Learning Session 1 Workbook
Using the USILACS Website — Learning where to find accurate information. Built for classroom display, live translation, and student note-taking.
USILACS Myanmar Student Advisor Course
Learning Session 1 Workbook
Using the USILACS Website – Learning Where to Find Accurate
Information
Participant Name: ________________________________ Date:
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Purpose of Today
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Today’s Schedule
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Opening Encouragement
Every worthwhile work begins by learning. No one is expected to know
everything on the first day. The purpose of this session is not to
memorize every page of the USILACS website. The purpose is to learn
where accurate information can be found and how to guide others to that
information.
A good Student Advisor does not try to impress people by guessing. A
good Student Advisor helps people feel safe because the information
comes from the correct place. When a student asks a question, the
advisor can calmly say, “Let us look at the official USILACS website
together so we can make sure you receive the correct information.”
This habit will protect students, protect USILACS, and help the
Myanmar team become trusted representatives. Today we begin with one
simple foundation: know where to find the truth before trying to explain
it.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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1. Why We Use the Official
Website
Why should Student Advisors use the official USILACS website
instead of relying only on memory?
In our ministry, we do not encourage people to accept an answer
simply because we say it. We direct people to the Bible. The Bible is
the correct source, and using it helps honest-hearted people see the
answer for themselves.
The same principle is important when helping students. A Myanmar
Student Advisor should not rely only on memory, personal opinion, or old
information. The advisor should direct students to the official USILACS
website, because that is where current university information is
provided.
Students may ask about tuition, programs, documents, graduation,
admissions, or student services. Some answers may seem easy, but the
professional habit is to verify. Information can be updated. Tuition
options can change. Program pages can be revised. When we use the
website, we help the student receive accurate information instead of a
guessed answer.
This does not mean the advisor is weak. It means the advisor is
careful. A careful advisor builds trust. If a student sees that we are
willing to check the official source, the student is more likely to feel
that USILACS is honest, organized, and professional.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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2. Opening the Website
What should each team member recognize when the USILACS
website opens?
The first practical skill for today is opening the official USILACS
website and recognizing the page the Myanmar team will use. The team
should not feel lost when the website opens. Each person should be able
to identify the top menu, the main message, and the most important
buttons.
The website may look slightly different depending on whether a person
is logged in, what device is being used, and whether the page has been
translated. Today we are using the logged-in Myanmar Team view. This is
the view the team will use during training.
Figure 1-1: Logged-in Myanmar Team Home
Page
Look carefully at the top of the page. The USILACS logo appears on
the left. Across the top menu, the team can see About Us, USILACS
Programs & Services, Student Area, Affiliate Area, Contact Us, and
Log Out. At the very top are the buttons Contact a Student Advisor and
Enroll Now. In the large home page area, students can see the message
about studying in the U.S. without leaving home, as well as buttons for
checking tuition options and exploring programs.
Do not try to teach every possible website option today. The goal is
to learn the screen the Myanmar team actually sees. Later lessons will
go deeper into programs, student services, tuition, enrollment, and
student questions.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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3.
Translating the Website into Myanmar or Another Language.
How can the team translate the USILACS website?
Because USILACS serves students in many countries, the website
includes a language translation option. This is important for the
Myanmar Student Advisor Team because many interested students, family
members, and brothers and sisters may understand the information better
when it is shown in Myanmar.
To translate the website, first go to the main menu at the top of the
page and place the cursor over About Us. A drop-down menu will open.
Near the bottom of that menu, look for Switch Language. Below Switch
Language, the current language will be shown. If the website is
currently in English, it will show English.
To change the language, scroll through the language list until you
find the desired language. Then click that language.
After the language is selected, the website will translate the
page.
Figure 1-2: Myanmar-translated Home
Page
In Figure 1-2, the same page is shown after translation into Myanmar.
Notice that the general layout has not changed. The logo remains on the
left, the top menu remains across the page, and the main buttons remain
in the same locations. This is important because the team can learn the
layout even when the words are translated.
