1	What students say about the UNCW ESL Program Please read the following pages to see what past students think about the Intensive English Program at UNCW. Click the mouse to go to the next slide. See more photos of UNCW and Wilmington in the “photo albums” on the ESL Program home page.
2	Katsuya Matsubara of Japan Katsuya attended the UNCW ESL program in the Fall of 2001. He then got a degree in Business at UNCW’s Cameron School of Business and received various academic honors. Hello, this is Katsuya. I want to share my excitement with you. I have a job! The Company’s name is Hanshin Air Cargo Inc. This is a small export / import firm in Atlanta. I can use most of my Japanese / English bilingual skill. I will work with one Japanese coworker for the next three months. After that, I will be in charge of all tasks. So, I have my own office. My work includes negotiation, accounting, making a database, logistical work, and some blue collar work.
3	More from Katsuya Due to the size of the company and working by myself, I have to engage in almost everything. I understand that there is lots of pressure and responsibility. But, these things will make me grow up. When I looked for a job, my priority is how much I can grow up. I prefer to work at a small company because I can learn lots of things. If I work at a big company, I can engage in only a small piece of the whole business. My dream is to have my own company, so this is a good experience for me. Also, working at export / import industry is useful for my international business. In the future, I will travel all over the world as an international marketing consultant. I believe that this is in the right direction. I can't say this is my dream job, but, this would be one of my best jobs as far as I can tell. I hope that I can grow up a little bit. Write to Katsuya at katsuyadc@hotmail.com
4	Ibrahim Cisse of Niger Ibrahim comes from Niger and attended the ESL program in Fall 2000. He writes: Several amazing things have been going on since the last time I emailed you. I am now a Senior, Physics major, at North Carolina Central University. I have been heavily involved in physics research at several National Laboratories, and universities nationwide such as University of Utah, Rensselear Polytechnic, and Princeton University where I spent the summer doing research. I have met several well-known scientists including the Nobel prize winner John Nash (portrayed in a Beautiful Mind). I am receiving my bachelor of Sciences in Physics next semester, and I already have several offers of fellowship from very prestigious schools to continue my PhD in physics immediately after my graduation in May.
5	More from Ibrahim My sister will start in the UNCW ESL program in the Fall of 2004. I came to your program without the ability of putting a sentence together and walked out confident in my communications skills in English, after only two months; I owe those accomplishments to all of you! Thank you Ibrahim Cisse President, International Student Organization, NCCU Student Union Board of Activities, NCCU Research Assistant, Dept of Physics, NCCU Physics Tutor, Title III tutorial, NCCU email: papucisse@yahoo.com
6	Alfonso Balsamo of Italy Hi Everybody! My name is Alfonso Balsamo and I am a 31- year- old Italian guy. I had the pleasure to attend the Intensive English course at UNCW in 1999. It was a great experience! In fact, I had the fortune to meet very nice teachers with whom my colleagues and I shared lots of unforgettable moments. The classes were very well organized and students have the opportunity to learn a lot in terms of grammar as well as speaking, reading, listening and writing skills. Foreign students have also the unique chance to get into the American culture which is extremely interesting. I will never forget the week holiday in Washington D.C. Our teachers showed us everything and we considered them friends more than teachers. We used to go out together, eat together, talk about anything and we all felt at home. When the time to leave them arrived, we all were very sad and most of us are still in touch with some of the teachers and roommates we met there.
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8	Rashad Nabiyev of Azerbaijan For those students who are married: Are you married? Don't worry, your spouse will be a member of the team. Because before coming to UNCW I was thinking whether to bring my wife with me or not. So, me and my wife came together and subsequently neither she nor I have any regrets about our decision. We love you guys! Rashad’s dream was to get his MBA in the United States. After attending the ESL Program at UNCW, he decided to go to Eastern Carolina University. He is currently working on his MBA. His wife, Elnara, is attending an English program now. If you have questions for Rashad, you can write him at: rashad_nabiyev@yahoo.com
9	Duangsamorn Pongnukit from Thailand First of all, I would like to introduce myself to you. My name is Tuang. I come from Thailand. I had such a good experience in the US to tell you about. Let me begin my story – it might be a good inspiration for you to pass through those difficulties for international students like us. After I got my BA in Thailand, I decided to go to grad school. As we all know, a school in the US requires TOEFL and GMAT. I tried very hard to pass the test. I took some English courses in Thailand first. But … it didn’t work well with me. So I decided to go straight to the US. I started studying English very hard at the UNCW ESL program. I picked this University because it is located in a good environment. There are very beautiful and scenic beaches and it isn’t too close nor too far from the big cities. The weather isn’t too hot and too cold because of its location. I really like the sea breeze and sunny days.
