Student Life Archives

Learning English Is A Key To A Bright Future

September 20, 2019September 22, 2019 Paul Huber

Learning the English language becomes a need nowadays. With this, having a bilingual skill is essential to be successful in a highly competitive work and academic environment. It’s a fact that learning English is one of the keys to a bright future, and the best part of all is that it’s up to you if you can achieve it. Primarily, you should decide to start that path by studying at an English School in the USA. The time has come to ensure that you will succeed in the future. Below are the main reasons why studying English is the key that will lead you to the top.

It is an advantage.

The benefit of learning the English language is knowledge. Dedicating yourself to gain a more significant amount of vocabulary and have mastered the grammar of the English language in an English School in the USA is equivalent to opening the door to endless benefits. You will get an impressive amount of advantages. Moreover, learning a new language will allow your brain to be more flexible, and therefore, it will be easier for you to adapt to changes and improve your cognitive ability. What are we talking about now? It’s like a domino game! By learning a different language, it will be easier for you to learn anything else. Learning more will also allow you to concentrate better, make better decisions, and solve problems more efficiently.

It improves your knowledge in your native language.

Learning a foreign language will allow you to improve your native language, and this shouldn’t surprise you. How is it possible? By identifying the rules of a different language, you will automatically recognize and apply your rules. This is something common, but not exclusive, of people who are dedicated to translation. The level of analysis of grammar structures increases without you noticing it. On the other hand, in addition to improving your grammar, knowing new words of another language always leads to expanding your native vocabulary in a way that would be more complicated by other means.

It will make you more competent.

Although each person is unique, the reality is that this generation requires competencies in all aspects to be able to excel. Being part of the “average” will also reflect you to have an “average” future. Investing in learning the English language in an English School in the USA will make you stand out. You will become an expert in a new language, and become competent to perform in the area of your interest using English in particular.

It allows you to travel more globally.

Learning English in an English School in the USA will give you a stepping stone to explore the world. Whether for professional, intellectual, cultural growth or just for vacation, learning the English language will motivate you to visit the US and other countries around the world where this language is spoken. In addition to practicing it, you can apply for different purposes and even allow you to work in such places while you enjoy and learn. How does it feel to get paid for travelling? Learn a new language and make it happen! All you need is to decide to take that first step. At POLY, you will learn with skilled English teachers.

It enables you to experience cultural diversity.

By learning a new language, you are not only getting involved with grammar rules and new vocabulary, but you are also approaching to connect with a diverse culture that you could not access or even understand before. By knowing more complex cultural expressions such as traditions, festivals, and events, this will broaden your perception of life. This level of multiculturalism will be of great benefit to find a job abroad. In addition to that, it will give you a much broader vision. This cultural advantage will make you more interesting and, without a doubt, a more valuable person.

It improves your empathy.

By expanding your understanding and interpretation, it will be easier for you to understand the ideas of others, which will be of great help when negotiating with potential clients, bosses, teachers, and even partners and friends. You need a break, and not everything is all about looking for professional opportunities. It will also improve your life emotionally! Being a much more empathetic person and able to communicate efficiently, your relationships will be positively affected. From this openness and understanding, the bonds you build will be more likely to be healthy and valuable.

It provides you with full freedom.

Learning about a new culture and knowing different points of view will not only allow you to have a better relationship with other people. Questioning your own beliefs and ideology will enable you to change your own opinions. When studying a different language, you discover amazing people and cultures that you thought are opposite and what you have is what you believed to be “right”. You realize that everything you were forbidden to do is viable, and even people can be happy to practice other cultures. You feel free and much more confident to do the things you want in your life without overthinking about the limitations. This will certainly allow you to go further than even you have permitted yourself so far.

It offers work stability.

