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 differences in daily life, cultural norms, and ways of thinking. Exposure to these differences ahead of time 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 differences in daily life, cultural norms, and ways of thinking. Exposure to these differences ahead of time helps students adjust in time for their classes at an American university. 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 Booster
Academic 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.

Broader Cultural Perspective

Living abroad helps students develop empathy for people of other cultures, become more aware of international

Advanced Interpersonal Skills

Being outgoing is necessary while learning English to develop strong conversation skills. 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

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 final grade in a class.

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 Skills

In 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 find 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.

New Professional Opportunities

Study 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 find 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 proficiency. Colleges and universities are easy places 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.

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 confidence 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 intensive English programs in America for all levels of language learning. Classes are aimed at preparing international students and nonnative 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.

Challenging Your Limits

Your enjoyment of an ESL immersion program directly relates to how well