学因国际学生项目而知名。去年，来自133个国家的大约5900名学生来到密歇根州。他们可能占大学总人口的12%。Peter Briggs是密歇根州国际学生和奖学金办公室主任，他说本周将有更多外国学生来注册。

Many students and community members are trained and prepared to help foreign students. The volunteers assist new students as they complete government requirements and find their academic advisors. Mr. Briggs says the volunteers also help answer the traditional questions of new people anywhere.
许多学生和社区成员已接受培训，来帮助外国学生。志愿者们帮助新生来完成政府的要求并找到学业顾问。Briggs说，志愿者还帮助新生在各处都能遇到的传统问题。

PETER BRIGGS:  “Where do I get an ID (identification card)? Which is the best bank…What is my cell phone plan? How do I get a Social Security number or driver’s license? That kind of information is shared both formally and informally as students advise other students. We’re really supporting that network.”
Peter Briggs：“哪里弄到身份证？哪家银行最好？我的电话套餐怎么选？怎么得到社会安全成员或驾驶执照？当学生之间相互正式或非正式咨询时，这样的信息是共享的。我们确实在支持这个网络。”

He says that if the new students make friends as they begin school, they will come to feel part of the life and traditions of the university.
他说，如果新学生一进校就交朋友，他们会感到自己是学校生活和传统的一部分。