You may be wondering to yourself, "What is ESL?"
ESL stands for English as a Second Language.
What is an ESL Program?
An ESL program is coursework designed to help students who are looking to learn English as their second, third, or in some cases, fourth language. These programs hire teachers that are often bilingual who are there to help students to develop their:
speaking, writing, reading, and listening skills.
Structure of ESL Programs
ESL schools help students become more fluent in English by breaking down concepts and language rules. Many programs teach mathematics, science, and history classes in a way that is easier for students who are non-native speakers. Oftentimes, these programs are located in English-speaking countries to give students a real immersion experience. There are ESL Programs that can be found in home countries as well!
Many ESL students can feel extremely overwhelmed being immersed in a country where they do not speak the language; it can be very frustrating, because they cannot understand or participate in a class that is entirely taught in English or in the outside world around them. Most ESL programs have support systems in place to help alleviate these frustrations, so be sure to research carefully when choosing a program.
Who are ESL Programs Designed For?
Many schools, from pre-kindergarten to high school, from colleges and universities to private institutions, have ESL programs. Eligible students — those that do not speak English in their homes, international students, and students that genuinely have trouble with English — are all welcome at most campuses.
Private ESL Programs
Independent ESL programs are vital, because they provide a small and comfortable environment for learning a different language. These independent ESL schools can be considered to be healthier places to learn English, because they typically offer smaller class sizes — fostering an environment of learning and one-on-one interaction. Independent ESL schools provide a wide range of opportunities for students of all ages from children, teens, college students, to adults.
For students with advanced proficiency, ESL programs can provide one-on-one instruction to help students learn how to reduce or change their accent, thereby perfecting pronunciation, allowing students to be understood more easily by others. ESL schools can help students learn more about common sayings, because slang and idiom phrases are prevalent within the US, Canada, Australia, as well as the UK, and will allow you to regionalize your language fluency.
Finding an ESL Program
Our ESL Program Search has an entire listing of independent English Second Language Schools in the United States and abroad which can be very useful for prospective students. You can simply click on a specific state to see which school is closest to your location and go from there. This site can also direct you to online ESL programs; you can virtually travel to different programs to find which one is best suited for you.
ESL programs can help students learn more about the local culture, values, and society. ESL programs can help you understand people’s jokes and enrich your understanding of the English language. These ESL programs can be geared toward precisely what you need to master, according to your current level of understanding. Additionally, they are personal, in that they can help you no matter what level you are at; they can help you with just one aspect of English or every facet that you need help in. Understanding English is vital to succeed in today’s international world because much of the international language is English.
