English as a Second Language (updated 14 February 2008)

NDSU Intensive English Language Program

North Dakota State University offers an Intensive English Language Program (IELP) as a full-time, non-credit program in American English.  The course is designed to develop skills needed for academic study and general use of the English language in the United States.  The coures emphasizes speaking, listening, reading, and writing.  The IELP is open to ghigh school graduates and to other individuals who wish to improve their English.  You may contact the Office of International Programs at 231-7895 for more information and an application. 

Adult ESL Classes

English as a Second Language (ESL) classes are offered through the Fargo Public School System. Call the Fargo Adult Learning Center, Phone: 446-2807, for questions about the classes, which are held at Woodrow Wilson School, 315 N. University Drive, Fargo.

Beginner, Intermediate or Advanced classes all meet from 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Evening classes are held from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Tuesday and Thursday nights at the Adult Education Center. These classes are for all levels of English ability.

Fees: Please call the Fargo Adult Learning Center at 446-2807 for more information about costs involved. 

The Moorhead Public School System also offers ESL classes. Call the Adult Basic Education Office at 233-4502 for more information. Classes are held from 9:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Tuesdays and Thursdays at Probstfield Education Center, 2410 14th Street S., Moorhead. Evening classes are held Mondays and Wednesdays from 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Fees: Please call the Adult Basic Education Center at 233-4502 for more information about costs involved.

Please note that interested persons must first take an English test to assess level of English in order to be placed in the appropriate class.

Departure Information
This checklist is intended to help people with some of the questions they have when leaving Fargo, or even moving to a different residence in the area.

Housing
You will need to give your landlord at least 30 days notice of intent to vacate (in writing). You are responsible for leaving the apartment in the same condition it was in at the beginning of occupancy, allowing for normal wear and tear. Otherwise, you might forfeit your security deposit. The apartment should be ready for the next resident to move in.

Utilities
All utility companies should be contacted several days before you move. Do not wait until the day before you leave. The companies will need a forwarding address to send a final billing to you.

Telephone
Qwest Communications should be notified at least five working days before you leave. Call toll free 1-800-491-0118.

Post Office
Notify the post office of change of address by filling out the form they provide for that purpose. The University Station Post Office has these forms available. Even when you are moving to another address in the Fargo-Moorhead area, you should use these forms. If you don't, you might not receive some of the mail that is sent to you.

Banks
Make arrangements with your bank to close out bank accounts, allowing enough time for all checks to clear.

Automobiles
If you plan to sell your car before you leave, allow sufficient time for transferring the title. You will also need to notify your car insurance company of your plans.

Elementary and Secondary Schools
Parents should go to the school and sign an authorization to release each child's school records. The school will photocopy the records, the principal will certify them and put them into a sealed envelope. If the records will need to be translated or notarized, please have this done.

Shipping
The OIP has information available on U.S.-based companies that will ship your personal items abroad.

Selling Unwanted Goods
You may have accumulated possessions that you will not want to take with you. Garage sales are a good way to rid yourself of unwanted items. You can advertise your sales and goods in the Fargo Forum, Midweek, and the Spectrum. Don't forget the bulletin boards in the Memorial Union and contacting the OIP to post notes on the international student listserv. 

International Office
Please notify the OIP of your forwarding address so we may contact you if necessary.

Travel Arrangements
Check with the local travel agencies for "Super Saver" and charter flights, which are usually less expensive than regular air fare.

Another way to reduce rates is by obtaining an international student identification card from the OIP. By using this card, you will be able to get cheaper rates on air tickets, railroad, and other transportation.

Tax Clearance
F-1, F-2, J-1, and J-2 visa holders are no longer required to file a certificate of compliance (sailing permit) if they had no U.S.-source income other than allowances or payments to cover study expenses, or wages from authorized work on- or off-campus (including practical/academic training). 

• How many electrical outlets are in each room? Where are they located?
  
  Are there any overhead lights in each room? If not, you may need to purchase table or desk lamps.
  
  
• How much is the electricity bill per month? Ask the landlord and potential neighbors. Xcel Energy may be able to provide you with information on the average monthly cost.

• Is the heat paid by the landlord? If not, how much is the monthly heating bill? Check with potential neighbors or current tenants. Exel may be able to help you determine the average monthly cost.
  
