外国の大学スタッフや学生に直接電話した内容をそのまま掲載していくコーナーです。英会話の勉強をしながら、海外の大学情報をゲットしよう。さて、このコーナーは国際電話001番KDDの協力で可能になりました。

Elmira College: Good morning. Elmira College Admissions Office.
Xene: I have some questions about admission for international students. Is there anyone whom I can talk to?
Elmira College: William Neal would be the one to talk to, but he is in the meeting right now, so try back in... uh... say, half hour.
Xene: OK. Thanks a lot.

1回目の電話では担当のニ−ルさんがミーティング中で電話に出られないとのこと。これで諦めてはならぬ。
30分後に再度チャレンジ。

Elmira College: Elmira College Admissions Office. May I help you?
Xene: Hello. May I speak to Mr. William Neal please?
William Neal: Speaking.
Xene: I have some questions about admission for international students. Would you spare a few minutes?
W. N.: Sure. Go ahead.
Xene: What are the admission criteria for international students?
W. N.: We ask for a minimum TOEFL score of 500, although we sometimes do take students with lower scores under special circumstances. We'll take an average student who is prepared for a four years university. We also have a small ESL program.
Xene: Do you have any scholarship programs for international students?
W. N.: There are some merit scholarships for international students, although the criteria are stringent. Students must be at the top of their class with high averages.
Xene: OK. Is your college semester or term?
W. N.: It doesn't match anything. We have semester credits, but our calendar is two 12-week terms that are like a semester and one 6-week short term in spring.
Xene: I see. Is there a dead line for applications?
W. N.: It's March 1st for fall September entry and September 1st for winter or spring term.
Xene: How many students are there at Elmira College, and what's the ratio of foreign students?
W. N.: Right now, there's 1150 students, 65 of them are from foreign countries and about 20 of them are Japanese.
Xene: How about the ratio of a teacher and students?
W. N.: For all courses, about twelve to one.
Xene: That's very nice. Are there housing or dormitory facilities?
W. N.: Yes, there are.
Xene: Great. How long will it take for you to issue an I-20 form after you receive an application?
W. N.: It takes 2 to 3 days to let students know if they are admitted or not. After they send us a deposit and we have their satisfactory financial papers, they could expect an I-20 within a week.
Xene: That's quick. Would you be able to send me a catalog, application form for both ESL and academic, and housing information?
W. N.: We use the same application for ESL as we do for a regular admission. I'll send you the information you need. Now, tell me whom I have to send it to.
Xene: I can fax the address to you.
W. N.: That would be good. Put my name on it. Attention William Neal. N瓲瓣甅. And I will give you the fax number. It's 607-735-1718.
Xene: Thank you very much for your time, Mr. Neal.
W. N.: It's a pleasure. Good bye.

No. 2　Portland State University


　今回はオレゴン州にある札幌市の姉妹都市、ポートランドの州立大学でPortland State Universityに電話してみました。001（KDD）-1（アメリカの国番号）-503（オレゴン州の番号）そして725-3511をプッシュ。

突然聞こえてきたのは「自動音声メールシステム」の声。最近の大きい大学はほとんどこのシステムを使っています。何を言ってるのか聞き取れなくて諦めた人も多いはず。英語が得意でなければ、これを聞き取るのは難しい。でも、黙って待っていると通常はオペレーターに変わります。諦めないで待ってみて（相手の国が営業時間外の時は誰も出ません。時差の確認を忘れずに）。

なんとも長いメッセージ。ジーン入学事務局と話したかったので4をプッシュ（皆さんはInternational Studentになるので、この場合は2をプッシュしてね）。

PSU: Admissions department, can I help you?
Xene: I was wondering if you could answer a few questions about Portland State University?
PSU: Just a moment please, I'll put you on to our Registrar, Bob Tusts.
BT: Hello, Bob Tusts speaking.
Xene: Hello, could you spare a few minutes to answer a few questions about your university?
BT: Sure, I'll answer if I can.
Xene: How many students are there presently at PSU?
BT: At the start of term in September 1998 we had a total of 15,230 students.
Xene: How many of these are international students?
BT: 798, including 158 from Japan, the largest number from any one country.
Xene: How many lectures does the university have?
BT: 585, including graduate assistants.
Xene: What's the average age of students?
BT: The average age of our students is 28.2, but four our night courses the average age is a little higher.
Xene: What sort of housing facilities does the university offer?
BT: There's an independent housing association that runs a variety of dormitories on campus and these are available to our international students.
Xene: What are the tuition fees at PSU?
BT: Our quarterly fees for international students and non-residents of Oregon, is $3,969
Xene: What would you say are the advantages of a state university compared to a private university?
BT: A lot of our international students come here to study sciences and engineering. In these departments, a state university can offer better laboratory facilities and resources, also, a greater cross-section of students with a mix of ages and backgrounds. PSU is situated down town and so it is close to
the business and cultural centres, keeping it in touch with the community.
Xene: Thanks very much Bob. Now, how about some questions about cross cultural relations at the university?
BT: Maybe Fred Nunn in the international affairs department on 725-3455 would be able to answer those questions.
Xene: OK. Thanks again, Bye.

