Advice to American Students: Embrace your International Peers

American students can benefit greatly from befriending their peers from other nations.  However, this may take a proactive approach.  Many international students desire to make friends with Americans, but struggle to do so (Grayson, 2008). I am currently working on a research project investigating the cultural awareness and competence of American students. In my previous research, I have also learned much about international and American students’ friendships and collaborative relationships.  Unfortunately, many American students feel that the onus of responsibility rests solely on international students to reach out.  However, international students are not necessarily the people losing out on this belief.  While international students desire to have more contact with their American peers, they continue to find success despite this (Curtin, Stewart, & Ostrove, 2013; Zhai, 2004). Rather, I believe that American students are the people losing out by failing to reach out to their international counterparts.  Therefore, I encourage American students to reach out to any international students that they may encounter for these reasons:

1. You can improve your knowledge and understanding of other cultures, which can improve your chances of getting a job. This is especially important for American students as the workforce in the 21^st century requires a greater understanding of other cultures and belief systems (Zhao, Kuh, & Carini, 2005).  You may not have to agree with others beliefs, but you need to understand them and celebrate the differences.
2. American students who interacted with international students reported greater personal skill development than those who did not (Luo & Jamieson-Drake, 2013). If an American student is enrolled in higher education, they are obviously trying to improve their skill set.  Since, interactions with international students led to better skill development, it would only make sense to seek out these interactions.
3. You will learn things about yourself that you never thought possible. Your simple acts will be embraced by your international peers as thoughtful and kind.  You will hear stories of untold persecution and challenges that will make your life seem easier by comparison.  You may even find that you can see the viewpoints of others and can understand where they are coming from.  This empathy will help you in a number of areas of life. If you would like to read about my experiences with international students please click here.

While these points seek to show how American students can benefit from interaction with international students, I must also stress that Americans should benefit international students as well.  Every American student should seek to help international students with their struggles and challenges to improve the overall experience in higher education.  I will not go into the benefits for international students on this post, but I may in the future.

Therefore, rather than looking at international students as outsiders, try to embrace them and show them that they are truly welcome in the United States, even if the media would make them believe otherwise.  America was built on immigrants trying to improve their lives and get a piece of the American dream.  Instead of seeing those from other nations as competition, welcome the idea that they can become some of your greatest friends and colleagues regardless of their background or home nation.

References:

Curtin, N., Stewart, A. J., & Ostrove, J. M. (2013). Fostering academic self-concept advisor support and sense of belonging among international and domestic graduate students. American Educational Research Journal, 50(1), 108–137. https://doi.org/10.3102/0002831212446662

Grayson, J. P. (2008). The experiences and outcomes of domestic and international students at four Canadian universities. Higher Education Research & Development, 27(3), 215–230. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360802183788

Luo, J., & Jamieson-Drake, D. (2013). Examining the educational benefits of interacting with international students. Journal of International Students, 3(2), 85–101.

Zhai, L. (2004). Studying international students: Adjustment issues and social support. Journal of International Agriculture and Extension Education, 11(1), 97–104.

Zhao, C.-M., Kuh, G. D., & Carini, R. M. (2005). A comparison of international student and American student engagement in effective educational practices. The Journal of Higher Education, 76(2), 209–231. https://doi.org/10.1353/jhe.2005.0018

Inspirational International Students

Many people are impressed when they find out I completed my PhD.  They admire the work and dedication that went into completing my terminal degree.  I had many obstacles to complete my education including kidney stones, changing my committee four times, and dealing with the politics of academia.  However, my challenges were nothing compared to some of the international students that I met while completing my doctorate.  I would like to share three of their inspiring stories, though I am omitting names to protect privacy.

First, one man from a small African nation lived more than 1000 miles from his wife and more than 1500 miles from his children.  In addition, most his extended family still lived in Africa.  But his challenges did not end there.  He did not have a car and lived with a number of undergraduate students who partied too much and even placed him in danger.  He spent most of his time in the office and even slept there during nights when the weather was too bad to bike home.  In addition, he had students who refused to take the extra time and effort to listen closely to him and joked about his accent.  Yet, through all of this, he always had a smile on his face and never spoke negatively of anyone else.  He was an inspiration to me and no matter how much I struggled, he was always there with a kind, positive word.

