Guildhall School - Before you Leave Home Handbook 2020

programme are assigned a buddy who is
usually a current student in the same year
of study as the new student.
Get in touch with the Students’ Union
The Students’ Union will be providing
you with information about its plans
for Freshers’ week and how you can get
involved in its activities.
You can find out information about the
Union on its Facebook profile here.
You can post questions and comments
before you arrive in London and find out
about life at the School. This is a great way
to meet and chat with other students and
you can start to make friends before
you arrive.
Language skills
Studying in London is a great way of
improving your English, but don’t wait
until you get here to start working on it.
Try meeting English-speaking people
in your home country before you leave,
watch films in English and read English
newspapers and magazines. Think about
relevant words you’ll need to use such
as musical or technical terms on your
programme, accommodation terms when
searching for a flat, and work-related terms
when searching for a job. If you want to
improve your language skills, why not
take a preparation course in English? The
British Council offers advice on how to find
language courses in your home country.
Culture shock
Living in a new country and in a new
culture can be a stressful experience at
first. There will be a period of adjustment,
and you might be surprised at how this
change of environment affects you. The
UK Council for International Student
Affairs (UKCISA) provides some very useful
information about what can cause culture
shock and how to handle the effects.
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