Learning the English language in an English School in the USA will expand your range of possibilities to be able to enter a job that meets your economic and professional needs. In some cases, English is a requirement to be part of companies and teams that help you on your way to success. Speaking of stability, in addition to the benefit of obtaining that vacancy that you wanted so much, your day to day will be much simpler, especially in those areas where there is information that is very different from your native language. Hence, having that extra knowledge will be of great value for your team and you, and in turn, you will be a valuable element for the company.

These points are not independent of each other; they are interrelated. What you will do after taking the first step to learning the English language is absolutely up to you. However, what is certain: it will transform your life into something more meaningful and productive. So, do you want to experience those benefits mentioned above? Contact us now to start your English learning journey with us!

How Do I Apply For A Student Visa In The United States?

September 12, 2019September 12, 2019 Paul Huber

Every year, thousands of young people and university students want to apply for a student visa to study in the United States. The first thing you should know is the two categories of student visa. These visas are commonly known as F-1 and M-1 visas. However, there are specific criteria that a student must meet to apply for a student visa, as detailed on the United States Immigration and Naturalization Services (USCIS) page.

First, you must be enrolled in an academic program, a language training program, or a vocational program. Your school must have the approval of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement Service (ICE) Student and Visitor Exchange Program. Essentially, you must be enrolled as a full-time student of the institution. You must have English language proficiency or be enrolled in courses to gain English proficiency. Lastly, you must have sufficient funds available to cover your expenses throughout the course of study.

Differences of student visas:

F-1 Student Visa

The F-1 Visa category allows you to enter the United States as a full-time student of an institute, university, conference, conservatory, high school, or other institution or language training program. Also, you must be enrolled in a program that culminates in obtaining a diploma or certificate. The school must be authorized by the US government to accept international students.

M-1 Student Visa

The M-1 Visa category includes those students who are in vocational or non-academic programs, other than language training. Students with an M-1 visa are not permitted to work during their studies. The M-1 student visa applicants must have proof that there is a sufficient fund available to pay all tuition fee and living expenses for the whole period of stay.

J-1 Visa

A J-1 visa is a non-immigrant visa given to research scholars, professors and exchange visitors participating in programs that enhance cultural exchange, primarily to obtain medical or business training in the USA.

Sometimes, students want to work or need to work during their stay in the United States. Students with the F-1 visa can only work inside the university or its campus during the first one under certain conditions and restrictions. Any employment outside the university premises must be related to their area of study and must be authorized by the Designated School Officer before they start to work.

What are the requirements in securing a student visa?

When obtaining your student visa, you must meet a series of requirements and submit documents to study in the United States:

Be admitted to an institute, university or school recognized by the United States government
Be a full-time student in the USA
You should have a passport with a validity of at least six months longer than the time you will stay in the United States
You should have completed the Form I-20 for F-1 and M-1 visas or Form DS-2019 for the J-1 visa

What is the I-20 form?

This is a document that your institute, school or university will send you once you have been admitted. This document is essential to apply for your F-1 and M-1 student visa in the USA.

What is the DS-2019 form?

This is the form that is used for the exchange visitor program.

When can you apply?

You can apply for your American student visa when you meet all the requirements mentioned above and can get it in advance depending on the type of visa you have applied:

F-1 and M-1 Visa: up to 120 days in advance of the start date of your study program that appears on the I-20 form
J-1 Visa: at any time before the date on the DS-2019 form

How much does it cost?

Obtaining your American student visa is not free and involves paying two things. The first is $200 for your I-901 SEVIS Fee. The second is an additional charge of $160 for visa applications at the United States Embassy or Consulate in your country.

How to apply and secure a student visa?

After all the previous necessary steps, you are now in the process to get your student visa. The procedure to obtain the visa includes the following five steps:

Submission of the I-20 form

First, once you have been accepted, your institute or university will send you the I-20 form for the F-1 visa or the DS-2019 form for a J-1 visa to confirm that you have been admitted by an institution authorized by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) to enroll non immigrant students. You must read and sign this form.