I also met a young woman from a Middle Eastern nation who had once been the department head at a university in her home nation.  However, when her nation’s government changed, she was ousted from her position and no university in that country would recognize her degree or experience.  Rather than giving up, she came to the United States to pursue her PhD so that she could teach in the US.  Her hope is to one day return to her home nation to teach, but she understands that this may not be an option.  I often spoke with her during class; she was remarkably intelligent, insightful, and optimistic.  However, due to her manner of dress, many people avoided her and missed a chance to get to know a wonderful person.  I will always admire her dedication to education and her perseverance in the face of great hardship.

Finally, I also had the pleasure of working with a faculty member who was originally from South Korea.  As I was struggling to complete my dissertation and dealing with the politics of the process, he was always willing to lend an ear.  He provided me guidance and encouragement when I was upset and discouraged.  He even shared his experiences with me.  When he was completing his PhD, his wife became pregnant.  While this should have been a joyous time, his chairperson compelled him to send his wife and newborn daughter back to South Korea so that they would not be a distraction as he worked on his dissertation.  His story astonished me.  However, it helped me get through some very difficult times.  I will forever be in his debt for providing perspective as I struggled.

These are only three stories of those who came from other nations, but I met many others that overcame great obstacles to accomplish their dreams.  I often hear Americans complaining about immigrants and international students coming to the US.  However, I have learned that most of these people are not much different than you or me.  They may have different beliefs, clothing, and customs, but deep down the similarities outweigh the differences.  My international peers go to school to improve their income and make a better life for their children.  They have insecurities, fears, and dreams and want to be able to go through life with happiness, to love, and be loved.  I learned a lot about curriculum and instruction while in school, which will help me to land a job.  However, the lessons learned from international students and faculty may be the greatest gift of my education and I will cherish the friendships that I made for a lifetime.

6 Tips for Graduate School

Since many of you are in the swing of a new semester, I wanted to offer some tips and advice for navigating graduate school.  I have cobbled some of these together from other sources (located below) and some of them come from my own experiences in graduate school.

Read smart and do not necessarily read everything word for word.

You will read more articles and texts than you ever thought possible.  Learn to take notes or annotate the text as you read and scan when you are pressed for time.  It is also important to learn to use abstracts to determine if an article is a good fit for your research.  If the abstract doesn’t seem to fit, then don’t read it.  It will save you a lot of time and effort.  This is especially applicable for students from other nations where the education system expects students to read the entire text book.

Do not spread yourself too thin.

You will have plenty of opportunities to attend seminars and conferences, collaborate on papers, join committees, etc.  It is tempting to try a little of everything, but you will soon burn out if you overextend yourself.  Also, be careful of any honors societies that ask you to pay a large sum for joining.  No one pays attention to them anyway.

Talk with other graduate students who are further along than you are.

There are many unwritten rules of graduate school and violating them can cause you more trouble than you want.  In my first year, a colleague and I started a research study with a faculty member who was not either of our advisors.  Luckily, my advisor / chair was impressed with our initiative, but my friend’s advisor was not as understanding.  Other graduate students can help you figure things out that are not in the official documents of your program.

Listen to your chair when forming your committee.

I cannot stress this enough.  You may have a person that you want on your committee, but your chair expresses some reservations about that person.  Most will be professional about it, not specifically stating the reasons for their apprehension, but rest assured it can get unpleasant for you if you do not heed her or his reticence.  I had to change my committee four times due to faculty leaving the university.  I always listened to my chair about the members of the committee, but due to the need to change so many times, we ended up with a less than optimal situation.  Due to disagreements among my committee my life seemed a living hell for a few weeks.  In fact, one member disliked my revisions, but hadn’t actually read the revised manuscript.  However, my experience paled in comparison to some of the things that my colleagues endured.  Some did not listen to their chair and it turned ugly rather quickly.

