IEC Magazine Spring 2016 IEC Mission
Level 4A Interviewing IEC graduates
IEC spring picture Pre-Level 1 Our feelings about school
Level 4B Brainstorming students’ perceptions of IEC
Level 1 Brainstorming our education map
Level 5 Advice for new IEC graduates
Level 2 Comparing educational systems
IEC cultural trips IEC student pictures
Level 3A Giving advice to new IEC students Level 3B Giving advice to new IEC students
Learning from the master
INTENSIVE ENGLISH CENTER
Mission The Intensive English Center (IEC) was stablished in 1997 with the objective of teaching English to prospective St. Cloud State University (SCSU) students. The courses taught include the teaching of those skills necessary for personal, academic and professional success in an English-speaking context.
Vision The EIC promotes diversity and multicultural exchange in SCSU. IEC students share their traditions and customs with their classmates from all over the world. This exchange enriches students’ outlooks on life and promotes cultural interchange.
Cultural Activities Students are given the opportunity to participate in numerous cultural activities which help them explore Minnesota and learn about American culture in interactive ways. Such activities range from canoeing trips to ice-skating, and from jewelry making to excursions to the Mall of America. Students learn about American ways of life in a friendly and safe environment.
Pre-level 1 class How we feel about school! If my teacher doesn’t give me candy I feel very sad. I like to learn many things in English.
If I forgot something, I feel angry. If I do grammar, I feel excited. That’s a verb!!
When I gat a bad grade, I feel miserable.
If I get an A on a test, I feel excited.
If I reading a book, I feel good reading .
I’m happy when someone talks with me in English.
When I study grammar I feel it is very easy.
If I get a C on a test, I feel sad .
I feel sad when forget something for school.
By: Munir, Hadi, Hassan and Munty
Level A
Level 4B, what do you think of when you hear IEC?
What does IEC mean to me? If you want to learn about another culture’s point of view, what a greater way to experience and do it all than studying abroad! I wanted to try, so I came to the United States afterwards. I am still experiencing what their perspectives in the face of any event are, and what their traditions are. Sure, you have read about other cultures in books, and seen in television but that does not compare to the feeling that you will get by yourself from other peoples’ real lives. In addition, the students who go abroad become more respectful of other cultures, and political views. I have got a lot of friends in IEC. Moreover my bilingual skill has already improved when I hang out with them. You can meet and have a good conversation with every kind of person, because most of them have similar purposes for coming abroad. On the other hand, your life becomes busy suddenly, when you start to struggle with learning a different language. Some challenges such as morning classes, homework, exams, working hard make your life crazy at the same moment. The most difficult part is lack of sleep because of homework for me. When you get close to end of the semester, you understand that all of difficulties are worth it! To sum up, I really believe the studying abroad program will lead to great advances in my education, allowing me to assimilate myself into different cultures, and gain valuable perspectives on different ways of life. Thanks very much.
Sara Acikkol
Furkhan Khaja Roy Buckley
Essay 3 Studying abroad is one of the latest fashions of this generation. If we look back five years ago, there was hardly one international student out of fifty. These days, you can find at least a couple of children from each family who are doing their studies in foreign countries. Studying abroad also requires lots of money. Some families struggle with their finances, so they try to find the school and place that are affordable. Considering that, many universities recruit international students as graduate assistants and for other campus jobs. Saint Cloud State University in Minnesota State is one of the best universities that help students in every way possible. Minnesota is considered one of the most beautiful and wonderful states in United States. It has a very low cost of living because of low taxes. In Minnesota there is no tax on clothing and other common things. This state doesn’t charge tax on general food like milk, bread and eggs. The cost of housing is also cheap. If a person cannot afford to buy a house he can rent it at a low cost. The other reason why people like Minnesota is because it has a wonderful weather. Winter in Minnesota is highly enjoyable. This state has 10,000 lakes by itself. Many people do ice skating and ice fishing by drilling hole on frozen lakes. Due to low temperature in Minnesota we have lot of snow and many people enjoy skiing. Finally, don’t forget the snowman. When it comes to summer, Minnesota doesn’t disappoint. It looks beautiful with the greenery everywhere around. As it is a state with plenty of lakes, people also do fishing in summer. Besides fishing there are other water sports that can be played. Many people across the country spend their vacation on lakes of Minnesota. Minnesota is also known for its quality of education. Saint Cloud State University (SCSU) is one of the best universities in Minnesota. It offers plenty of courses. This University also provides Intensive English Course (IEC). This course is very advantageous for the foreign student whose native language is not English. This language course helps students to improve their English proficiency which helps them in getting admitted into English language universities. In this course students can learn new vocabulary. In this course student can learn how to pronounce the word correctly. IEC improves student’s ability of writing and speaking. By learning a basic grammar students can improve their writing skills. If students improve their speaking skills, then they can connect with the native people comfortably. English these days is a global communication tool, so it is important for one to speak and understand this language. IEC is provided in many universities, but I am impressed with SCSU’s teaching method. There are lots of benefits to studying in St Cloud State University besides way of teaching. Tuition fees in this university are very low and can be affordable. This kind of fee helps the students from low economic countries to gain higher degrees. This university provides a free bus ride for their student which saves plenty of money for the students on travelling. In this university it is easy to access the technology. Students can get connected to their e-mails wirelessly all over the campus. It is even easy to access the computers and other electronic products like printers and scanners which can help students to save their files and access to them whenever they need. Currently enrolled students can even borrow projectors from the library to prepare and practice their presentations. In the United States, there are plenty of universities, but it is hard to find the one with these kinds of facilities. There are plenty of universities in the United States. After completion of my undergraduate degree, I planned to do my further studies in the US. I was browsing for the best university that has decent fees and all other facilities. After a long search I came across SCSU. This university is one of the best universities that provides IEC and allows students to get out of their comfort zone. Once a student is out of the comfort zone, then he can do something magnificent and unique. Institutions play an important role in students’ exploration. St. Cloud State University is one of them.
Level 5
IEC students’ most popular majors Majors
IEC students
1. Biomedical Science
5
2. Accounting
4
4
3. Computer Science
4. Operation Management 4 5. Business
4
6. Electrical Engineering
2
7. Information System
2
8. Psychology
2
9. TESOL 2 10. Information Management
2
11. Graphic Design 2 12. Other majors
20
(International Business, Business Management, Clinical Research, Computer Engineering, Biomedical Engineer, Criminal Justice, Medicine, Early Childhood Education, Economics, Environmental Studies, Human Resources Management, Hydrology, Information Assurance, Lawyer, Mass Communication, Math teacher, Music, Pre-Pharmacist, Undecided)