The team should practice this several times until everyone can do it
without help. This is one of the first skills a Myanmar Student Advisor
must know because students may ask, “Can I read this in Myanmar?” or
“Can my family understand this page?” The advisor should be able to
answer calmly and show them how to switch the website language.
The translation tool is helpful, but the team should remember that
automatic translation is not always perfect. Some words may sound
unusual. Some sentences may not translate naturally. If the translation
seems confusing, the advisor should compare it with the English page or
ask July, Nikki, or Brendan for help before explaining it to a
student.
The goal is not only to translate the website. The goal is to help
students understand the website correctly.
A student may also use translation on a phone. Many interested
students may not have a computer. For that reason, the homework for
today will be phone only. Each team member should learn to open the
website on a phone, translate it, and find the Programs & Services
area without needing a computer.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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4. Learning the Main Menu
Which menu areas should the Myanmar team learn
first?
The USILACS website contains many pages, but today we will focus only
on the main areas the Myanmar team needs at the beginning. The goal is
not to click everything. The goal is to recognize the primary navigation
areas and understand the basic purpose of each one.
Figure 1-3: Home Page Menu Items for
Learning
The top menu helps visitors move through the main areas of the
USILACS website. Today the team does not need to study every page inside
each menu. The goal is simply to recognize the main menu items and
understand the basic purpose of each one.
The About Us menu helps visitors learn what USILACS is. This area
includes information about the school’s mission, purpose, educational
philosophy, accreditation information, academic catalog, frequently
asked questions, document verification, and language options.
A Student Advisor should remember that About Us is the correct place
to begin when someone asks general questions about the school
itself.
The USILACS® Programs & Services menu helps visitors learn what
educational programs and student services are available. This includes
the High School Program, Trade Education Programs, Bachelor’s Degree
Programs, Master’s Degree Programs, the Student Handbook, tuition and
costs, and payment options.
Today the team is only learning where this menu is located. Later
lessons will explain the different programs and student pathways more
carefully.
The Student Area menu is mainly for students who are already
connected with USILACS. It includes access to student profile tools, the
student portal, enrollment letters, grades, exam retakes, graduation
tools, and post-graduation services.
New Student Advisors should not guess about student account problems,
grades, documents, or graduation issues. If a question goes beyond
today’s training, the advisor should ask July, Nikki, or Brendan for
help.
The Affiliate Area is connected to the business side of the outreach
system. The team may see this area because advisor links and tracking
are part of the internal system.
However, when speaking with students, the public role is Student
Advisor. The team should not begin student conversations by explaining
affiliate business details. Students need clear guidance, accurate
information, and help finding the correct USILACS resources.
The Contact Us menu helps visitors find official ways to contact
USILACS.
The Log Out button should be used whenever the team is finished
working, especially when using a shared computer. Logging out helps
protect accounts and student information.
At the top of the page, the team may also see important buttons such
as Contact a Student Advisor and Enroll Now. These buttons are easy ways
for visitors to request help or begin the enrollment process. Later
lessons will explain when and how students should use them.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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5. Why This Work Matters
Why is learning the website connected to helping brothers and
sisters and families?
This work is not simply about learning a website. It is about
learning how to help people. USILACS has served more than 3,000 alumni,
and well over 90 percent have been brothers and sisters. That means many
students were not only looking for education. They were also trying to
protect their spiritual routine, their family responsibilities, and
their ability to keep serving Jehovah.
Many brothers and sisters have wanted education but did not want the
bad association that can come with traditional college environments.
Some are pioneering. Some have served where the need is greater. Some
have been involved in missionary service, SKE, or special full-time
service.
Online education has helped many students remain close to their
families, their congregations, and their ministry while continuing their
education. For many, earning an accredited degree has also opened
opportunities to qualify for visas needed to live, work, or serve in
other parts of the world. In some cases, this has helped brothers and
sisters pursue opportunities to serve in countries where the preaching
work is restricted or where additional visa qualifications were
needed.
