International Pathway: ELS Makes English-Language Learning Easy for Expatriates [WATCH]
Spanish increasingly allows access to new vehicles of success and education, but the influential language has not fogged out English as the reigning language to know. English grants access, and is recognized globally as a language that's affiliated with business and status.
Education Services, Inc., also known as ELS, understands this fact more than most. The one-of-a-kind language learning network enables expatriates access to, not only the English language, but the American experience. Students from all around the world are free to enroll into one of the 60 available campuses that are spread throughout the nation's rural and urban areas -- and peppered across the globe. Each campus embraces individuals of as many as 25 nationalities, and hosts students that speak more than 20 languages.
On average 20-25 years-old, these students move thousands of miles from home, and they are pleasantly greeted by an organization that ensures personable interactions in traditional and non-traditional learning settings.
Learning in the classroom and on the streets, and conversing with peers and locals, while living in a dorm room, with a host family or one's own apartment, makes for an unparalleled learning experience.
Students venture into the different areas as a group, engaging in enrichment activities, such as visits to the mall or trips to Broadway plays. Team projects are completed in order to create a holistic understanding of English, qualifying students to communicate with strangers.
The company facilitates expatriate's entrance into the U.S. by providing proof of acceptance into an American institution, easing the student visa acquisition process. Most of the ELS centers are located on university campuses, which is unique when compared to other English-language learning facilities. Expats are able to live amidst international and American student, using the opportunity as a "test drive"; practice for real world interactions with diverse community members from each corner of the world.
The programs are devised for each student based on personal ability and competency. Students who have zero percent English-language comprehension aren't stationed with those who have more advanced oral or writing ability.
"Level 1 consists of beginners, while level 12 are able to offer proper responses and can write paper," said John Nicholson, Director of Marketing and Communications for ELS.
Goals set before students are to complete Chicago Manual of Style citation papers, engage in social interaction, and "to be comfortable in the cafeteria of English."
ELS doesn't offer scholarships to students, because they sink all available funds into to providing comprehensive and creative tactics to teach its patrons English. ELS offers a quality program that affords qualified teachers, engages through technology; and the capable teachers and valuable technology make it possible for the students to "hear the progress."
While scholarship isn't made available, when ELS opens a new center, they offer the program to students at a discounted rate. Stockton University is nearing a grand opening, and courses will be offered at a rebate. It's suggested that students set a budget for tuition, and find schools that work within that budget.
Payment for the program is per cycle. Students only pay for services that they need and receive. Each course/level is $1,700 dollars, and courses are full-time -and require a 5 day/week commitment. Fundamentals are instilled, so that individuals learn to speak English in a way that recognizes that the language is learned differently than Spanish, for instance.
Nicholson, who spoke about trends in international study and accelerating demand for English proficiency among Latin American communities, splits his time in between the U.S. and Colombia and is very familiar with the expatriate communities.
"I moved to [Columbia] with my partner, and couldn't communicate well. Now, I've been there for 10 years ... but, was isolated the first year, and felt taken care of ... it was challenging. I felt like a kid. Learning the language made me feel independent," Nicholson said during an interview with Latin Post.
Each nationality has distinctive perspectives, and for the multi-national Hispanic community, a group-wide warmth and demonstration of impressive social abilities makes them receptive to programs that require emergence; eased because of an ability to communicate with wit before they can communicate with language.
The Latin/o community is important to ELS because it's a group of people who believe in changing their lives, challenging their global perspective and shattering stereotypes.
"Most Latinos don't want to go to a "gateway city," they want to go to the Midwest ... to non-Latino places, so that they can test themselves," stated Nicholson.
Fifty-three years ago, ELS opened its doors and welcomed a steady growth of students from different parts of the world. It functions as an "international pathway" and has had cutting-edge technology since 1963. Before, ELS offered its students pods where they were able to practice their English... now, technology has evolved, and students are able to be mobile while they practice language.
The "My ELS" platform is a smartphone app that offers grades and graded work; a number of resources; grammar tools; and allows for students and counselors to communicate with one another. Curriculum has changed according to needs. The "American Explorer" is a program that allows study in the morning and free-time in the evening for exploration and culture-absorption.
Executive programs are also made available to business leaders who are looking to improve their English. The ELS Executive English Programs assists professionals requiring English fluency. The short-term courses are customized, offering industry-appropriate lessons. There are different programs offered for different purposes, and made available in different cities.
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