Payment of SEVIS fee

Second, you will have to pay a tax of $200 for the SEVIS fee. Be sure to print a copy of the payment receipt. You must pay the SEVIS fee at least three days before the date of your visa interview.

Fill in the Form DS-160

Thirdly, you must fill out a new non-immigrant visa application form. This is the DS-160 form that must be completed online. In this form, you must upload a photograph of yourself. Once this form is completed, you must print the “confirmation sheet” with the bar-code to present it at your embassy appointment.

Make the appointment

Fourth, you must make an appointment with the US embassy of your country. You can also do this online. To find the website of the US embassy in your country, enter your country on the following page: https://www.usembassy.gov/

Preparation of the appointment at the embassy

Fifth and last, once you have the appointment, prepare for your interview to obtain the American student visa. You should take the following things with you to the interview:

A printed copy of the appointment
Your passport is valid for at least six months longer than the time you are going to stay in the US and your previously issued passports
The confirmation sheet of the DS-160 form with the barcode that you filled in step number 3
Receipts for payment of the student visa application
Form I20 for the F-1 and M-1 Visa or form DS-2019 for the J-1 Visa
SEVIS fee receipt
Multiple photos

In addition, it is also advisable to carry:

Financial documents that provide evidence that you have sufficient funds available to pay all your expenses for the first year of studies in the United States
Academic documents that demonstrate your preparation. These may include your institute’s grade certificates and your results on the SAT and TOEFL exams
If you have obtained a scholarship, it is also advisable to present all the documentation of it

What happens next after applying for a student visa?

There are three situations that may occur:

It is approved
Goes into the administrative process
It is rejected

If you are approved for a student visa, you could legally enter the United States, although there are two things you should always keep in mind:

You cannot enter the country within 30 days of the program you are going to begin.
When travelling to the United States, you must present your passport with your student visa and your I-20 or DS-2019 form at the immigration post.

How long is the student visa valid?

The validity of a student Visa varies depending on the type of Visa:

F-1 Visa: the validity is equal to the estimated time the study program will take
M-1 Visa: the validity is a maximum of one year
J-1 Visa: the validity varies between 4 months and 36 months depending on the program

POLY does not offer legal advice. Please click this page for more info about student visas. It is imperative that each student should consult an immigration lawyer where they reside, since laws or procedures may vary in each state.

Essential Reasons to Study Abroad

September 11, 2019September 11, 2019 Paul Huber

When parents are asked on what they want for their child in the future, most of them respond that they want their children to finish their studies. As a general rule, parents always want their children to become successful. Seeing your children grow and succeed in their studies is one of the things that give you more pride and joy. One of the ideas that lead a person to success is the chance to study abroad. For some, the idea of studying abroad has always been going around but remain undecided. This article will discuss the things that you can gain when you study abroad, like studying in an ESL School in the USA. This can help you decide and encourage you to live that great experience.

Many kill two birds with one stone and become tourists and students. Hence, they decide to continue their academic studies in another country. They take advantage of their free time to know the tourist destinations of the city where they are located and those around them. Without a doubt, studying abroad is worth spending. One example is the desire to study abroad, particularly in an English school in the USA.

Learn or improve a second language in an English School in the USA

Mastering a second language is one of the main reasons why young people and professionals decide to study abroad. Learning a language is a task that requires great effort. Within your daily activities, it is not easy to find the time to learn. On the other hand, if you decide to study abroad, this will become part of your daily routine, and you will learn it in a simple and agile way. Living with other people who speak that language and communicating with them regularly will make your language level increase significantly.

Travel on weekends and holidays

Who doesn’t like to travel? Studying abroad is a huge opportunity to travel and get to see scenic places in that country. You will not only know where you are going to study, but you can also travel on weekends and holidays to nearby cities. ESL Schools in the USA, especially in California, will give you the best scene as this state has various spots to discover. Many opportunities that will offer you the possibility to study and spend a season in that destination.

