Choosing an English Language Program

As the the United States continues to have an increase in international students at its colleges and universities, this increase has also continued at English language schools and English preparation programs. English language programs serve an important role in preparing students to study at U.S. universities, learn English, and an opportunity to experience the United States. We will take a look at two different types of English language programs and ways to research one that is right for you. Please take note that the term “ESL” is often used, which stands for English as a Second Language, and the term “IEP” stands for Intensive English Program.

For-profit ESL Schools- These are probably the most common types of programs for stand-alone ESL preparation, meaning that they are often not affiliated with a university and often exist in major metropolitan areas. The price range for these schools highly varies with major international companies being on the expensive end and small independently run schools being less expensive. When you research ESL schools they will often be the first to show up in a Google search because they often have a large marketing budget.

Pros:

• Many of these schools have rolling admission meaning that they accept students year-round.
• Offer short-term courses that can range as short as a week, which can be great if you want to experience the United States before committing.
• Often they have a very fun atmosphere with a lot of emphasis on activities, travel, and socializing, which is a good option if you are looking for a type of vacation English learning experience.
• They offer a variety of courses that can range from fundamentals of English, Business English, and TOEFL preparation.
• Not all, but many schools have articulation agreements with local colleges and universities. This is a great option if you choose to stay and study in the United States because it will make the admissions process easier, such as waiving a TOEFL test or being able to more easily research a college or university.

Cons:

• The learning atmosphere is not always particularly serious. As mentioned above socializing and activities are a major aspect of the ESL School experience and that often trumps serious English studies.
• Less qualified and low paid instructors. Language schools only need to hire instructors with a Bachelor’s degree in any subject and less than a year of teaching experience. That doesn’t mean that there are not some great instructors, but the minimum qualifications are significantly less than university based programs. In addition, the working conditions and pay rate for instructors is quite low, which can sometimes mean less quality instruction and high turnover of instructors.
• Some of these schools are what are referred to as “visa mills” meaning that they are a type of scam that will provide a visa, but little if any English instruction. Be careful with this because it can affect your immigration status. Please see previous article at International Student Voice Magazine.

Overall, for-profit ESL schools fill a need and a niche in English language learning. However, I cannot emphasize the importance of researching a school’s reputation before you attend one.

Non-profit University Based ESL Programs- These are programs that are affiliated with a college or university. Most of these programs have an emphasis on “Academic English,” meaning that they target being able to be successful in a university degree program. The curriculum will also focus on academic writing and speaking. However, this does not mean they they do not offer specialized courses such as Business English or Test Preparation, it really depends on each institution.

Pros:

• Highly qualified instructors. The minimum qualification to teach in these programs is usually a Master’s Degree in TESOL or Linguistics. However, it is also not uncommon to have instructors with Doctoral degrees. Furthermore, many of the instructors regularly publish and research English language acquisition and present at ESL conferences. Thus, it is highly likely that you will have an instructor that is very passionate about your learning.
• More serious learners. The overall, atmosphere is serious with a strong emphasis for learning. Homework and studying are absolutely necessary.
• Introduce you to university life. If you are undecided about entering a U.S. degree program this would be the best way to get a better understanding of what the campus culture is like.
• More reputable: There is more oversight in the quality of the program because many of them have been vouched for by accrediting bodies.
• Sometimes offer easier admissions into the university. This really depends on the campus that it is on because many of the programs at elite schools do not guarantee admission into their programs. So please do your research on this.

Cons:

• Sometimes they do not offer enough instruction on “informal English.” As mentioned above, university based programs focus more on academic English. While “informal English” may not help you with a research paper, it certainly is important for understanding everyday conversations with Americans.
• Strict application deadlines. Often you will not be able to join the program at any time during the year. So please pay attention to application dates.
• Too serious of an atmosphere. This can certainly be a con if you are looking to mostly experience the culture of the United States and do not want to spend your free time studying. Again, it depends on what you really want.

As an international educator with a specialization in ESL programs and with experience in both types of programs, I would say that if your goal is academic English then a university based program would be the best fit. However, if you are looking for something less serious, the for-profit English language schools would be a better fit. However, these are just generalizations and I cannot emphasize the need to research each program individually and not be afraid to ask questions to admission people and consult websites for reviews.

A few good resources for researching ESL language programs under the following links below: However, these sites do not necessarily vouch for the quality of these programs, which would require individual research.

http://www.englishusa.org/

https://educationusa.state.gov/

http://www.studyusa.com/

State Consortias such as http://www.studycalifornia.us/ or http://studynewyork.us/

Katherine Murrin is the American Language and Culture Institute Coordinator at Long Beach City College. She specializes in social media, marketing, writing about language and culture, international education, and traveling the world. She also really loves Long Beach. She can be reached at kmurrin@lbcc.edu.

