Experience report by Kevin Stoppa about his English language study trip to the USA
Why did you decide to go on a language study trip?
Lauderdale Florida / USA
The moment I decided to go on a language study trip was when my relationship broke up. The break-up was really hard for me. I was simply fed up with the people around me and my surroundings, and it was also winter. I just wanted to see something different and find myself again to some extent.
In which country and in which city did your language study trip take place?
I then decided to go to the USA, to Fort Lauderdale in Florida. The city is a little north of Miami and is beautifully situated right by the sea. The weather was wonderfully warm, always around 30 degrees. I then went to language school there for six weeks. After that, I spent two weeks in Cuba, where I traveled the whole island.
How satisfied were you with your language study trip to the USA? What did you particularly like?
I was very happy with my language study trip to the USA. I got to know a lot of new people. People from all over the world, as well as many people from Switzerland with whom I am still in contact today. Among them was a colleague of mine who is still very good today. It was through him that I later met my new girlfriend, who is his flatmate.
The language study trip was a dream for me. I experienced things that I could perhaps have experienced here, but I perceived everything very differently there. After school, we went to the beach and thought about what we could do with the rest of the day. We went on excursions together, went to the Everglades National Park, went skydiving and traveled to Orlando to the theme park. We rented a car and drove back and forth on the huge highways in a convertible and just enjoyed it. These were all impressions that I will never forget. It has burned itself into my head and when I'm feeling bad today, I like to think back to that time.
Language study trip to the USA
What did the language study trip do for you personally and for your career?
For me personally, the language study trip was very beneficial. It changed me and, funnily enough, made me calmer. I became more grateful, today I can do something with myself when nobody has time for me. I appreciate everything in life much more. In Cuba I saw what poverty really is, these people have nothing. It simply helped me move forward and made me more mature.
For my professional career, the language study trip didn't help me as much as I had hoped. Nevertheless, I was able to significantly improve my English skills, even though I was only on the language course for six weeks. As a mechanic, for example, I now understand the English in specialist books much better and can converse with English speakers.
What tips would you give to anyone interested in a language study trip to the USA?
I would give the following tips to people who would also like to do a language study trip:
- Don't plan too much in advance - things will turn out differently anyway.
- Enjoy the time.
- Make a financial plan: don't go there with an empty wallet, but don't take everything you have with you either.
- Take it as it comes, don't force anything, just enjoy the time you are given, enjoy the people you meet, enjoy the impressions and the regions and appreciate it.
- Keep a diary or even a little blog so that your friends and family at home can follow your experiences. I had a bit of trouble dealing with all the new impressions at the beginning, even fell ill for two days and got a fever. The many new impressions were just too much for me at the beginning and I was a bit overwhelmed.
Which language study trip provider did you register with? How satisfied were you with this provider?
I booked the language study trip through ESL in Zurich and was really very happy with the provider. Everything worked really well right from the start. The advisor also openly and honestly recommended that I book the flight myself because I would pay less that way. She gave me a telephone number where I could have called at any time during my stay to get tips for excursions or information about the school or where I could have gotten help with any problems or questions. I also received all the documents in good time and was well prepared for the language study trip. I didn't have to do much more than just get on the plane and go. I really have to say: do a language study trip if you have the chance!
Pictures from my language study trip to Fort Lauderdale Florida / USA (click on the pictures to enlarge):
Linda, deine Weiterbildungsfinderin