Expect the worst and prepare for dark days.

Graduate school is difficult.  You will suffer from impostor syndrome, depression, anxiety, sleepless nights, and feeling insanely isolated.  You may have people try to sabotage or take advantage of you.  You will miss out of family gatherings and events and friends from your life before graduate school will be upset that you cannot hang out with them.  There will be times when you realize you are making less per hour than working in fast food. Don’t get me wrong, there are many great things as well.  However, if you expect bad things to happen then when they do, you are better equipped to handle it.

Take advantage of free stuff and have fun when you can.

College and university campuses often offer free food and prizes for students.  Take advantage of these as often as you can.  Graduate students do not make much and the university squeezes as much work out of you as they can.  Giveaways and food can help you even things out (not really, but at least you won’t have to eat another cursed bowl of Ramen).  Also, you will have many people tell you to take time for yourself to preserve your sanity, which is good advice.  However, in the next breath they will tell you how you need to publish 6 times before graduation and need to write a 20-page book review with at least 20 references before Monday.  You are going to be busy, extremely busy, but when a window opens to go for a hike, see a movie, etc. take it. But do not feel bad if you seem to be working non-stop.  It is the nature of the beast.

Good luck and Godspeed with the new semester.

Source Material:

12 Tips for Surviving and Thriving in Grad School

Some Modest Advice for Graduate Students

No Extra Credit Allowed!

Every semester, in every course, one hears some iteration of the following question, “Professor Y, can I get extra credit?”  This question seems to be one that is common among students of all ages.  I heard this request from children in the 5^th grade, adolescents in middle school, and young adults at the university.  While I understand a student’s desire to have these additional points, I rarely, if ever, grant extra credit.  I am not suggesting that all teachers should take this same approach as many have used it to great effect.  However, I have also witnessed teachers use extra credit without having an intentional purpose behind it and students are easily confused by some teachers’ use of extra credit.  Therefore, I want to share with you why I choose not to offer extra credit in my classes.

1. My job as an educator is to help students learn the material that has been entrusted to me in a warm, engaging environment. My job is not to ensure everyone gets an A, though I have had classes where the vast majority did so. In an article discussing extra credit, Sackstein, points out that learning is not about points to earn, but about mastery of the skills and knowledge necessary to take the next educational step (2014).  In my first semester of teaching, I offered extra credit and I noticed something rather alarming.  I witnessed students skating through class since they knew they could make up points later.  For these students, it was about the grade rather than learning new skills and developing knowledge.  Extra credit provides a loophole for laziness throughout the year and this my first reason for not offering it in my classes.

 

2. While not all students will use extra credit as a reason for laziness, I also see extra credit as unfair to many students. I feel that my classroom should be as equitable as possible and extra credit does not allow this. For instance, I have had non-traditional students who worked full time, took care of their children, and took 18+ credit hours per semester.  Their workload was already overwhelming and they barely had time to sleep and could not take advantage of any extra credit opportunities.  Additionally, I have witnessed international students who were already working, taking their normal course load, and taking additional English courses to improve their writing and speech.  Again, these students could not take advantage of extra credit.  For this reason, I do not feel extra credit is warranted in my classroom.

 

3. Finally, I do not believe in giving extra credit because it only leads to more work and frustration for both teacher and student. Unfortunately, many students believe that extra credit is earned merely by doing the activity or completing the assignment.  Students often feel that their effort alone merits extra points and a higher grade.  However, in many cases, if they had exerted a little extra effort on previous assignments, they would have no need for extra credit.  Moreover, teachers already have ample grading and assessment to handle and extra credit only adds to this load.  More work is only warranted if students will truly benefit from greater knowledge and skill development and extra credit rarely accomplishes this.

