As a foreign student, I have a number of problems, both academically and socially. The biggest one is meeting people. I feel confident about my ability to cope with problems from my studies, but I’m not comfortable making friends with other students, especially local ones. Perhaps I’m worrying unnecessarily, but I find it difficult to talk to them and to make friends. The primary reasons is the language barrier. My English is quite standard and forma, and although that helps me with my academic work, I have trouble understanding other students when they are just talking. It seems to me that in order to meet with other students I really needinformal, colloquial English. Besides, there’s the cultural gap. That’s why it’s so difficult for overseas students and native English speaking students to really get to know each other. I really want to overcome this difficulty. I guess the best way to begin is to start talking about course work that we share; and then I could suggest going for a cup of tea or coffee. Over coffee we could get to know each other. Another way would be to join a club, like a tennis club or a photo club, because that immediately gives you something in common with other people there. It gives you a starting point to build on.

　　1. He has both academic and social problems.

　　2. He fells confident about his ability to cope with his studies.

　　3. The language barrier is the main reason why he finds it hard to make friends with local students.

　　4. It is difficult for overseas students and native English speaking students to really get to know each other because there is the cultural gap.

　　5. Te best way for the overseas students to actually overcome the difficulty of making friends with native English speaking students is to start talking about course work.