www.openheartscollege.com
Open Hearts International College
Miami . Florida/USA
Welcome to Miami
The fabulous sandy beaches of Miami and its incredible weather all year long are the main factors of Miami’s popularity. Miami is a major worldwide tourist destination, it is estimated that more than 12 million visitors come to Miami every year. Most of those tourists visit also the west coast of Florida and Key West.  Miami has so much to offer it attracts all kinds of clientele from, international students to spring breakers to families, to celebrities and to business travelers. Miami is best known for its beaches and tropical weather. Beaches such as Crandon Park Beach located in Key Biscayne, only 5 minutes away from our Open Hearts Campus, offer three-miles of long lagoon style beach protected by numerous lifeguard towers, playgrounds and picnic area. Miami Beach is only a 10-15 minute ride from Open Hearts. Miami Beach can be divided into three parts Mid Beach, North Beach and famous South Beach,
rated by many as the best beach in Florida. You can walk, jog or skate along the concrete promenade bordering the beach or enjoy a drink or meal at the finest Ocean Drive cafes. The art deco district, also found in South Beach, is of course the number one attraction in South Florida. Things to do in Miami are numerous and very diverse and offer activities for most people no matter what their interest may be. Sports are a central theme in Miami, land based activities as well as water based sports can be easily found in most areas at affordable rates. Students wishing to explore Miami’s culture will have plenty to do, from visiting historic district to touring museums and art galleries. If you are seeking adventure excursions you will have plenty to do as well, from visiting the everglades to learning to fly a jet.
Welcome to Open Hearts We are delighted that you have decided to study English with us here in beatiful, sunny, Miami Florida. At Open Hearts International College, our total commitment is to facilitate the advancement of students’ communicative language skills in English through a variety of means. We offer personal service and high-quality student-oriented curriculum and instruction. We also give students insight into United States culture through activities and social experiences outside of the Institute. One of the best things is that students come to study at Open Hearts International College from many different countries, so you will have the opportunity to share and compare your experiences with students from many different cultural backgrounds.
Our Mission Statement
To provide our students with the necessary tools to achieve the desired proficiency in the English Language in order to meet their linguistic academic and/or professional requirements within the best possible educational environment. We focus our efforts towards making sure our students leave knowing that everything has been done to assist them, not only with their English studies, but also with the cultural integration into their new surroundings. Because of our commitment to excellence and service, our priority in the allocation of institutional resources is to meet the needs of our students, faculty and staff.
Our ESL Program Our ESL Program
Our Levels
Open Hearts uses a skills-based curriculum, focused specifically on developing the necessary linguistic skills in five major areas: Reading, writing, listening, speaking and grammar. We at Open Hearts have realized that the best way to develop these skills is to do it in a “natural� way, the same way we all learned our native languages. Getting immersed in the language from the very first day. We believe that languages are not meant to be memorized, but rather to be used and practiced on a daily basis, in order to maintain a continuity and master it in a lesser amount of time. In order to learn and master a language, it is necessary to view it not as a step by step approach, but as a continuous and progressive process, where students are continuously challenged accordingly as they go through their levels. We believe that languages are continuously learned and improved, the same way we are always learning and improving our native language. The main reason for this is that languages are always evolving; just like everything else we see or experience in life.
The curriculum at Open Hearts is meant to be open-ended and ongoing. We offer seven levels or courses. Each 12-week course is subdivided into 6 2-week blocks. Students may commence studies at the beginning of each two-week block. For instance, if a student were to start at the beginning of the fourth week (beginning of the second block), he would complete the remaining 5 blocks, and would then take the remaining block, being promoted to the next level only upon achieving an acceptable percentage of ALL biweekly block exams and meeting our attendance requirements. While the blocks are designed to be as self-contained and noncumulative as possible, it is inevitable that the material will build on itself to some degree, resulting in a progressive spiral of skills development, thus, maximizing the students’ learning experience.
