Summer is the time to try new things, to consider new possibilities, and to approach learning as an adventure. Come to the United States and learn English on a campus where students are engaged in exciting projects, in surroundings charged with possibility.

No one learns a language better than by living it. Coming to a college campus in the United States will immerse you in language learning, in a world of ideas and people eager to share their thoughts - and enjoy learning from you as well. There are over 3,300 colleges and universities across the country, and on many of these campuses are summer programs for students who want to learn English and flourish.

So think beyond your norms. Leave the comfort of home and take an adventure. Choose a campus in the US where you will not only be able to learn the English language by surrounding yourself with native speakers, but where you will also learn about North America and the cultures which interact and thrive here. Bring your curiosity and ask questions; what you can come to know is limitless.

We challenge you to not only leave the comfort of your homeland and language, but also to think about the vast opportunities and variety open to you in the US. International students usually gravitate to the 'big name' schools in America, knowing the names Harvard, Yale, Stanford, the University of California. Indeed, these schools offer excellent summer programs. But there are schools in every state of the country, in every sort of environment (city, suburb, country, mountains, sea coast, plains) where you can improve your English language skills and meet wonderful new people and places. So choose an adventure that will take you out of the world you live in. If you are already a city dweller, perhaps a country campus will take you the greatest distance from your 'comfort zone'. If you live in a coastal city, try the mountains or plains, and see how varied the world is. In any location you choose, you will meet the people, learn the culture, and live the language in every day-to-day experience. You will find that people and culture have many differences as you live and travel in our vast land. Opportunities to attend events and carry out daily activities like shopping, dining, and exercise - while holding conversations with American students and members of your campus community - will enhance your English language abilities and understanding of the American cultures.

The summer English programs available to you are so many that they cannot be named in this article. Just to get you started, look into American University (near the nation's capital in Washington, DC), the University of California, Berkeley (near San Francisco, CA), Boston College (MA), Boston University (MA), Brown (RI), Cornell (NY), the University of Hawaii at Manoa (near the beaches of Waikiki), the University of New Hampshire, Pacific Lutheran University (Tacoma, WA), and the University of Pittsburgh, (PA). Try the World Wide Web for your research, and you will discover photos and descriptions of campuses you've never heard of, but which may have the best program for you. Differences in course offerings and program structure, as well as location, enable you to select the program which best fits your language needs, calendar and curiosity.

Summer programs across the country are intense learning experiences, packing a great deal of content into brief stretches of time. This is great for language learners. Daily classroom activities, trips to sites of interest, and conversation with other students, campus faculty and staff bring you learning nearly around the clock. The intensity of the learning really imbeds the language in your mind and gets you thinking in English. The intensity of the cultural experiences will also have you asking questions about many aspects of American life, and leave you not only confident in your language skills, but aware of the current use of language, daily life of the people, concerns of the country and general life-style. The intensive programs also leave you plenty of time to travel after your program of study, and explore the country with your new language skills developed, making this experience a truly wonderful adventure in learning and tourism.

While you are here, of course, you should visit our most well known attractions - but don't forget the little things. Visit New York City, Los Angeles, Washington DC and San Francisco, but don't forget to see the sea shore, to look into small towns, hike the mountains, and really see the complex and diverse land and people that make up the United States. Learn by complete immersion. Talk to the people, go to classes, go to the movies, the theatre, concerts, restaurants and sports events. Your summer campus will offer you structured learning in courses, but also wonderful experiences from lectures to movies, athletics to arts. Explore, explore, explore, and become confident of your ability to speak, write, listen and read in American English, while having a life experience you will never forget.

Author
Karen H Sibley
Dean of Summer Studies,
Brown University
President, North American
Association of Summer Sessions