Student reviews: studying in the United States (A-Work students)

• LSI-San Diego

• “There are many diverse and pretty restaurants in Downtown San Diego and Little Italy, and world-famous attractions like SeaWorld, the Zoo, and Balboa Park are not far from downtown, with affordable opportunities to visit them through school activities, making my life very satisfying. In addition, there are so many beautiful places I had only heard about and plenty of beaches nearby, so every single day feels fresh and never boring.”

• “Looking back at my life in San Diego, I found myself spending a lot of time with friends from my LSI classes whom I met at the Vantaggio dorm. Since everyone is an international student, I use English quite frequently, which I think has brought about a big change for me, considering I couldn't speak any English at first.”

• “Above all, the weather is so, so nice—the kind of weather that makes you want to go outside anytime! It was exactly as they explained and described San Diego to me back in Korea.”

• San Diego State University (SDSU)

• “Basically, we take classes like Oral Presentation and Oral Discussion together with IEC and BEGP students, but we take separate SE-specific classes for Listening, Reading, and the Friday Elective Class. Because SE only accepts students at least around level 105 or 106... there are many students who are good at English.”

• “I took a program called Intensive English for Communication at the SDSU American Language Institute for 5 months.…Intensive English is divided into grammar, writing, listening, reading, and oral communication, with each class taught by a different teacher.”

• “The SE program literally teaches you about starting a social enterprise. … Basically, you take courses like Oral Presentation and Oral Discussion together with IEC and BEGP students, but Listening, Reading, and Friday's Elective Class are dedicated specifically to the SE track.”

• UCSD (University of California-San Diego)

• “In the pronunciation class, we gave a mock teaching presentation in groups about once every two weeks, and preparing for these helped me realize things about my pronunciation and speak it out, improving my own English skills. In the writing class, we learned academic English writing, which was new to me. Taking the class with a British teacher named "Nikki" made me feel that the expensive tuition for UCSD TEFL was well worth it.”

• “The instructors teaching at UCSD are all experienced professionals. Because they teach in the fields they actually worked in, they share real-life experiences in addition to theory, which I found extremely helpful. Also, most instructors have experience teaching international students, so when you ask questions about unfamiliar English words or lesson content, they explain them easily and clearly.”

• “The TEFL class is not about learning English itself, but having the advantage of naturally improving your English while learning how English is acquired. For example, in pronunciation class, we gave mock teaching group presentations about once every two weeks, and preparing for these allowed me to realize my own pronunciation, speak it aloud, and improve my English skills.”

• EF-San Diego

• “It wasn't a long time, but I grew very close to both the teachers and the students, and among friends, there was a tight bond like family. The students saw me for who I was rather than my home country, and I felt a sense of relaxation and stability that I had never experienced in Korea.”

• “I arrived in San Diego on January 5 and returned to Korea on March 27. Though it wasn't a long time, I became deeply attached to both teachers and students, and there was a family-like bond among friends. Students saw me for who I was rather than my country of origin, and I felt a sense of leisure and stability that I had never experienced in Korea.”

Study Abroad in San Diego

• Rennert Bilingual-New York

• “The Astoria dormitory consists of two houses, each divided into a first and second floor—one house is for men and the other for women. … There is also a shared living room, kitchen, and two bathrooms, so you can cook your own meals and shower comfortably.”

• “Class sizes are capped at 10 students, which made participating feel very comfortable. Since the school focuses heavily on conversation, it was extremely satisfying for someone like me who came to improve speaking skills. After classes are assigned through orientation, you study in that class for 8 weeks.”

• “I came to New York to stay for two months to study TESOL at Rennert in New York. I initially applied to stay at the Astoria residence for just one month. However, it is already so comfortable and I've adjusted so well that I will probably extend and live here for the full two months.”

• Kaplan-New York Central Park (30+ Operated Separately)

• “All that was left was the final city tour. They guided us in small groups. This was the most fun part. I didn't know anything about New York, but they showed us so much as we walked around... And finally, we finished up by moving to Empire Kaplan, where I would be studying.”

• “I studied at Kaplan New York Central Park. Everyone on staff, including the teachers, is friendly. Also, there are plenty of school group activities, so even if your English isn't great at first, you hang out together and won't feel lonely.”