See all Levels Basic 1 Basic 2 Intermediate 1
Level 1
Intermediate 2
(12 weeks)
Entry Point
Entry Point
Block 3
Block 5
(2 weeks)
(2 weeks)
Entry Point Block 4 (2 weeks)
Advanced 1 Advanced 2 Elite
Our Services STUDENT VISA (F1)
ACCOMMODATION
ACTIVITIES
AIRPORT TRANSFER
INSURANCE
Open Hearts is authorized under Federal Law to sponsor foreign students. Upon receipt and acceptance of your application, we will input information about you to the Student and Exchange Visitor Information System (SEVIS), then send you an I-20 form, which you will need to obtain your visa. For your visa, you will have to schedule an appointment with the nearest US consulate, show the I-20, your passport, pay the necessary visa fee, submit the required forms for a Student Visa, and show evidence of financial support. You must be able to prove to the Consular Officer that you have strong ties to your home country.
Homestay Services At Open Hearts, we consider homestay accommodation one of the most important services we offer. It is cost-effective, and gives students the chance to practice his/her language skills in an informal setting. It also offers a first-hand glimpse into the American way of life.
Open Hearts’ extracurricular activities and trips give you an opportunity to apply life skills, practice English in real situations, become acquainted with many students from other countries and familiarize yourself with the unique life and culture that Miami has to offer. The activities occur at least twice a week, accompanied by an Open Hearts staff member who acts as your activity host. Optional Activities can be: City tour, Snorkeling, Beach Volleyball, Salsa & Merengue class, Movie night, Kayaking, Art Deco and South Beach .
To further assist our students, Open Hearts offers a transfer service to and from the airport. We can provide this service as long as we know the exact details (date, time, airline and flight number) no later than 48 hours prior to the transfer being required.
Students enrolling at Open Hearts must carry proper medical insurance for the length of their studies. Open Hearts is pleased to offer its own comprehensive Medical Plan to students who wish to take advantage of it.
Residential Program Students may choose to stay on campus in fully equipped studios, located in the same complex as our school, and enjoy the usage of swimming pools, jacuzzi, etc. Open Hearts provides 24hour emergency contact number, which allows students to feel safe and at ease, and offers their families at home peace of mind.
Our Facilities and Teachers Open Hearts is located in the heart of the financial district of Miami called “Brickell”. Our school has easy access to public buses and to the metro-rail system, making our institution easily accessible to all of our students. The school is found on the 18th floor of the Four Ambassadors complex overlooking Brickell Key Bay. The Four Ambassadors is considered a landmark of Miami. The building has restaurants from Brazil, Argentina, Japan, Thailand and Cuba, two large swimming pools, two Jacuzzis, a tropical bar, a gym area, a salon/spa, a marina and much more. The school boasts 10 classrooms that can easily fit up to 15 students each, two
reception areas as well as a snack bar for students to enjoy. Students at Open Hearts can take advantage of our free WIFI area and benefit from the use of our computer lab offering fast internet access and equipped with the most up-to-date computerized language educational tools. Each member of our faculty holds a Bachelor’s Degree and all are certified to teach ESL. They have gained ESL qualifications either through their post-secondary studies or through specialized training courses. Besides looking for individuals with the required educational background, we seek teachers who have international experience and, as such, the large majority of our faculty members have had previous teaching assignments abroad. Our teachers come from diverse educational backgrounds and students can take advantage of instructors who offer to them many different learning alternatives.
Brickell Avenue
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1- The Four Ambassadors with a view of the Bay 2- The Four Ambassadors’ Lobby 3- Our designated “English Speaking Zone” 4- The Four Ambassadors’ swimming pool 5- Students in Class 6- Computer Lab
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art direction: alex gama luno32@hotmail.com
Open Hearts International College in collaboration with Nacel is pleased to provide a very high quality, all inclusive and affordable International ESL Program.
Nacel: A worldwide leading organization that promotes international understanding through linguistic and cultural experiences.
THE FOUR AMBASSADORS - TOWER III 825 BRICKELL BAY DRIVE - SUITE#1841-1842-1850 MIAMI, FLORIDA 33131
Phone: 305-379-4027 Fax: 305-379-7259 E-mail: info@openheartscollege.com www.openheartscollege.com
Open Hearts is a proud member of:
:
Open Hearts is authorized under federal law to accept foreign students: Nafsa: Association of International Educators
Tesol: The Association of Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages
BBB: Better Business Bureau
SEVIS: Student & Exchange Visitor Information System.
U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement
www.ice.gov/sevis/