Orientation

We took part in the one-week orientation before classes started. We listened to the explanation about college or buildings, and took a test to decide our class level during the orientation. Also, we had a camp and a trip to Seattle.

This is a two-day event. We hang out with students from the morning till the evening who start studying abroad in the same season. We can enjoy various activities. For example, horseback riding, archery and canoe. Also, we always have dinner together. There are a lot of chances to make new friends during the camp.

There are rooms where we can watch movies and we can play table tennis. We can enjoy them until the evening. If we have good weather, we can enjoy the campfire.

We go sightseeing in Downtown Seattle by bus. For example, Pike Place Market, Chinatown and Gus Park. We can enjoy sightseeing because we have enough free time in each place.

All classes start in the afternoon and finish about 5:00pm. IESL(English program for international students) has classes from Level 1 to Level 5. We always used the main campus. Most of the IESL students are from Asia. We often have pair work and group work in each class. Also, we have the mid-term test and the final test in each quarter and the grade is showed in percentage. We have to get 80 percent or up to go up to the next level class.

I had two kinds classes in Level 3. In the first class, I took a class with students from Level 1 to Level 3 together. We learned English by watching a TV drama. In the second class all the students were in Level 3. We studied grammar, writing, listening, speaking and reading in the class.

IEP TV, TOURIST L1-3

12:00-12:50, 14:00-14:50

We had the lunch time in the middle of this class. The main contents of this class was learning English expressions and words in “Modern Family”. Also, we went to a sightseeing spot in downtown Seattle and made a presentation about it. In this class, we had a presentation about once in two weeks.

IEP ACTVENGL L3

15:00-16:50

Grammar

We learned basic grammar. The class was not very difficult, but it was hard to hear English expressions our teacher spoke.

Writing

Our teacher taught the construction of writing (paragraphs and essays), so I was able to think the construction smoothly before I wrote something.

Listening

We practiced listening with videos. We had a test to check how much we listened to in the practice.

Speaking

We had a presentation a few times. Also, there was an activity that one student showed the others a picture in front of the class and answered questions about the picture from the classmates.

Reading

We used a reading package to learn reading. We mainly studied finding the main ideas from paragraphs and essays.

The classes in Level 4 were harder than those in Level 3. However, I enjoyed pair work and group work more than I was in Level 3. I had two kinds of classes like I did in Level 3. In the first class all the students were in Level 4. We studied grammar, writing, listening, speaking and reading in the class. Also, we were allowed to take an academic class that we wanted to take. The second class had students from all the classes in Level 4.

IEP LEVEL4 BRIDGE PREP

12:00-12:50 (Tue,Thu,Fri)

14:00-16:50 (Every day)

Grammar

We learned relative pronouns in addition to the contents of Level 3. I understood the class very well because we always had homework about the contents that we learned that day.

Writing

We learned various ways to write an essay. For example, argument essays and essays using comparison expressions. We had a test after we finished learning each way to write an essay.

Listening

We practiced listening with TED (video clips of lectures by people all over the world). At the same time, we practiced how to take notes. It was hard to get used to the speed of the native speakers' speech.

Speaking

We gave four presentations in this class. We had a different theme each time. Especially, the theme about the news about around the world was the most diffcult.

Reading

We used a textbook. It was hard to separate long sentences into meaning. Also, I felt my lack of words.

COLLEGE READNESS

12:00-12:50 (Mon,Wed)

This class was for an academic class. We learned time management and how to set goals. We were able to talk with a lot of students in this class because the class had students from all the classes in Level 4.

Party at Teacher's House (Level 3)

Class in Level 4

With Vietnamese Student

View from College