• Manhattan Language

• “The tuition is not too expensive, and the quality of the classes is comparable to or even better than that of more expensive schools. Students can choose between two class schedules: morning classes starting at 10:00 and late morning classes starting at 11:45. If you choose the late morning class, you can select your preferred subject for the afternoon class.”

• Berlitz USA-New York

• “Classes usually start at 9:00 AM and run until 12:00 PM, followed by a discussion class from 2:00 PM for about 45 minutes. The morning classes use textbooks, of course, but are mostly focused on speaking and conducted through conversations with the teacher. The teacher introduces a topic, and students continue the dialogue with their own thoughts.”

• New York Language Center

• “Beginner levels focus on grammar in class, and as you advance, lessons center more on grammar, phrasal verbs, and speaking. Once you complete Level 10, you can take more specialized courses such as Advanced and Business.”

Study Abroad in New York

• Kaplan-Boston

• “You can also choose the classes you want; in the morning, it is an Integrated Skills class suited to your level, and after lunch, the afternoon is for Specific Skills, where I chose the Business class. Since each teacher has a different style, content, and teaching method, you can try them out firsthand and switch if needed.”

• “Our homestay is a two-story house. The basement has storage and a laundry room, the first floor has the living room, kitchen, my bedroom, and a half bath, and the second floor has a full bathroom with a shower and the hosts' rooms. The hosts are two men who watch TV in the living room after work and always head upstairs between 9 and 10 PM. It's great chatting while watching TV after dinner, and whenever I ask questions while studying, they explain things really well.”

• “When I was first placed into a class, 60% of the students were Chinese, along with friends from Japan, South America, Thailand, and Taiwan, and I was the only Korean! Above all, it was great to be able to talk with classmates from so many different countries. During the first week, I was still adjusting so I only spoke with them during class, but gradually I made more friends and had more chances to talk.”

• NESE (New England School of English)

• “First of all, because NESE divides levels individually, the curriculum is more systematic than other schools. For grammar, the content covered in each level is completely different, so you don't have to keep repeating the same things. Also, having classes every day allowed me to learn about each topic in greater depth.”

Study Abroad in Boston

• Academy of Art University (AAU)

• “If you don't have a TOEFL score, you take an English test for ESL (English Second Language) classes; the test consists of listening, speaking, and writing, and the speaking part was conducted as an interview where they asked questions and I answered.”

• “You can take major classes alongside ESL, but Level 1 has so many classes per week that you have less time for major classes than in Level 4, and fewer subjects are available. That is why you are only truly free once you clearly pass Level 4.”

• City College of San Francisco

• “CCSF is the only community college within San Francisco, making commuting and living fully manageable with public transit. … With Muni, BART, and 24-hour bus lines available, having supermarkets, shopping malls, and amenities always close by is another huge advantage of CCSF for students just beginning their study abroad life.”

• “CCSF has branches throughout the city of San Francisco, including the main campus, and each branch offers specialized major courses, allowing students to choose the branch closest to them. Also, while smaller community colleges sometimes cannot provide all the required transfer courses for four-year universities, CCSF offers a wider variety of classes than other CCs…”

Study Abroad in San Francisco

• EF-New York

• “I started at level B2 and felt so proud to receive a C2 certificate—the highest level—on my graduation exam. I also completed a three-month internship successfully, so I feel like I finished my language program very rewardingly... The EF campus is located in Tarrytown, a bit away from Manhattan...”

• “Although it takes about 50 minutes by train to reach Manhattan, the school itself has everything from a Starbucks and a bar to a swimming pool, gym, basketball court, soccer field, and dance studio, allowing for plenty of activities right on campus! Also, the school meals are served buffet-style, giving you some variety to choose from.”

• “At the graduation ceremony, not only the students but also the teachers joined in to celebrate and take photos together. There were several awards, such as for 100% attendance, and speeches from students who completed internships or specialized courses like university prep. Once all the events concluded, certificates were handed out.”

• Arizona State University (Global Launch) (Kaplan - University Pathway)

• “First of all, living in the dormitory costs about $300 a month in dorm fees. Of course, you can cook in the dorm. You also need to buy something like a bicycle; a new bicycle is around $90, and a used bicycle is about $50.”