Each time my students hear my answer concerning extra credit, there are usually a few audible sighs and occasionally, an angry, “What, Why?”  I always explain to my students that if they do the required work, come to every class, and focus on learning the material rather than getting a certain percentage of points, they will be quite pleased with their grade.  I still receive a few requests at the end of the semester, but I reaffirm my beliefs to students. Not everyone is happy with my stance, but for the reasons outline above, I am confident in my decision.  What are your thoughts on extra credit?  Leave your thoughts in the comments below.

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Sackstein, S. (2014, December 8). No, you can’t do ‘extra credit’. Retrieved from Education Week: http://blogs.edweek.org/teachers/work_in_progress/2014/12/no_you_cant_do_extra_credit.html

Politicians are Employees, not Rulers

#politiansareemployees

When one thinks of the term, ruler, many images may come to mind and few have a positive connotation.  Unfortunately, too many people think politicians in the US today are modern-day versions of the ruler.  In many cases, politicians hold this view more strongly than anyone else.  However, nothing could be further from the truth.  Our politicians are not rulers or people to hand down mandates to the American people.  In fact, politicians are the employees of the American people and are tasked with carrying out the desires of the majority.  In addition, they are supposed to be wise enough to recognize when the majority’s opinion infringes on the rights of those in the minority to govern accordingly.  Sadly, many of our politicians do not aim to help the people and seem more inclined to push their own agenda.  Special interest groups, PACs, and corporate entities often drive these agendas through financial support to politicians.  It is also sad that many Americans accept this as the way government was meant to work in the US.  Yet, the power is meant to be yielded by the people and not those who seem to be better suited to selling used cars in a buy here, pay here lot.  We seem to have accepted the notion that government power lies in the hands of the parties and career politicians who have no knowledge of how most Americans live today.

When we elect officials, it should be based on their desire to represent the needs of the people rather than what party they belong to or what Super PAC they have supporting them.  Let us look at health care as an example.  This is an issue that seems to have divided Americans, but in reality, the division only exists in the buildings of DC.  While we may not all agree on everything about health care, I am willing to bet that every American simply wants better access with lower cost.  It really is that simple.  However, the politicians have basically told the public that they are not smart enough to appreciate the nuances of health care.  They bicker over Canadian health care, one payer systems, etc., but miss the point that Americans are sick of paying exorbitantly for all manner of care.  If our politicians had our best interests in mind, they would be working to ensure that everyone had access to cheaper, more accessible care.  However, their party agendas and special interests take precedence over the needs of the American people.

This is not the only example, but the only one I include in the interest of space and time.  The point is, our politicians have run amok with power and have elevated themselves to an American House of Lords, where the masses are beneath them.  Unfortunately, we have ourselves to blame.  When we go to the polls, we focus on charisma and what pundits are telling us.  We choose the candidate that we like the most without considering if they will represent the best interests of the people.  We need to recognize that politicians are not our rulers, but our employees.   We must choose people to make decisions that are most closely aligned with protecting all Americans, regardless of socioeconomic status, race, religion, etc.  If you hired someone to clean your house and they came in and told you how to clean your own house, you would be appalled and quickly fire them.  However, this is what we allow from our employees in the House, Senate, and White House.  As Americans, we have the ability to elect people who will do what is best for us rather than what is best for their small group of cronies.  Don’t forget that you are the boss and the government answers to us and not the other way around.

The Curse of PhD Unemployment

Today marks nearly my 11^th month of job searching.  While I have not been unemployed for that entire time, it is beginning to feel like it.  I finished my PhD in May 2017, but the outlook for jobs is rather bleak.  I have had a few campus interviews, but was not able to earn the job for any of those positions.  Each time, I was devastated as I had enjoyed each university where I interviewed.  Now that I have applied for more than 70 jobs, I have been applying for private sector jobs for the past three months.  Yet, these have all proven unfruitful as well.  In fact, I have never even received a phone call or invitation to interview.  It has become so bad that I have even begun to apply in retail.  At this point, I have run through my emergency fund and had to borrow money just to survive.  I am at risk of losing my apartment and car.  The days do not get any easier as time progresses.  As I search and apply for more jobs, I have been working on this blog, my Facebook page, and about 10 other revenue streams in the hopes that I can build some income as a freelancer.  However, this will take time to start earning money from these endeavors.  Therefore, I am left in a quagmire of unemployment.  The academic jobs I apply for seem to want someone else every time and every private sector job wants someone with less education.  It feels as if my PhD was a colossal mistake.

