planning to study in the us? enroll in an esl immersion program!

7/28/2019 Planning to Study in the US? Enroll in an ESL Immersion Program!

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Planning to Study in the US?Enroll in an ESL Immersion Program First!

While students mainly choose to participate in ESL immersion

pr ogr ams to im pr ov e the ir Engl ish language skills, students

can also use the opportunity to better prepare for attending college

in the US. In addition to language immersion, students experience

a cultural immersion. By living in another country instead of

studying it from far away, students can clearly see dierences in

daily life, cultural norms, and ways of thinking. Exposure to these

differences ahead of t ime helps students adjust in time for their

classes at an American university.


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Planning to Study in the US?Enroll in an ESL Immersion Program First!

While students mainly choose to

participate in ESL immersion programs

to improve their English language skills,

students can also use the opportunity to

better prepare for attending college in the

US. In addition to language immersion,

students experience a cultural immersion.

By living in another country instead of

studying it from far away, students can

clearly see dierences in daily life, cultural

norms, and ways of thinking. Exposure

to these dierences ahead of time helps

students adjust in time for their classes atan American university.

Broader Cultural PerspectiveLiving abroad helps students develop

empathy for people of other cultures,

become more aware of international

news, and understand how the character

of a people impacts its politics. Cultural

awareness is important for those who

plan to pursue a career in business,

government, international politics,

broadcasting, marketing, art, medicine,

hospitality, and a number of other areas.

It also allows students to think more

critically about their own cultures after

having experienced another.

For students who want to study at an

American college, this new perspective

can help them get along better with

classmates and understand what

professors will expect from them in

the classroom. For example, critical

thinking and class participation are highly

emphasized in American classrooms. ESL

immersion programs can help students

adjust to this new style of learning so

that they perform better in their future

program of study.

Resume BoosterAcademic and professional experience

abroad still isnt very common, and its

a valuable addition to a resume. While

having experience in another country

doesnt guarantee you a job, it may

give your resume the second glance it

needs for you to be called back to an

interview. Studying or working abroad

signals to potential employers that you

have uncommon experience, and you

were probably challenged to adapt to a

new environment with a diverse group

of people. You will also have a wealth of

experiences to draw from in an interview

if you are asked about overcoming

challenges. Many students report that

ESL immersion training gives them a

competitive advantage in other ways, too,

giving them a sense of accomplishment,

mental discipline, and cultural

enlightenment.

College and university admissions

workers look to see that students are

eager to learn and will perform well in

their school. Attending an ESL immersion

program tells administrators that you care

about your education and that you have

already shown you will work hard to meet

educational goals.

Advanced Interpersonal SkillsBeing outgoing is necessary while learning

English to develop strong conversationskills. English classes for international

students require students to speak a lot

with classmates and instructors every

day while going through exercises. Some

assignments may even require speaking

with or interviewing locals. Living abroad

also often forces students to interact

with native English speakers when asking

for directions, ordering food, making

purchases, visiting attractions, going to the


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bank, and during a variety of other daily

activities. After the experience, students

will also gain advanced interpersonal skills

from being forced out of their comfort

zones. This is a valuable quality to have in

American classrooms because students

are often asked to voice opinions, ask

questions, and hold discussions with other

students during class. Class participation

may actually be a part of a students nal

grade in a class.

New Professional OpportunitiesStudy abroad is a unique experience,

and you may come across unique

opportunities that may turn into viable

career paths later on. By being in another

country, you may nd that certain skills of

yours are in strong demand there where

they might not be in your home country.

Study abroad brings together a unique

set of people who are adventurous and

eager to learn. Your classmates could later

become valuable contacts for you as they

also continue to explore opportunities

that make use of both foreign language

skills and English prociency.

Colleges and universities are easyplaces to meet with other like-minded

international students. Many institutions

host international student clubs. If not, the

Student Services department can help you

organize a club and meet fellow students

who are studying abroad.

Students who plan to work in America

after they graduate from college

should spend as many years there as

possible before seeking employment.

This lets individuals gain a business

English vocabulary, develop a network

of contacts in America, and see the

range of employment opportunities and

resources available to them. Participation

in ESL training helps students gain more

time in America before they must seek

employment.

Fluent Language SkillsIn school, language students receive

about 150 hours (less than a weeks time)

of language instruction over the course

of a year. Outside of class assignments,

this is often the extent of a students use

and contact with the language. An ESL

immersion experience, on the other hand,

exposes students to English throughout

every waking hour in a variety of contexts.

Vocabulary goes beyond words given in

the classroom to also cover a broad base

of common words, phrases, and object

names that are often skipped in favor of

more academic language.

Advanced language skills can also lead

to unexpected situations. No matter

where you are, when people learn you are

multi-lingual, interesting opportunities

may arise. You may be called on for an

impromptu translation at work. You may

nd yourself suddenly making friends

with an expat. Many people will also be

interested to learn about your impression

of their country and where else you have

traveled, helping you make new contacts.

Challenging Your LimitsYour enjoyment of an ESL immersion

program directly relates to how well

you are able to accept and participate in

experiences outside of your comfort zone.

Every day may bring new challenges for

you. Even basic tasks like getting a cell

phone, buying groceries, paying a utilities

bill, or getting directions can be daunting.

You may also be faced with cultural

norms that may seem illogical or wrong

to you. You may have to go through more

challenging trials, as well, like seeking

medical attention. All of these experiences

will test your adaptability, independence,

and self-reliance, and these are qualities

you will carry with you throughout your

life.

Individuals planning on living abroad

need to be able to rely on themselves.

Developing this condence early on

may help ease them into the full college

experience. An ESL language and cultural

immersion program helps students grow

both professionally and personally. After

completing the program, students will be

better prepared mentally and linguistically

to succeed in their formal university

studies and beyond.

The ESL Academy provides intensiveEnglish programs in America for all levels

of language learning. Classes are aimed at

preparing international students and non-

native English speakers for taking college

classes in the US. The ESL Academy has

campuses in Chicago, Boston, Worcester,

Skokie, and Lombard. For more

information about the advantages of ESL

immersion, contact the ESL Academy.


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planning to study in the us? enroll in an esl immersion program!

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