The Do's and Don'ts of Note-Taking

We live in a world where electronic gadgets are increasingly replacing the classic pen and paper. But before you go "paperless," it may be worth it to pick up that pen and paper. Many studies show that it helps with memory and comprehension. College is already challenging when English is your first language, so why not be the best student you can be even if it means being a little "old-fashioned." Here are some tips to take the best notes ever:

The Dos...

1. Do go to class prepared. That means bring a notebook specifically for that class and different colored pens and highlighters.
2. Do write the date and the title at the beginning of each class.
3. Do write down important words. These include nouns and adjectives,. Find a system to highlight the most important words. This can be by using an underline or a symbol.
4. Do put your phone or other electronic device away if you think it will be a distraction. Part of effective note-taking is effective listening. 
5. Do develop a system that works for you. Some typical examples include:          a) Drawing a column and splitting your notes in half in order to leave room for post note-taking notes such as definitions for words you did not know.

b) Or leave room for lots of blank spaces in order to add more comments.

c) Develop a symbol system, such as @ for at or !!! for important.

More examples of different systems can be found here: http://sas.calpoly.edu/asc/ssl/notetakingsystems.html

6.    Do practice your listening skills in your free time. This could be listening to podcasts and/or Ted talks. A big problem nowadays is our constant distraction with technology. Note-taking is just as much about listening as it is about writing.

The Don’ts….

1. Don’t write every word down. This is especially true for words such as prepositions or articles. The saying “less is more” can certainly apply to note-taking.
2. Don’t take photos instead of writing notes down. It may be okay to take the occasional photo to refer back to, but it is imperative to take notes. There have been many studies linking how the brain is more likely to remember when writing stuff down by hand versus typing or taking photos. Therefore, note-taking is an important skill to master.
3. Don’t type on your computer or tablet. Again, this goes back to the taking photos, but your brain has a tendency to remember more when we write things down by hand. Plus, electronics can tempt your with distraction. We all know how difficult it is to pass up a Facebook alert.

Works Cited: 

http://www.scientificamerican.com/article/a-learning-secret-don-t-take-notes-with-a-laptop/

http://www.psychologicalscience.org/index.php/news/releases/take-notes-by-hand-for-better-long-term-comprehension.html

http://www.lifehack.org/articles/productivity/heres-why-you-should-take-notes-hand-instead-with-laptop.html

Katherine Murrin is the American Language and Culture Institute Coordinator at Long Beach City College. She specializes in social media, marketing, writing about language and culture, international education, and traveling the world. She also really loves Long Beach. She can be reached at kmurrin@lbcc.edu.

Introducing Malena...

You may recognize Malena as the student assistant in the International Student Lounge. She is often seen studying and helping students. Check out her interview in the current issue of International Student Voice Magazine.

1.Why did you decide to attend Long Beach City College?

My cousins studied here before and they said good things. Before I had no idea about what college to go to. I had family in Long Beach that I knew I could stay with. I didn’t even know the difference between the different types of colleges in the U.S. before I came. I understand it better now and I really love the U.S. community college system because they offer students a lot of help and it is cheaper. Plus, you can transfer to some really good and famous universities.

2. What was you English preparation before starting college?

I studied English for four years in Cambodia. But before I started college at Long Beach City College I enrolled in their Intensive English program called the American Language and Culture Institute. This program was great at helping me improve my English, get to know the United States, and what the expectations are for starting college in the U.S.

3. When you encounter Americans what is often their perception of Cambodia?

Well, I sometimes get the response, “Where is Cambodia?” It doesn’t upset me that they do not know where Cambodia is, but I will tell them that it is a small country in Asia and we have this really famous place called Angkor Wat. But there are also many Americans that know Cambodia and would like to visit Cambodia in the future.

4. What is your favorite thing to do in your free-time?

I really love nature photography and to sometimes go on hikes. But I am mellow, and I like to stay at home, study, and sleep.

5. What do you miss most about Cambodia?

I miss my parents a lot and because of the time difference it can be hard to Skype sometimes. A lot of my Cambodian friends here miss the food in Cambodia, but I actually like the food in the U.S. and don’t really miss Cambodian food.

6. Who is your role-model and why?

I would say Ellen Degeneres because she is kind, strong, honest, and she treats everyone the same.

7. What do you find to be the most challenging aspect of being a college student in the United States?

Language is the most difficult part for me because it is not my primary language. There is a lot of vocabulary that I still do not know. It takes me a long time to read articles and I often need to re-read them. I never really liked reading in my own language, so this is difficult, but I am learning a lot.

8. What are your future plans?

I am looking to transfer to a four-year college to get my BA degree. I don’t know where yet because I don’t know my major yet. I know I want to stay in Southern California because I love it here.