Hi everyone! Today, I would like to talk about things I do to help study for the CPA exam as a non-native speaker. As an international CPA Exam candidate, there were some challenges I faced when it came to studying for the exam. Luckily, I found some great study aids I used frequently and would like to share them with you.
The best aid that is helpful for me is to have subtitles on when I watch exam lectures.
Roger Philipp speaks fast at times and it might be challenging for non-native speakers; however, the subtitles are a great supplement to listening to the lecture so that I understand 100% of what he says.
In addition, the course also has a featured called adjustable playback speed.
This allows you to slow down or speed up the lecture according to your needs. For some lectures that I needed extra time understanding, I would use the feature to slow things down in addition to having the subtitles on. With these features, I know that I won’t miss anything he talks about.
The next thing I use a lot is the Homework Help Center on my Roger CPA student dashboard.
I have been very impressed with this feature. I have received answers promptly anytime I ask questions and the Homework Help Center moderators, which are expert CPAs, teach you how to come up with the answer step-by-step. The questions you ask don’t have to be technical and can be on any topic, such as how to improve your study plans, suggestions on study techniques, or even trouble you’re having as a non-native speaker. It is also great to see what other people are struggling with and learn tips from the review team.
Lastly, if you think that your English is not very fluent or have a difficult time understanding the review, I recommend that you read the textbook and listen to the lectures twice.
Personally, when I was struggling with my weakest section, REG, I had to watch the lectures twice before I could really feel comfortable with the content. The second time I watched the lectures and read the textbook, I found there were a lot of important parts I had missed the first time around. Doing this not only solidifies your understanding, but also helps you remember key concepts based on repetition.
Although it might take a little longer for you to master each section, becoming a US CPA really demonstrates your English proficiency and capability in accounting.
Once you finish the exam and obtain your license, having those three letters at the end of your name puts you at the same level as a native speaker. This is a great strength to show future employers who know what the designation is worth. So keep up the hard work and good luck with your CPA journey!
–J. Frazier, Guest Blogger for Roger CPA Review