Current and former Chinese students in the United States strongly agree that the most important factor in a successful U.S. experience is English proficiency, both spoken and written. As soon as you know, you are going to the United States, you should seize every opportunity to practice speaking English. In particular, practice understanding spoken English and speaking it with other people.

Advice from Many Chinese Students
“ Polish your English before you come to the States. I’ve seen too many students…with language barriers.” This is the suggestion of…MORE

It is best to practice with native speakers of American English, so you can hear their pronunciation and intonation and adjust your pronunciation so they can understand you. If you cannot find an American, look for tapes, CDs, DVDs, radio or television programs, or movies in which Americans speak. Do everything you can to practice American English every day. This may be inconvenient while you are busy preparing for your trip, but it will prove invaluable later.