  
• If you are responsible for paying the heat, are there storm windows and doors, and good insulation in the building? It will make a difference on the cost of heat.

Security Deposits and Leases
The majority of landlords ask for a security deposit, usually one month's rent. Do not pay the deposit until you are absolutely sure you want the apartment. Even if you never move in, landlords will not give the deposit back to you! The deposit will however be returned to you when you move out of the apartment, providing you have done no damage to the apartment.

A lease, either oral or written, is binding for both the tenant and landlord. It is recommended that you get it in writing. Be sure to read the lease carefully. If there is something you don't understand, ask before you sign the lease. Notice of intent to vacate an apartment must be given at least thirty days before moving out. This notice should be written.

If you have any questions about renting off-campus apartments, go to: www.ndaa.net .

Please see the Landlord and Tenant Rights in North Dakota handbook in the orientation packet or for further information go to www.ndaa.net .

Renter's Insurance

It is important that you consider purchasing renter's insurance while renting an apartment.  Renter's insurance will cover damage to or loss of your personal property.  Landlords only cover physical damage to the property itself, but not for occupants' personal items.  Renter's insurance can also protect against medical bills of guests injured in your apartment. 

Owning and Operating an Automobile

Driver's License
You are allowed to drive vehicles in the State of North Dakota as long as you possess a current license in your home country or an international driver's license. If you wish to purchase or rent a vehicle, you will find that it is easier with a license from North Dakota or another state in the U.S.

To obtain a North Dakota driver's license, you must visit the Fargo branch of the North Dakota State Department of Transportation at 503 38 St. SW, telephone number 239-8940. You must pass a written test, an eyesight test, and a driving test (also called road test). No appointment is required to take the written test, however, you must have an appointment for the driving test. To apply for the driver's license, you must present your passport, social security card, current driver's license if you have one, and the required fees. The written test is $5 and the road test fee is $5. You must surrender your current license to obtain a North Dakota driver's license. Testing hours are from 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 - 5:00 p.m., Monday and 8:00 - 11:00 a.m. and 1:00 - 4:00 p.m. on Tuesday - Friday. 

It is highly advisable to study for your written test and to practice for the road test. You will need to obtain an instruction permit in order to practice for your road test if you do not possess an international driver's license or a driver's license from your home country. The instruction permit costs $10. To obtain a booklet to help you study for the written test, pick one up at the OIP or at the North Dakota State Department of Transportation.

Automobile Registration
If you buy a car, you must register it at Vehicle Services Fargo Branch, 4025 9 Av. SW. Requirements for registering a car vary depending on whether the car is new or used, if it is used, how old it is. To find out what you would have to do to register a particular car, call 282-5070. Once you have registered your car, you will receive a registration card. You must keep this card in your vehicle at all times.

Automobile Insurance
The State of North Dakota requires all owners of a vehicle to have automobile insurance. It is essential to have at least liability insurance. The minimum fine for operating an uninsured motor vehicle is $150. To locate the most appropriate insurance for your car, look in the yellow pages of the telephone directory under "insurance." Unless a friend can recommend a reliable agent to you, you should talk to at least two agents about your insurance needs. Insurance rates vary from company to company, and they depend on the value of the car, the amount it is driven, the age of the drivers, and the past driving records of the drivers. You must carry proof of insurance (insurance card) in your car at all times in case of an accident.

Seat Belt Law and Child Restraint Systems
North Dakota law requires all front seat occupants to wear safety belts at all times. In addition, children under age three must be properly secured in an approved child restraint in motor vehicles. Children ages three through ten must be properly secured in either an approved child restraint or a safety belt.

Student Parking Permit
Vehicles parked on campus during the hours of 7:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday, must display an appropriate NDSU permit. Permits are available at the Campus Police Department in Thorson Maintenance Center, telephone number 231-8998. Office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays. The annual parking fee for students and staff is $110. The fee for summer sessions is $10.

Transportation

Bus Services
Metropolitan Area Transit (MAT BUS)
Phone : 232-7500

Urgent Care

Walk-in clinics are available at both Meritcare Health Center at 1720 University Dr. S. or Innovis Health, 3000 32nd Ave SW.  These clincs are for treatment of minor illnesses.  They take patients on a first-come, first-served basis.  You do not need an appointment and you do not need to call ahead. 