10	More from Tuang I had only one chance to pass the test in order to get into the MBA program at UNCW in the next 3 months. I wasn’t sure at all that I would be able to do it. As you know, the tests aren’t so easy. Especially the GMAT is so difficult that some native speakers still say the same. The ESL program at UNCW is so intensive. The teachers concentrated with the students very much. I had such good luck to have those teachers to help me. Finally, after 2 months, passed the TOEFL and got the score I needed to be able to apply for the MBA School. From the program, I not only learned grammar and academic things, but also the social life. I had such a good time with all of my international classmates. Even though I was the only Thai in the class, I felt very comfortable studying with friends from other countries. I had a roommate from Italy named Marika. Even now, we Are still in contact once in a while. We became very good friends. At first, language was a big barrier for us. After a while we got used to each others’ accents –she always tells me about her life back in Italy. I had such a good time with all my friends.
11	More from Tuang After I got into the MBA program – now a real hard studying life began. The program was very challenging. There were people with very diversified experiences in class. I had a chance to learn not only from a book but from the world. The 2 years I spent there was such a good memory for me. Whenever there was a school break, I traveled.I have been to many places, such as Washington State – Seattle, New York, Washington DC, Pennsylvania, Minneapolis, Illinois and so on. It was a good chance for me since I was in the States. I had a good time and experience which I couldn’t find anywhere or in any book. Wilmington is one of the nicest cities in the US. Although it is just a small town, it is full of history and natural breezes. People are very friendly – life is easy going. Rushing isn’t the word to be used there. I would like to say to my friends: don’t lose your chance to have this experience so that you all can see how beautiful life can be.
12	JiYeong Kang from Korea
13	More from Ji Yeong Usually, classes consist of many activities such as conversations that support students to get confidence in speaking English. Grammar class makes students understand easier by language rules, writing class makes you express yourself in character, and culture class satisfies your curiosity about American life. Actually, I couldn’t write and speak well, so I was almost a dummy when I look back at my past. I am now a college student in Jacksonville. To be a college student, I needed to acquire a high TOEFL score, and I am satisfied with my status. During the process of becoming a college student, I asked many questions, and the teachers studied the problems that I couldn’t solve with me and gave me clear answers. Without their help, I couldn’t be where I am today.
14	More from Ji Yeong I spent lots of time on the light, green, beautiful campus in summer. In the daytime, you could see students study outside in the warm light. If you are a very active person, UNCW is a good place for you to enjoy lots of events: basketball games, concerts, festivals, swimming in the sea or pool, surfing the waves, sailing, fishing, etc. I couldn’t name everything that this area has. Come here and find out what you can do. Also, there are lots of field trips that you can go in the area or far from Wilmington; for example, I went to Washington DC when I was an ESL student. We visited the Smithsonian Museums and tried interesting Ethiopian food that I ate with my bare hands. I took lots of photographs and that is one of my treasures.
15	Final advice from Ji Yeong Many students who went to big cities such as LA and NYC, weren’t satisfied, though the tuition was higher, and the education quality is good. There are too many foreign students to study English in big cities. They make groups made of their same nationality and use their languages. Of course, foreign students are at UNCW too, but not as many, and they have more opportunities to get along well with each other by using English than students in big, huge cities. I know that every foreign student might be worried about a new residence, new friends, and new culture, but I can say confidently, “Don’t be afraid and go for what you want! ~You will never regret your choice.” I know the decision to come to America and study only English will be hard, but UNCW is a perfect place to study English. Contact JiYeong at: kjiclub@hotmail.com
16	End of Slide Show (for now) Please check again soon, because we will always add more student reviews of the ESL Program , UNCW, and Wilmington. Why don’t you join us!? Back to ESL Home Page Send an email to program coordinator