Xene: How does this affect students wanting to transfer to or from the college.
B.S: We've never had any problems with transferring credits. Our grading system is now becoming widely recognised and similar systems are now being used in other establishments, including high schools.

Xene: Evergreen State College has made quite a name for itself in art. Could you tell me a little about the specialist courses?
B.S: We have three main areas of expressive art, media, visual arts and performing arts. The teachers tend to be scholars with PhDs, but active filmmakers. We have a large technical staff, many of whom come from the film industry and theatre etc. Matt Groening, creator of The Simpsons, graduated from Evergreen, as did the producer of the movie The Matrix.

Xene: What are the requirements for foreign students?
B.S: It depends on the programme. The art cirriculum is over subscribed, but first of all they need the required TOEFL score. The courses are language intensive and so that's important. We don't have any Japanese students studying art; they tend to be studying humanities or sciences.

Xene: Is there anything else that you would like to tell us about Evergreen?
B.S: The grading system is just one of the unusual features here. We practice team teaching and instead of the usual 4 credits, it's just one programme. It's a block method that allows the teachers to devise programmes with variation. Art students spend a lot of time in the studio and science students do a lot of research in the field.

Xene: Thanks for your time Ms. Smith

B.S: You're welcome, goodbye.

Xene: What degrees or certificates can international students earn at the University of Westminster?

R.A: There are two types of international degrees. One is a full B.A. (Bachelor of Arts) or B.S.C. (Bachelor of Science) honours degree, the other involves the "Study Abroad" course. This way, a student who is already at university in their native country comes to Westminster for a year or six months to study. The credits they earn during their time here can then be used to graduate in their native country.

Xene: Is there an entrance exam at the University of Westminster?

R.A: We have the foundation course for international students who have completed secondary education in their own country. Students who are currently at university in another country can usually complete a degree course in three years.

Xene: What about English language ability?

R.A: Any TOEFL, IELTS or Cambridge tests are acceptable. There is a 530 or 540 requirement for TOEFL and we ask for an IELTS score of 6.

Xene: What about students who have the academic qualifications, but don't meet the English language requirements?

R.A: There's an English language course here at the University of Westminster. Students can come to learn English for periods of two weeks to one year, then at the end they can take an English test.

Xene: How much could an international student expect to have to pay for tuition fees and living expenses?
R.A: Tuition fees vary from course to course, but an average undergraduate course would be about ｣6,300 per year. Post-graduate courses are a little more expensive and cost between ｣6,000 and ｣7,000. Halls of residence and homestays are available at about ｣70 and ｣90 a week, respectively. As an overall guide, we recommend a student budgets about ｣600 per week for tuition fees, books, accommodation and living and social expenses.

Xene: What else would you like to say about the University of Westminster?

R.A: We have students here from 120 different countries, so Japanese students have a chance to study alongside British students as well as those from other countries. Our "Study Abroad" program is one of the largest in the country and the university is situated in the centre of London, close to government offices as well as major libraries and other information centres. Many of our courses are run in conjunction with professional bodies, preparing students for the real situations and jobs in society.

Daichi: Well, I usually take four or five classes each semester. As for a daily schedule, there are always a few classes in the morning. I take two or three afternoon classes and one or two evening classes.

Xene: What are you studying?

Daichi: I'm majoring in Visual Communication at the University of Oklahoma. It's a field of design for advertisement, websites and products, etc. I have also taken psychology classes as a minor.

Xene: What's the atmosphere of the classes like?

Daichi: I would say there are two different types of classes. In studio-based classes, such as drawing or painting, where students do project work rather than reading and writing, students are free to talk and walk around. This is good and sometimes makes the art classes more exciting. As an international student, I have a difficulty with history or psychology classes that require more reading of texts, writing and oral presentation. I really wish I could do all those assignments in Japanese as it sometimes takes 10 times longer in English.

Xene: Are the teachers and classes interesting?

Daichi: I belong to the Department of Fine Arts. This is a place where extraordinarily creative people work and study. I am surrounded by all kinds of bizarre people from around the world here. Either in the way they dress or the way they think. We call it "creative" or "unique", not "bizarre" or "weird", you know!

Xene: What about the atmosphere at your home-stay or dormitory?

Daichi: I am living in an apartment on campus. The atmosphere in an apartment changes, depending on the neighbors. A Chinese family next door have a karaoke machine and sing Chinese songs in the middle of the night. There is an American couple with three boys who live on the other side. The kids are always playing with Pokemon figures or wrestling. You just have to be prepared for trouble with your neighbors if you decide to live in an apartment. I am not saying an apartment is a bad choice for an international student, though. Before I moved in here, I had some great friends from my first apartment. In the beginning I was helped a lot by them.