USILACS is a United States recognized nonprofit institution. The
purpose is not to make education expensive or unreachable. The purpose
is to make quality American education available to students, primarily
our brothers and sisters, who may have thought such education was
impossible. This is why USILACS online education, country-adjusted
tuition, financing, and affordability are so important.
For Myanmar students and families, American education may feel far
away. Some may believe it is only for wealthy people or for those who
can leave home. The USILACS message is different. Students can now study
online, remain near their congregation and family, and still receive a
U.S. education that can help them in life and service.
The Myanmar Student Advisor Team is designed to help people
understand that opportunity. A student may hear about USILACS because
one of you suggested our website, answered their questions carefully,
and guided that person to the correct page. That is why this lesson
matters. Accurate information can become a blessing to a family.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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6. Becoming Part of the
USILACS Mission
What does it mean to become part of the founding Myanmar
Student Advisor Team?
Today the Myanmar team is not only learning a website. The team is
beginning a new profession. This profession requires patience, accuracy,
kindness, and loyalty to the official information. It also requires the
desire to help people, not pressure them.
A founding team has a special responsibility. The habits learned now
may become the standard for future Student Advisor teams. If this team
learns to be accurate, calm, organized, and helpful, future teams will
follow your example.
The work ahead will include more than website navigation. The team
will learn what USILACS is, how USILACS works, how students experience
the school, how to answer questions, how to follow up professionally,
how to use approved links, and how to communicate with warmth and
accuracy.
Tomorrow the learning will continue. For today, the main goal is
simple: open the official website, translate it, recognize the main
menu, and understand why this work matters. This is the first step in
becoming knowledgeable representatives of USILACS.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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Review
We use this final review to confirm that each of us understands the
main purpose of the day. The conductor will not rush this section. The
goal is not only to finish the day. The goal is to make sure each of us
can explain the foundation clearly.
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Review / Discussion
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Activity
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Notes:
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Homework
Homework is phone only. Do not use a computer for this assignment.
The purpose is to practice the same way many students may use the
website.
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Homework Assignment
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Notes:
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End-of-Day Completion
Checklist
| Skill | Nikki | July | Waiwai | Nei |
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| Opened USILACS website | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Logged in or recognized logged-in page | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Translated website into Myanmar | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified About Us | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified Programs & Services | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified Student Area | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified Affiliate Area | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified Contact Us | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Identified Log Out | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Found Contact a Student Advisor | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Found Enroll Now | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Found Check Tuition Options | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Found Explore Programs | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
| Understands homework for tomorrow | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ | ☐ |
Leader Notes for Nikki and
July
Keep the pace slow and calm. some may need very simple explanations.
Do not assume that every person understands website words, menu words,
or browser translation words.
Use the screen often. When possible, have team members point to the
exact place on the website instead of only answering verbally. This
helps the team connect words with locations.
When explaining the ministry comparison, keep it natural. The point
is simple: in our ministry we direct people to the Bible; when helping
students, we direct them to the official USILACS website.
Do not turn this lesson into sales training. The purpose is product
knowledge, accurate information, and mission. Marketing and affiliate
links come later.
Make sure each person understands the homework before leaving. The
homework must be done on a phone because many students will also use
phones.
Notes:
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Program Director Notes for
Brendan
Prepare Nikki and July before class so they understand the purpose of
the session and the locked sequence. Brendan should support the session
but should not become the daily instructor unless needed.
Confirm that the screenshots used in this workbook match the page the
Myanmar team actually sees. For Session 1, use the logged-in Myanmar
Team home page and the Myanmar-translated home page. The visitor
screenshot is reserved for a later lesson.
If the team struggles with translation, do not move ahead too
quickly. The ability to translate and recognize the menu is foundational
for later lessons on programs, tuition, enrollment, student documents,
and follow-up.
Continue reinforcing the purpose: Know USILACS, experience USILACS,
represent USILACS. This is not an affiliate marketing course. It is
professional Student Advisor training.
Notes:
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Ready for Class
Open this page on the classroom monitor, let students open the same page on their screens, and use browser translation when needed.