Emergencies:
In case of an emergency, go to the Emergency Room at either Meritcare Health Center at 720 4th St. North, or Innovis Health at 3000 32nd Ave SW. There is no need to call and tell them you are coming. When you arrive there, the nurses and doctors will help you. If there is no other way to get there, call the police at 241-1437. You could call an ambulance, but this is expensive.

Dental Service

To find a dentist, look in the Yellow Pages of the telephone directory under "Dentists". 

Children's Health Care:
You may select a pediatrician who specializes in child care or a general practitioner. REGULAR PHYSICAL CHECK-UPS for children up to two years of age, immunization shots against polio, diphtheria, whooping cough, measles, smallpox, etc. are considered an important safeguard to the health of your children. Prompt care of sick children is very important. Ask how to contact your doctor during non-office hours in case your child becomes ill at this time.

Tuberculosis (TB) Screening

For those students who have lived within the past five years in a country where TB is endemic, documentation is required of TB screening within 6 months prior to college entrance or during orientation, prior to the first day of classes.  You will not be eligible to register for classes without this documentation. 

Measles, Mumps, and Rubella (MMR) Immunization Proof

Students must provide proof of immunity by providing medical documentation of one or the following: official coyp of dates of two MMR immunizations received after 1969 or after first birthday not prior to 1970, or official copy of laboratory test results (titers) showing MMR immunity. 

Payment for Medical Expenses: All international students are required by the State Board of Higher Education to have health insurance for their own protection. Health insurance for dependents is also required but not enforced. Due to the high cost of medical care, it is absolutely essential that students and their families have adequate health insurance coverage.

It is important to discuss the cost of medical care with your doctor, who will assist you in any way possible.

Checking Accounts
Most Americans use checking accounts for paying bills and to avoid carrying large sums of money. The canceled check (a check that has been written, processed and returned to you) that you receive in your bank statement almost always serves as a receipt. The canceled checks should be kept as a record of what you have paid, since you may need proof for tax purposes or to show you have paid for something.

To find a bank that offers the services you desire, check the yellow pages of the phone book under "banks". Some things to look for when deciding on a bank are:

1. Write the month, day, and year in the blank space in the upper right corner
   
   
2. Write the name of the person, company, or organization to whom you are paying the money in the blank space on the first line in the left corner.
   
   
3. Write the amount of the check in figures as close as possible to the dollar sign. On the next line write the amount of the check in words.
   
   
4. Sign your name in the blank space in the lower right corner. Always use the same name for your signature.
   
   
5. Write a brief description of the item or fee for which you are paying in the blank space on the left side of the check.
   
   
6. Record the check on the "transaction register" (provided by the bank together with your checks) and calculate your new balance.
   
   
7. Many times you will need to show a form of picture identification (such as a driver's license). Be sure to carry identification with you at all times.
   

"Cash" Checks
If you need cash, you can write a check made out to "cash". This check, which has your signature, requests that you be given the amount indicated. The money is taken from your checking account. You can get these checks cashed at your bank and on campus at the Information Desk. There is a $50 limit for checks cashed on campus and a $0.25 fee.

Overdraft
Do not "overdraw" or write checks for more money than you have in your account. The bank will charge a penalty for this (about $25), and the store to which you write the overdrawn check will charge an additional fee (from $15 to $25). Also, you may lose you check-cashing privilege at your bank and at the place where you wrote the check.

"Bad" Checks
"Bad Checks" is the term used to describe a check that is written when you do not have enough money in the bank to cover it. It is against the law to write a check like this. It is considered a theft. Theft over $100 is a felony crime for which the penalty is a jail sentence of three to five years.

"Post-Dated" Checks
A post-dated check is one that is written for some period of time in the future, such as writing a check in September but dating it October. Post-dating checks should be done with caution. These checks could be processed without having the appropriate funds in your checking account, thereby overdrawing your account.

Notarizing Documents

A notary public is an official who is authorized to certify or attest documents, such as affidavits.  When the notary public puts his or her seal on the document, he or she is only verifying that the signature on the document is yours.  The notary's seal does not certify that the document is authentic.  Nothing with a government seal can be notarized, such as birth or death certificates. 