Make new friends and learn a new culture when staying in an ESL School in the USA

The idea of meeting new friends from different nationalities is fascinating. You will not only meet new friends but experience a multicultural exchange. You will learn to integrate into a lifestyle different from yours. Adjustment to a different lifestyle and appreciate the customs and traditions of the country in which you study are also expected. The fact of having to know a new culture will make you a more independent and self-confident person. This is a fact that will also allow you to know yourself better.

Acquire new skills and knowledge

The interaction with professors and specialists of recognized institutions have different criteria to share their knowledge. In addition to increasing knowledge, studying abroad provides added value to your academic preparation. Taking an English class in an English School in the USA is beneficial because many institutions have international prestige and quality.

Get a better job with more competitive pay and higher educational attainment

You have a competitive advantage that facilitates job placement with a better salary when you have completed a course abroad. Also, continuing academic preparation abroad provides more excellent status by having a higher level in the education system. This is true when you plan to enhance more your English communication skills in an ESL School in the USA.

Be more independent when you are studying in an English School in the USA

By being away from your country of origin, family and friends, you will become a more independent person. This gives you another perspective on situations and even your own country. You will learn to see the world differently and open to new ideas that will make you grow as a person. During the first weeks, it can be hard, but it won’t take long to get used to and extract the flavor of this independence. Inevitably, a unique opportunity to self-realize, mature and improve significantly as a person.

Strengthen the love and value of family

Being away from home is always a matter of nostalgia. In this case, you know what your goals are, and that gives you the strength to continue. But it does not stop bringing to your mind the value of being close to yours, the incalculable thing of being at home. This will strengthen family ties. Indeed, we do not know what we have until we lose it. Now you have not lost it, but you will value every phrase of your mother, every day in your family or every night in the tranquility of your home.

You become more organized and productive

Studying abroad requires more significant control over money and time to achieve your objectives and cover expenses. Learning to manage your expenses and get around in an unknown environment without family support is not something you learn overnight. Many times going to another country translates into a party, sleepless nights and many friends. However, when studying a higher level of course or degree is complicated. Since you want to have time to travel and learn more about that country like its work visa applications, you need to organize your time efficiently. You will have to be more productive and learn to work under pressure.

Upon your return, you will be glad that you had this experience not only from studies, but this made you grow. After this, you will be more understanding and feel more connected for humanity. You will have a different life and different opportunities. Whether you decide to leave or to meet a personal goal, studying abroad like studying in an English school in the USA can teach you a lot. You won’t find the answers in the place you go or in the people around you but when you leave your comfort zone will show yourself who you are. Remember that two heads are better than one and a person full of knowledge and experience lives a fuller life.

What do you think about these top reasons for studying abroad? Could you add more? Share your opinions!

The Perfect Place To Study English: Discover California

September 8, 2019September 8, 2019 Paul Huber

California is one of the most famous states in the world with idyllic beaches, beautiful landscapes, and cities that combine the classic with the modern. It is also an excellent location to start or continue your studies. The history of California has Hispanic roots. The city was colonized by Spain, then won by the Mexicans. It was finally granted to the United States at the end of the war. Here is perhaps the explanation of why this is one of the most attractive states for students to study English in the USA and develop their careers.

California’s economy is among the ten most important economic powers in the world. The main economic activities of the state are agriculture, leisure or entertainment, electricity, and tourism. In California, some of the most important economic cities in the world are located, such as Los Angeles (entertainment, leisure), the Central Valley (agriculture), Silicon Valley (technology companies) and the Napa Valley (wine). California has a modern and postmodern cultural heritage that even influences America today: from the creation of Hollywood to the technological impact from Palo Alto, where inventions such as personal computers and Silicon Valley were created, which is the area that brings together companies such as Google, Facebook, etc. This guarantees that your plan to study English in the USA is a wise decision.