I am attempting to remain optimistic, but I am not naturally an optimistic person, so this becomes even more difficult for me.  I appreciate everyone’s kind words telling me that I will find something.  I know they mean well, but at the same time, the evidence to the contrary is becoming overwhelming.  If you are going through a similar situation, I can understand your plight.  All my faculty ensured me I would get a job if I published an article or two and presented at a national conference.  Based on their advice, I published 5 articles, have a book chapter in press, and presented at 1 regional and 2 national conferences.  I gave everything I could to my PhD experience.  I joined committees to gain important experience, taught a variety of classes, and went above and beyond on every assignment, paper, and activity.  However, here I sit in my bare apartment searching for the umpteenth time.

I did not write this post to discourage anyone, but to shed light on the reality of the job market for those with a newly polished PhD.  One goes from the acme of academic achievement to the despair of unemployment rather quickly.  While I cannot tell what the future holds, I can tell you that far too many people are lying to graduate students.  I know universities are trying to protect their completion rates, but it appears they are apathetic to the situation of their former students.  My university, former faculty, colleagues, and friends will start a new semester this week with all the eager energy that goes with a new crop of students.  However, there are some of us holding that new degree questioning whether we made the right decision.   The PhD is a proud accomplishment, but it often comes with the curse of prolonged unemployment.

Back to School

Back to School! Parents feel excited and scared at the same time.  They are often glad to see their children engaging in productive educational activities again, rather than sitting around the house complaining about being bored.  Yet, the new year holds challenges and an element of the unknown that may create problems for their children.  Teachers are excited to begin a new year, meet new students, and try to improve their craft from the previous year.  The summer was a welcome respite, but teachers are ready to reach a new batch of intelligent, creative, and sometimes frustrating students.  Retailers are rather happy as everyone seems to be purchasing items for the classroom, dorm, etc.  I want to take this opportunity to provide some tips as school begins.

Parents:

• Trust your child’s teacher. I know it is tempting to feel that you are the expert in your child’s education, but teachers are specifically trained to meet the educational needs of your little ones.  Unless the teacher gives you reason to doubt their ability, please allow them to do their job and attend parent teacher conferences with an open, communicative mind.
• If you can afford to, please consider donating supplies to your child’s classroom. There are children whose parents cannot afford supplies and this becomes quite embarrassing for children.  If you donate items to the teacher, she or he can give them discreetly to the students that need them most so that they do not have to feel poorly about the cards life dealt them.

Elementary, Middle School, and High School Students:

• Learn how to be organized. This will make things so much easier for you.
• Have fun. Learning is fun and will help you have a better life in the future.
• Make friends, ignore enemies, and stand up for what you believe in.
• Thank your teacher. It will make your experience so much better.

College Students:

• Go to class. All of them.  They may suck from time to time, but you never know what you may learn if you miss a day.
• Take notes and ask questions. Own your education and learn as much as you can.
• Have fun, but do not go overboard with your weekend plans.
• Meet new people and try to interact with those that are different from you. Engage in conversations with international students and those of different cultural and racial backgrounds.  Our lives are made more complete by learning from those who are most different from us.
• Embrace your time in college as a great opportunity. Not all people have access to the college or university experience and you have been blessed to learn from some of the best educators in the world.

#AdviceForBackToSchool

Racial Tensions and the American Dream

While I realize this post will not be popular among many people, I believe it is important to discuss issues of race, privilege, and what really makes America great.  While this post has nothing to do with editing and proofreading, my background in education and cultural research leads me to write this post.  Moreover, as a Christian, I believe that God is appalled at some of the ideas of racism and exclusion being espoused by some of his alleged followers.

