Interview:
An interview with Alejandro from Brazil, who studies intensive English at ELS Language Center in New York-Manhattan.
Favorite thing about ELS: Teachers at ELS. They always respect you, and that is an important thing when you want to learn a language. I made friends from Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, and China, and I am very grateful that I can meet people from other cultures.
Q. Tell me about ELS, Why you came here, why did you pick LE+?
A. I graduated in Colombia and I went to learn English and my friend told me about ELS he will go to ELS Canada and he told me about that for me it was very interesting so I looked for the information and I have family here in New York so I chose ELS/New York so I came to this city.
Q. When you first came here how were you feeling?
A. I felt nervous because this city is so big, I didn’t know how to use the subway, I didn’t know the address to here but it was awesome...see the tall buildings and see the people, everybody’s in a rush.
Q. What do you like best about New York?
A. Culture and architecture. I’m an engineer so I really enjoy seeing old fashioned buildings and new buildings. You take the subway and you can wear everything and you act the way you want.
Q. Have you gone on any of the activities?
A. I went to the memorial center, down from here I went to the bull, I went to the Jewish museum. The bull and memorial center are with ELS, the Jewish museum on my own. It was really good, the Memorial Center and the Oculus.
Q. How did you feel when you first came to New York? Was it hard to adjust when you came from Colombia?
A. It was difficult because I don’t have good language. Sometimes I get lost and I’m afraid to ask someone where is the train to walk there, or the bus. It’s different because in my city I know everything, I know the place, I know the address.
Q. What skills have you learned that you find important at ELS?
A. I think the most important thing in this program is confidence. The teachers always tell you, “Don’t worry. I respect you, your classmates respect you. Take a breath, think deeply. That is the most important thing when you want to learn a language.
Q. Have you made a lot of friends?
A. I made friends from Japan, Taiwan, Cuba, Venezuela, Peru, and China, and I am very grateful that I can meet people from other cultures.
Q. What is your goal after learning English at ELS?
A. My goal is to get a job in Colombia and then keep practicing my English by speaking with my friends and teachers on Skype or WhatsApp. I need the confidence to have an interview and they can help me with that.
