University transcripts, English classes, where is everyone?

[jdatbs77]

Hello all,

I have a couple of questions and it seems I should start here, so here goes, with a brief intro:

My wife came here on a K1 visa in October 2012, and we married in November. She received her green card in April. I am semi-retired (retired from the day job but keep busy at home as a tax preparer, notary, and apostille agent) and Valya is enjoying being a homemaker after working in the food industry since age 16 in Kiev. But she wants to improve her English skills and go back to school. She has a degree in mechanical engineering from Kiev. Here are my questions:

1. Does she have to appear personally at the school in Kiev to obtain certified/notarized/apostilled copies of her university transcripts?

2. There are a lot of English as a second language courses around southern California. Has anyone had experience with these classes say at the community college level as opposed to the "adult school" level?

3. She is considering becoming an accountant. Anyone have any info regarding job opportunities?

4. For those of you familiar with the lay of the land in SoCal, we live in what is known as the "Inland Empire," which comprises parts of Riverside and San Bernardino counties. I just can't find very many Russian speaking people around here. Anyone???

Thanks in advance...any replies are very much appreciated!!!

Jim

[ML]

Jim, I posted a message in your  other thread.

She doesn't have to appear to get transcripts in Kyiv; but she will need a friend or family member who will follow through in trying to get them.  And . . . it will be a time consuming and frustrating  nightmare for whom ever helps her, and for you and her.  Can cost some big bucks, for bribes to get them, and get them translated.

The translations must be apostilled, not just certified or notarized.  Apostilled means an official government seal rather than a notary seal at the shop on every corner.

The English classes vary substantially from location to location, and even over time at the same location.  All depends on instructors, fellow students, etc.

I generally have heard that the Adult classes are too easy and not much real progress is made.  Sure they learn to do some conversations, but getting good scores on TOEFL take a LOT of work and study that typically doesn't come with Adult classes.

Intensive English programs at major universities can be very challenging and time consuming . . . but they pay-off.  You will have to spend a LOT of time proof reading and correcting her papers, quizzing her regarding huge lists of new words to learn every week, trying to explain rules of English grammar that you didn't know existed, etc.  It will be close to a full time job for you, if you and she want to to make good, steady progress within the near future.

At some point member GQ will show up in your thread.
His Russian wife got accounting training and passed CPA exams.
They live in the greater LA area.

General consensus is (I think) that getting involved with Russian speaking community will only slow down her English progress and adaptation to USA.  Same for trying to get Russian TV channels, etc.

I tape several of the mystery/action TV shows  NCIS, Blue Bloods, Mentalist, Elementary, Body of Proof, Person of Interest, etc., and we watch while eating.  First 6 months or so, I had to stop the tape about every 10 minutes to explain something to her.  Now, maybe only once during the entire show.

My Ochka only spoke to one Russian person a half hour or so (lunch break) twice a week in her year in English program, and none in this her second year.  She cares not a hoot about talking with others from FSU (former Soviet Union) now in USA, and really enjoys being with my USA friends.

She does Skype short conversations with various family members and friends almost daily.

[GoodOlBoy]

   Jdatbs77.
 

She doesn't have to appear to get transcripts in Kyiv; but she will need a friend or family member who will follow through in trying to get them.  And . . . it will be a time consuming and frustrating  nightmare for whom ever helps her, and for you and her.  Can cost some big bucks, for bribes to get them, and get them translated.

The translations must be apostilled, not just certified or notarized.  Apostilled means an official government seal rather than a notary seal at the shop on every corner.

And..... In my wife's case 8 years ago they had to be in a sealed University envelope. Sealed meaning a wax seal affixed on the back.
 
And she brought several (5) with her.
 
Thanks to the old RWG forum (thank you guys a bunch  ), I was aware of this and several other issues that needed to be taken care of BEFORE my wife left Russia.
 
Since she didn't do this before leaving Ukraine, your wife is now going to have her work cut out for her to get these documents properly done.
 
You may want to check with these folks to see exactly what you will need:
 
 http://www.ece.org/
 
http://www.wes.org/
 
At the time my wife attended the U, they did not do foreign grade/diploma translations. They sent all of their work out to ECE.
 
Since wifey already had the sealed envelopes from her University, everything went smoothly and she started her classes fairly quickly after the evaluation process was over.
 
Good Luck!
 
GOB

PS... TOEFL was a breeze for Marina. Her friend, however, failed it 6 times.

[Ooooops]

Hi Jim,


how would you describe your wife's English level?  Why doesn't she try to take some placement tests at your local CC and then depending on results can apply either for English 101 or ESL there.