As everyone should be aware, there was an atrocity carried out in Charlottesville, VA over the weekend that threatens to widen the divide and increase violence in our nation.  I find it lamentable that there are people who believe the white population is being persecuted.  As a white person, none of my rights have ever been infringed upon, but I have witnessed many people of different races, beliefs, and cultures treated abhorrently.  While I worked very hard to earn my PhD and get to where I am today, I had benefits and privileges that many others may not have had access to.  In fact, I believe that where I grew up and the opportunities that I had were / are not available to many people in the US, especially those in minority groups.  I grew up in a small town that was nearly 100% white.  I came from a farming family that was not wealthy and struggled at times.  However, they improved their lot in life and helped me in many times of need.  I could have been homeless a few times if not for the help of my family and friends.  Additionally, I went to a small school where the student to teacher ratio was quite low and we had access to quality learning materials.  This is not the case in many places and for many people in the country.  Many inner-city schools are overcrowded and lack funding and materials to properly educate children.  It is no coincidence that most of these schools’ populations are poor minority students.  The segregation of schools in the country is still very much a reality and many predominantly minority schools are underfunded and experience horrible conditions.  If I had grown up in that environment, I seriously doubt I could have attained the things I have. Many other white people may not agree with me, but I strongly believe that it is easier for white people in the US than it is for any other group.  I do not have to worry about any other person singling me out for my skin color, ever.  I cannot even imagine what that would be like.  No one looks at me suspiciously or treats me differently because of my race.  White privilege does exist and when white people accept this, we may begin to heal as a nation.

There is no room in this nation for hate groups that parade around as an alternative right wing movement.  No matter the name they claim, they are all deplorable.  While I do not think the American Dream is dead, I do believe that it is exclusionary to many people today, as it was in the past.  Anyone that fights to keep the confederate flag and statues of confederate warriors is painfully disillusioned at best and radically racist at worst.  Furthermore, criticism of the President’s initial statement concerning Charlottesville is warranted.  There is a significant difference between punching a person and trying to mass murder people with an automobile.

It amazes me how members of both major political parties forget things that happened in the past.  When former President Barack Obama would not identify terrorist acts as being radical Islam, many lambasted him to no end. People spoke continually about the issue, but forget this ever happened.  Now many of these same people are offended because others are questioning Trump’s comments that place all protest groups in the same category.  Although certain members of BLM and other groups have been violent at times, they have been fighting for equal rights. However, the alt-right, the KKK, Neo-Nazi’s etc. are not fighting for equality, but to infringe upon the rights of others.  In many cases their infringement includes the promotion of the death of those who are different.  I do not understand how anyone can place these groups in the same category.  BLM and other similar groups have been driven by a desire for equal human rights.  However, the white nationalist movement is driven by hatred and the desire to destroy the rights of other people.  There is no room for this in the US.  If we continue this path, the outcome will be more violent and bloody, and will result in the loss of life for far too many of our fellow citizens.

Finally, these two statements are what make America great:

1. We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the Pursuit of Happiness…
2. …Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free, the wretched refuse of your teeming shore. Send these, the homeless, tempest-tossed to me, I lift my lamp beside the golden door.

How can we read these excerpts from the Declaration of Independence and Emma Lazarus’ poem without denouncing racism, hatred, and the exclusion of others who are different?  It is time to heal the nation by promoting the equality of all people and destroying those things that demean those who are different.

Common Writing Errors – Part I

While this website is in the business of offering editing and proofreading services to any and all who would like to improve their papers, I also want to offer free tips and advice to help students and scholars improve their overall writing skills.  Major projects like dissertations and journal articles may need my services, but smaller pieces of writing offer students a chance to hone their skills without such high stakes.  These smaller writing assignments are more conducive to the advice offered in my blog posts and may not warrant professional proofing and editing.  Therefore, I want to share some of the most common writing errors I have seen as well as a few mistakes that are often made by those whose first language is not English. I also want to share something that I often see in both formal writing and on social media that really annoys me and seems to trip up more people than I ever thought possible.