Xene: Do you (or did you) have any problems with everyday life?

Daichi: Yes, I always do! I had car trouble, got charged extra at the hospital, purchased the wrong stuff from a store, and didn't realise the necessary immigration and tax procedures. It made me aware of my insufficient English skills. But, I think I have come to accept daily troubles as part of life's entertainment.

Xene: Not to be personal, but do you have a local American girlfriend?

Daichi: All the local American girls I was interested in were already taken by the local American boys!

Xene: What sort of relationship do you have with American students?

Daichi: With the American students, I make small talk during break, but that's all. I spend most of my time with my American friends who I met at my previous college. We go shopping, fishing, have dinner, go to church and so on. From my experience, I think students in a small school are friendlier to international students than those in a huge school.

Xene: Have you ever experienced racism?

Daichi: I don't think so, although I have met people who have stereotypes of Japanese. Sometimes they mix us together with Korean or Chinese, too. These stereotypes are like, all Japanese are intelligent, the husband is dominant in the family, a wife has no right to say anything against her husband, all Japanese can do karate, etc...

Xene: What advice would you give to someone thinking about studying abroad?

Daichi: I would suggest that you have a goal when you study in the US. You should choose your major in something you are really interested in. Well, to be honest, because I myself didn't know what I really wanted when I came here, I was dying of boredom.
Also, it is important to know your own country and yourself well, be positive and love yourself. No matter which state you are in, people will ask you about your country. You don't have to be able to explain everything about Japan. Just be able to give some good general points. Otherwise, people will have a weird impression of you. More importantly, don't hesitate to ask someone for help!

Xene: Thanks very much for that advice, Daichi, and good luck in the New Year. Bye.

Daichi: Thanks.

Duncan Sadleir: Well, we offer a range of courses from undergraduate degree to post graduate diploma in Hotel Management. Specifically we offer a three-year Bachelor of Arts degree in International Hospitality and Tourism Management, which is conferred by Bournemouth University in the UK. Included within this program is a two-year Swiss Diploma from the IHTTI Switzerland and two-year Australian Advanced Diploma from our school. That means if a student completes the full three years they will graduate with Australian, British and Swiss qualifications! The course is divided into six semesters of approximately six months. Semesters 1, 3, 5, and 6 are residential semesters spent at the school, which is run as a simulated hotel where students are both employees and guests.

Xene: Do you have many international students?

DS: One of our slogans is "excellence through diversity." At any one time we have a population of approximately 240 students living on campus. Our international students come from over 16 different countries including Indonesia, Switzerland, Sweden, Russia, South America, Africa, Japan, India and the Middle East.

Xene: What are the admissions requirements for international students?

DS: To enter our school, students must have completed 12 years of schooling and attained an English language proficiency level of IELTS 6.0 or TOEFL 550. If students have not attained these levels we can assist them via our H.E.L.L.O course (Hospitality English Language and Lifestyle Orientation). During semesters 2 and 4 with assistance from the Schools Industry Placement Department, students obtain fully paid positions in some of Australia's top hotels and resorts. Normally, international students are limited to 20 hours of paid work per week, however as this is a compulsory part of the course, students studying at our school can work in full-time employment during this time.

Xene: What are the job prospects for graduates?

DS: To date we have had a 100% success rate for graduates seeking employment. The skills learned and qualifications earned at our school are transferable worldwide, as is evident in the number of students we have working internationally.

Xene: Can you describe the accomodations at Blue Mountains?

DS: During the residential semesters, which account for two out of the three years, students live in twin share accommodation. The rooms are very comfortable, each with it's own toilet and shower facilities, mini fridge, and a computer linked to the Internet and e-mail. The school has two restaurants and a cafeteria in which students can dine. Students can also have room service meals, shoes shined and wake-up calls as guests of the "hotel."

Xene: What is campus life like?

DS: Being located in a National Park means that students have a wide range of outdoor activities that they can participate in during the weekends. As we are so close to Sydney, students also have one of the world's most beautiful and exciting harbour cities at their feet.

Xene: How does Blue Mountains distinguish itself from other schools?

DS: [Laughs] How much time do you have? Firstly the schools physical location is a real plus, located in the safe, clean and green environment of the Blue Mountains National Park. As I mentioned earlier, we offer courses that are recognised all around the globe. This is a very exciting year for us with the Olympic Games commencing in September. In fact all students enrolling with us for our upcoming July intake will have the opportunity of being employed at full pay at one of the Olympic Venues during the Olympic period! I think that the most unique thing about our school is its culture. Students come from around Australia and around the world. During their time at the school students grow and develop both as professionals and as people. By the time they graduate not only will they have made new friends but they will also have the beginnings of a valuable network of industry professions on a global basis. Once a student joins the "Blue Mountains family" they have access to an extensive network of employment opportunities available only through our Alumni network.