The Major Metropolitan Areas

The majority of California’s population is concentrated in three major metropolitan areas: Greater Los Angeles, the San Francisco Bay area and the San Diego-Tijuana metropolitan area. Other cities of importance are Sacramento, Fresno, Bakersfield, Riverside, Stockton, Modesto, etc. Since California had a Hispanic origin. Spanish is the second language in a number of speakers, with 35.8% of the population. However, English is the official language, so you can study English in California but feel at home. California has a Mediterranean-like climate. The ocean generally moderates extreme temperatures, creating a warmer winter and colder summers, especially along with coastal areas. California has a special destination for every type of tourist, from adventurers to lovers of the tranquility of nature. This state catches your attention for sure. There are a lot of beautiful spots in this state that will want you more to study English in the USA.

Amusement Parks

Visiting the state of California is an unforgettable experience for many because of the many different destinations it has, from amusement parks to beaches and sanctuaries where whales can be observed. If you travel and study English in California, you cannot miss the opportunity to get to know Yosemite National Park. This natural area of more than 300 thousand hectares has meadows, rock formations, and waterfalls. One of its main tourist attractions in Yosemite is the Glacier Point. It is a viewpoint located on a cliff almost 2,200 meters high where you can get a panoramic view of the park.

If you long to see the whales, Monterey Bay is your ideal destination. Dozens of blue whales, humpbacks and dolphins are seen from April to mid-December in the national marine sanctuary. To see gray whales and dolphins, you must travel between the end of December and the entire month of March. Lovers of emotions and adventure should visit Lake Tahoe, located in the high mountains of Sierra Nevadas. This area has a track for mountain bikers and trails between forests. The second deepest lake in the United States amazes tourists with its blue hues. You can go kayaking and diving during the summer and skiing in winter. While you study English in the USA, it is best that you check this marine sanctuary to enjoy more your stay in the country.

Hollywood

Hollywood is one of the most important sites in California. You should visit the studios where hundreds of films and iconic series of today’s culture have been filmed. This district located in Los Angeles has dozens of hotels and bars to enjoy the nightlife of Hollywood. Downtown LA is a thriving business center and art district. Beverly Hills houses the famous shopping district and full of Hollywood celebrity mansions. Other areas to visit include the Sunset Strip music clubs, the Santa Monica waterfront, and the Venice waterfront. There are many tours that operate to give you a preview of the lives of the rich and famous of Hollywood. In addition, it has the Walk of Fame, where more than 2,000 celebrities have captured the palms of their hands.

Death Valley is the warmest, driest, and lowest place on earth. It is worth visiting during your stay in California. The landscapes are so varied in the Death Valley that you can see snow-capped mountains, dunes, dry salines, and lush forests all on the same day. Some of the most popular places to visit in the valley include Zabriskie Point, Wildrose coal ovens and ghost towns along the way. Use the small community of Death Valley Junction as your base of operations to explore these diverse and inspiring sites.

A few days in San Francisco is a must when you plan to study English in the USA. You can see the steep streets, Victoria architecture, the Pacific coast, and the Golden Gate Bridge. It is famous for its liberal atmosphere, LGBT communities, sourdough bread, seafood, and an occasional earthquake. The most popular areas of the city are Golden Gate Park, Fisherman’s Wharf, Union Square and Chinatown. It is also worth visiting the peculiar neighborhoods.

Sacramento

Sacramento is the capital of California, but there are more than just government offices in this city of central-northern California. It has become popular as one of the main cities, with museums, architecture, and galleries to satisfy any art lover. Performing arts are also a big profession here, so check out a theater or comedy show during your stay. Be sure to spend some time in Midtown, a trendy neighborhood with modern restaurants, bars, and boutiques.

If you have not traveled a lot in California, you may have felt that California has to do with beaches, surfers and movie stars only. Since California is the most populous state and the most diverse state in the United States, there is more to this state than it seems. With this, your plan to study English in the USA is worth preparing. You can learn more about your student visa application in the United States by browsing our website or contact us below. Let the adventure begin!

Category: Student Life