• “Also, no matter how high the temperature gets here, it feels very cool once you step into the shade, and indoors it is so cold that it's hard to bear. That is why almost everyone's essentials include carrying sunglasses, water, and a long-sleeved shirt. When people go inside, they put that shirt on.”

• “No matter how high the temperature gets here, it is very cool in the shade, and when you go indoors, it is unbearable cold. That is why almost everyone carries essentials like sunglasses, water, and a long-sleeved shirt. Then, when going indoors, they put it on.”

• Kaplan-Chicago

• “The next day Jeanne worried about my first day at Kaplan because there were no students in her house who could explain to me how to get to there. It was quite complicated to go to kaplan from home, especially with -22 F cold. Therefore, she decided to go to school with me, taking the subway and teaching me how to get there!!”

• “The next day Jeanne worried about my first day at Kaplan because there were no students in her house who could explain to me how to get to there. … Therefore, she decided to go to school with me, taking the subway and teaching me how to get there!!”

Study Abroad in Chicago

• Kaplan-San Francisco (Berkeley)

• “Kaplan's morning classes are English lessons where grammar is explained and then used continuously in conversations with international classmates. Because of this, you can immediately use what you just heard, so it stays in your memory for a long time. Thanks to an environment where you are exposed to English 24 hours a day, it's great to have so many chances to put what you've learned into practice.”

• “Kaplan's morning classes explain grammar and are designed so that you can continuously practice what you've learned by talking with international friends based on that grammar. Because you can use it immediately after learning it, it stays in your memory for a long time.”

Study Abroad in Berkeley

• Oregon State University

• “Let me also introduce Oregon State University. Since this language center is university-affiliated, I was able to meet local native college students, and among the curriculum, I particularly liked the conversant program. It was also a great environment for studying, with the added benefit of affordable tuition and living costs.”

• “Let me also tell you about Oregon State University, where I did my second language program. Since this language center is university-affiliated, I was able to meet native local college students, and among the curriculum, the conversant program was especially great. It was also a wonderful environment for studying, with the advantages of affordable tuition and living costs, although it lacked a diverse range of activities.”

• St. Norbert College

• “Perhaps because the school is located in the Midwest, almost everyone on campus was American, and it was hard to even see Black people. Being in the Midwest, there weren't many international students, so the Americans were very kind. Since it was a university-affiliated program, the placement test was somewhat difficult, especially for me since I hadn't prepared my English in advance.”

• “Because it was a university-affiliated program, the placement test was somewhat difficult, especially for me since I had not prepared much English beforehand. At first, writing down assignments during class was the hardest part, and I had to do homework from the end of morning classes until the library closed. There were three Korean ESL students, including myself, and about seven degree-seeking Korean students studying there.”

• Lehigh University

• “There are 11 students in my class, including 4 Koreans. Also, there are about 70 FLS students in total, and 11 Korean students altogether. … The best teacher is Matt, and he teaches really well. The homestay here is quite good, too.”

• “Oxnard is a really quiet neighborhood, so I think it's very good for studying. … The best teacher is Matt, and he teaches really well. Also, the homestay here is quite nice.”

• University of Southern California (USC International Academy)

• “During the first year, I started with just a few subjects rather than taking many, and over time, my study pace accelerated. As each semester passed, my attitude toward classes also changed a lot. The American education system, centered on personal participation, was very different from what I experienced in Korea.”

Study Abroad in Los Angeles

• Tuition estimate for 1 week in the United States
• Tuition estimate for 2 weeks in the United States
• Tuition estimate for 1 month (4 weeks) in the United States
• Tuition estimate for 2 months (8 weeks) in the United States
• Tuition estimate for 3 months (12 weeks) in the United States
• Tuition estimate for 6 months (24 weeks) in the United States

• Junior programs & youth camps in the United States (3 schools)
• Business English for working professionals in the United States (43 schools)
• IELTS, TOEFL & TOEIC exam preparation in the United States (48 schools)
• University pathway & academic English in the United States (118 schools)
• Vocational courses & internships in the United States (51 schools)