A mandala means a circle or centre in Sanskrit. It is one of the traditional arts in India. A few weeks ago, I attended the Tutorium’s English Conversation Hour. Mrs. Nora invited all of her students to join this art event. I was really looking forward to joining the event because I love art. To begin the event, Ms. Rashi, a Phd student enrolled in our APS program taught us how to draw a mandala. She also showed us some of her artwork. We also learned some skills to make a mandala look attractive and gorgeous. For drawing a mandala, you can draw anything you want on the paper, but you need to follow some guidelines to help your mandala look better. For example, you can use a color pencil to trace or color your mandala and all of the patterns. Another exciting thing about this event was that there were so many teachers and students drawing mandalas together. Even though some of us students were not speaking the same language, we were all able to still communicate with each other through art.

Meet the Writer

This article is written by Ping-Hsuan Chan (Austin) who is studying English here at UIC Tutorium. Austin is passionate about art and history and wants to pursue an education in art in the future once he’s finished with his English studies.

Last Tuesday, teacher Sally and about 15 Tutorium students and UIC international students came together for a conversation about all things winter! We explored fun winter activities to do in the freezing cold and cozy indoors. We also learned how to dress for the quickly approaching Chicago winter. We have one more conversation hour in November. Hope to see you there! 

Have you had time to visit UIC's library? Whether you need to do research for your paper or you need a nice spot to work on your group project, the library provides the perfect atmosphere for studying, collaborating, and even conversing. The best part is you can visit the library in person or access library materials online. If you need assistance during your visit, a librarian is always available to help you. Plan your visit to the library today!

Unfortunately, after fall comes winter, and Chicago winters can be challenging and cold. Now is the best time to prepare for the cold weather.

Chicago stores that sell affordable, warm clothes include Target, Marshall’s, TJ Maxx, Burlington, and Nordstrom Rack. You can also shop at thrift stores to find inexpensive, used winter boots and clothes.

For more information, read:

Where to find the best thrift shops in Chicago

Chicago’s Best Thrift Stores 

How to Survive a Chicago Winter (Lessons Learned from a Californian)

OIS Adjusting to Winter Event 

Want even more information about how to be prepared for Chicago winters? Winter safety and outdoor fun will also be included. Then, hop on a bus for the short trip to the loop where Chicago hosts the annual Christkindlmarket. Join the Office of International Services for their informational event about Chicago winters here!

Registration at the OIS front desk will open sometime in early November.

Payment options:

Dress to impress and put on those big American-style smiles! We love to create memories for our Alumni Wall in the main office. Your teachers will take pictures on Monday, October 27. You can come see the pictures on the wall shortly after the semester ends! 

Future Tutorium Alumni – We Want to Feature You!
Share your story about your Tutorium experience!
We’re creating an alumni spotlight video campaign, and we want YOU to be the voice that prospective international students hear.

Step into the Spotlight:

We’ll be filming on Tuesday, November 11th.

Want to participate?
Email tum2@uic.edu to join the spotlight!

You've probably noticed a lot of spooky stuff lately. Maybe you've seen gigantic spiders hanging off someone's roof, or perhaps you've run into some scary costumes while you were shopping. Well, this is because October 31 is Halloween here in America. 

On this day, you'll find children dressed in costumes and going from door to door asking for candy (this is known as trick or treat). Although mainly children participate in this activity, you might see adults dressed up and enjoying the fun as well. There are always fun, scary events or places to visit, like going on a hay ride or visiting a haunted house—some people even like staying cozy at home with popcorn and watching a good scary movie. 

October 31 is also celebrated in other countries around the world. In Mexico, Halloween is known as el Día de los Muertos (the Day of the Dead), a day to remember and honor your loved ones who have passed away. Other countries like Guatemala and China also have a day where they celebrate and honor the dead. 

No matter how October 31 is celebrated, one thing that's for sure is that it is a day when people gather to have fun with the people they love or spend time remembering the ones they loved. 

If you are ready to venture out and experience Halloween here in America, click here to discover all the Halloween things happening in Chicago.

When: Thursday, October 30th. It's a Thursday, so Tutorium classes have a longer lunchtime, so we have time to par-tay! The party will start at 11:15 AM and end around 12:15 PM. You'll have plenty of time to get to your afternoon class. 

What: Games, music, costumes, and loads of fun with friends, old and new! There will be snacks and candy, which is the most popular part of the American Halloween tradition.

Have you been thinking about your costume for our Halloween Party? Here are some of the best costumes from past Halloween parties.

If you're still looking for a great costume, click here for easy and fun ideas. 

UIC is inviting you to a bone-chilling week of Halloween activities! From brain-melting escape rooms to horror movies to scavenger hunts to soul-defining rock climbing, come join us in activities throughout this Hallo-Week. There will be events for everyone, even those who want to enjoy the Halloween spirit without the terror!

Date: October 27-31

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Wednesday, November 19th

4:00 PM - 6:00 PM

Join OIS for a Thanksgiving dinner!  All UIC international students are invited for a FREE Thanksgiving meal which will include foods like roast turkey, mashed potatoes with gravy, stuffing, pumpkin pie, and more. Vegetarian, vegan, and halal options will also be included. 

You can NOW register for this event!  

To register for the OIS Thanksgiving Dinner, please click HERE. Space is limited (you must register RIGHT NOW if you would like to go)!

The following section of the newsletter is written by Vit Vanicek, one of our teachers here at the Tutorium. With Vit's advice, you're sure to succeed in the classroom and beyond.

Do you often grab your handy translator? Do you feel like you can't live without it as you brave this new world called "English"? Sometimes it is tempting to use a translator to translate sentences or paragraphs, but this is not a good idea, especially when you are completing your homework. To learn when and why you should avoid using a translator, read more>>.

The following section of the newsletter is written by one of our advisors here at the Tutorium. Our advisors are here to help answer questions and steer you toward the right path for you.

Many students wonder when to try to move to an undergraduate program or graduate school. For all schools, you will need to apply. Universities look at your past academic background and English proficiency to decide admission. If you're wondering how we can help you apply to a degree program here at UIC, read more>>. 

Soon, you'll be able to sleep for an extra hour! Daylight Savings Time is November 2, 2025. In the fall, you "fall back," which means you set your clock one hour back. This not only allows you to get an extra hour of sleep, but it also means that you don't have to wake up to a dark morning (because you'll wake up when the sun's risen). 

Although the time will change, your class time doesn't change! You'll still need to be on time for class. The good part is if you forget to set your clock one hour back, you'll be early for everything, even class. 

To learn some tips to help you prepare for Daylight Savings Time, read more>>. 

Email questions to tutorium@uic.edu.
Or contact us to schedule a virtual or in-person meeting.