When you need a docuemnt notarized, it is important that you do not sign it before you meet with the notary public.  You must sign it in front of this official.  You must also show a picture ID, and may need to pay a small fee.  An appointment is not necessary. 

A list of locations where you can get documents notarized are as follows:

Wells Fargo Bank - 293-4200

First International Bank & Trust - 232-1700

Bank of the West - 293-2200

Alerus Financial - 280-5000

UPS Store - 235-9505

Free Time in Fargo and Don't Know What to Do?

Go For A Walk
Start at Island Park (between 4th & 7th St. and 1st & 4th Ave. S) and go northwest to 8th St. Stop in at the 50's Cafe (13 8th St. S., phone 298-0347) for a meal or maybe an ice cream. If you are still hungry, stop by next door at Nichole's Fine Pastry (13 8th St. S., phone 232-6430) for a sweet treat, tasty sandwich, gourmet soda pop, espresso or tea.  If you continue walking north on 8th Street, you will see the new NDSU downtown development just north of the railroad tracks. 

Look For A Book, Or Maybe A Movie
Broadway is the street you want to be on. Begin at the Fargo Theatre (314 Broadway, phone 235-4152). Go in and stop bak in time as you watch a silent movie or one of the many international films that are shown.  The restored theatre dates back to 1927.  The Might Wurlitzer (pipe organ) is played before many performances. 

Keep walking north if you're looking for a book. You'll find them and much more at Zandbroz Variety (420 Broadway, phone 239-4729). Stop in the back at Dakota Soda for a cup of coffee and some food before sorting through their variety of music, jewelry, stationery and other fun items.

A little farther north is a used bookstore, BDS Books (506 Broadway, phone 232-4551).  This crowded store is full of information - books, magazines, and records.  Good luck! 

Music In Fargo-Moorhead
If you're looking for a place to go to listen to live music, or maybe dance, you might want to try Playmaker's (2525 9th Ave. S, Fargo, phone - 232-6767).*

Country music fans, or those curious few who would like to hear and find out more about this American music style, should go to Chumley's (1608 Main Ave. Moorhead, phone 236-7813).* Chumley's provides country dance lessons and has a band playing nightly, Tuesday-Sunday.  Another place to find country music is Borrowed Buck's Roadhouse (1201 Westrac Dr. SW, phone 232-1535).*

If jazz is more your style then try Juano's (402 Broadway, Fargo, phone 232-3213) on Friday nights or Basie's (1635 42nd St. SW, Fargo, phone 281-7105) on Thursday's nights.

A popular place to go to in Fargo is the Old Broadway (22 Broadway, phone 237-6161).* This bar plays popular music and is usually full of people on the weekends. It is a restaurant during the day and a bar at night. Remember to check out the decorations on the walls, it's interesting.

Try Zandbroz Variety (420 Broadway, phone 239-4729) for live music performances as well. Check at the store to see who scheduled to perform.

Other good resources for finding out what is going on around town include looking throught the entertainment section of local papers such as the High Plains Reader, the Fargo Forum, and the Midweek. 

*You must be 21 years of age or older to enter these venues. 

Fargo-Moorhead's Best Burgers
If you like lots of food for little money, then try Mick's Office (10 St. S. Moorhead, phone 233-2295). It is not much for atmosphere but you can listen to the jukebox or play some pool while you wait for your hamburger and cottage fries. About $4.00

For fun and a different atmosphere, try Space Aliens Grill and Bar (1840 45th St. SW, phone 281-2033)/  Burgers and ribs, with an outer space theme.  About $10.00.

Note
Must be 21 years or older to be admitted as alcohol is served at these establishments.


Recreations and Sports

Public Schools for Children
Located at various distances from NDSU, this is a list of the closest elementary (grades K-6), junior (grades 7 and 8) and high schools (grades 9-12). You should contact the Fargo Public School District at 241-4800 soon after you arrive in regard to enrolling your children in a school. It is a state law that all children between the ages of 5 and 16 must attend school. Non-compliance with this law could lead to prosecution by the State of North Dakota. Tuition for these schools is not required.