General Errors:

1. Incorrect word:  Some English words may sound the same, but have different spellings and different meanings.  These words are referred to as homophones and can cause confusion when used improperly.  For instance, the underlined word in the sentence Seeing a familiar face in a faraway land can elicit feelings of joy and comfort for many is often written as illicit.  This spelling actually means forbidden by law, rules, or custom and would not make sense in the sentence above.  For commonly confused homophones please refer to: http://www.scholastic.com/parents/blogs/scholastic-parents-raise-reader/top-20-most-commonly-confused-homophones.
2. Sentence fragments and run-on sentences:  This is a very common error and it detracts greatly from one’s writing.  All sentences should always have a subject and a verb.  Also, multiple sentences should not be run together.  While one can have compound sentences that are separated by a conjunction and a common, one cannot run multiple ideas together into a literary Frankenstein’s monster.
3. Random errors that arise from not proofreading one’s writing:  Many writers fail to actually read what they have written, which often leads to numerous mistakes not visible to computer programs.  Errors such as missing or duplicated words result from writers not reading their own paper thoroughly.  Too many people rely on their software’s spellcheck and grammar check and fail to find many errors.  It takes some extra time, but it is well worth the effort as it speaks to one’s inattention to detail when these errors are seen by a professor or peer reviewer.

English Language Specific (Although some of these are still made by many native English speakers):

1. Incorrect use of adverbs and adjectives:  Many will write I want to do good at the track meet when the word that should be used is well.  A good resource to help in this area can be found at:  http://www.grammarbook.com/grammar/adjAdv.asp
2. Wrong word order:  Due to the differences in language many students write something like Is fixed the car that broke down?  This shows that a writer is thinking in their native language, but writing in English.  One fix for this is to have a native English speaker read the paper or manuscript in order to identify some of these issues.
3. Incorrect plural nouns:  These can include words like childrens and mooses.  Again, this can often be fixed by having a native English speaker look at your paper before submission.

I will be writing about more of the most common errors in writing in the next few weeks, especially those that can be most helpful to non-native English speakers. However, I want to leave you with one final error that I have seen so many times. It makes me cringe every time I see it.  It is more common this time of year with thunderstorms and people writing about the weather.  This error is that of lightning vs. lightening.  I see almost everyone refer to the major storm that hit and they discuss the lightening that took place.  The discharge of electrical energy from the atmosphere is spelled lightning.  The word lightening (notice the extra e) means to make light or lighter, illuminate, or brighten.  It is only a difference of a single letter, but it is a distinction that I must share with my readers.

Waiting and a Special Message to International Students

I am at a point in my academic career where it seems as if everything is about waiting. Waiting on job prospects, for dissertation feedback, journal submissions, and a bevy of other things.  It sometimes seems as half of grad school is spent in limbo.  I have coped by writing and working on new manuscripts and perusing new job listings.  However, the time of year is coming when many faculty positions are being filled and it makes one wonder if they will be in limbo for yet another year.  If you are in a similar position you know how it can feel to be waiting on everyone else.  I write this blog post to share my experiences so others understand that it is a normal part of the process.  We live in a society that worships the immediate and so few have learned delayed gratification.  The longer I wait for job offers and journal decisions, the more I understand how great it will be to finally hear good news.  Yet, I also feel powerless since there is not much I can do, but wait.  I am eager and optimistic for the future, but time seems to drag on.  If you are struggling with waiting for a faculty position, article, or committee response, realize that you are not alone.  If you have done the work and put in the effort, good things will come.

As a side note, I send my thoughts and encouragement to all of those international students who are struggling with waiting while also dealing with the issues presented by changes in immigration.  While it may seem that the US hates you because of the things the President is doing, rest assured there are some people in the country that welcome your presence and want to see you succeed.  While it is easy to think that all Americans are alike, this is not the case and not everyone is a xenophobe.  Good luck with your dissertation, research, and writing.  Stay strong and keep your eye on the goal you have set for yourself.  Sometimes that is all we can do.