Intensive English Institute

"Thanks to the IEI teachers and staff who always made me feel at home"

“Being a part of the IEI has been one of the most interesting experiences in my life. At the IEI, I had the opportunity to improve my English and share experiences with students from different cultures. Above all, it was a very enjoyable learning experience thanks to the IEI teachers and staff who always made me feel at home.”

"The IEI experience has helped me tremendously in what I am doing in graduate school now."

Attending the language program at the University of Illinois Intensive English Institute helped me to improve not only my English skills but also my knowledge of the American academic culture and campus life. The IEI academic listening and speaking and pronunciation classes helped me a lot in the discussion classes I have later had in the graduate school. I could learn the academic American English communication styles that I could use. Although writing styles vary from one academic field of study to another, what I learned in the IEI academic reading and writing courses can be applied to any field. Besides, the academic reading and writing teacher cared about the academic area each student came from. I also was given the chance to take a special class at the University of Illinois, given in collaboration with the Intensive English Institute. This was my first course experience at an American university, and getting an A grade in that course helped me gain self-confidence. One of the services offered by the IEI is the Conversation Partners program. University of Illinois students volunteer to become conversation partners with IEI students. They get together and discuss various campus daily life topics. This way many students built good friendships with American students. My conversation partner is now a very nice friend of mine. I keep in touch with him, and we go out together and share many university experiences. The IEI experience has helped me tremendously in what I am doing in graduate school now. I really appreciate it and I am proud that I could attend the IEI!

"I had so much fun and I improved my English a lot."

I will go back to Spain with really great memories of the IEI. At the beginning, I was a little scared because I had never done anything like this in my life. But I had so much fun and I improved my English a lot.

From the very first day, the people at the IEI were so kind and helpful; they made me feel very comfortable. That was very important for me because it was hard to leave my home and come here. They understood that and treated me with kindness and sympathy. Also they helped me in whatever I needed, not only with their program but also with life in Urbana-Champaign. They made it easy for everybody.

I think the program was great; the teachers were experienced, qualified, patient and respectful with everybody. They were very friendly and they were always ready to help us. I found the classes interesting, useful and a lot of fun. I made some really good friends there.

They also prepared extra activities so you can have a lot of fun visiting many different places, doing new things and passing the time with your friends at the IEI. I really liked this Institute and I'm very happy to have been there.

"I will remember 2004 as a special year because of my choice, the IEI."

I won't forget being in Champaign at the IEI. The year 2004 was an unforgettable year for me. Everything in my life changed this year, because I had to start everything new here. A new start can be hard, but it wasn’t hard for me. I will remember 2004 as a special year because of my choice, the IEI. It was in the IEI where I was able to meet friends from all around the world and to share their friendship like a family at home. Living in a small town, we could easily develop close relationships. The family-like atmosphere at the IEI made me feel comfortable. I won't forget the precious moments that I enjoyed with my international classmates and friends. Without my friends from the IEI, it would have been impossible for me to survive and live happily and vividly in peaceful Champaign.

There is one more thing that encouraged me to stay during both summer and fall semesters. When you first see the IEI building, it looks like a small house, rather than an institutional building. But don't be fooled by your first impression. Don't jump to conclusions. Everybody I met in the IEI had an open mind and tried to help me whenever I needed it. All the staff, including the teachers, were full of energy and enthusiasm towards the IEI students. Their warm welcome on the orientation day! Their continuous care and concern all through the semester! And the congratulations at the final reception! All these memories will remain in my mind as precious and significant. Thank you to everyone that I met in the IEI. I will miss you all the time.

"I will remember my experience here as one of the best of my life."

The first impression is always the most important of all impressions and I could not get a better one from the IEI here at the University of Illinois. Since I walked into the IEI on the first registration day, everything has worked so well. It gives you a feeling of trust, such a nice thing in a foreign country so far from home.

The academic experience has been great. Teachers are excellent and they really know how to handle their classes. Class culture is very relaxing but at the same time challenging. But everything is not just studying; meeting new friends from all around the world has been another interesting element of my experience. With all these new friends, I have shared nice moments in class and done some extra social activities like Convo Table and the Welcome Picnic.

Furthermore, this is not just the IEI and its academic and social activities; this is the University of Illinois. Its campus seems just huge to me. This great size includes an excellent variety of interests.

To summarize, I am very glad I came here to study because I really have learned a lot and I have met so many great people. I am sure that in the future I will remember my experience here as one of the best of my life.

"I am lucky because I chose the right place, IEI."

I will never forget the first day I came to IEI. The friendly staff and international students let me realize that I was in America. At that time, I was so afraid because every student could speak English very well, except me. After the summer semester, I knew that my English had improved. I can communicate with Americans, go to restaurants and order my meals, shop for everything that I need, and travel to other states with friends. I learned a lot at the IEI. The IEI taught me not just English skills. It also taught me what American culture is and how to live in America.

Now, I enjoy my life in this beautiful town. I like the weather of Urbana-Champaign. The four seasons are very clear and that is totally different from my country. I like to sit on the quad, look the broad sky and breath the fresh air. I can breathe the atmosphere of freedom. I like sitting in the coffee shops and chatting with my friends. I am lucky because I chose the right place, IEI.

"Urbana-Champaign is a clean, safe and beautiful city."

There are too many reasons why I liked the IEI to write in a paragraph, so let me pick some of them. I liked the IEI very much because of its excellent curriculum. What I learned in classes was practical and useful for my work in Japan as well as for academic preparation. The teachers in the IEI are professional, kind and friendly. I spent a lot of time with my teacher chatting after classes.

I also enjoyed the environment of the IEI and U of I. IEI students can use facilities at the U of I such as libraries and IMPE (athletic gym). I went to IMPE to swim in the summer and the Ice Arena to skate in the winter with my classmates. There is "Convo Table" twice a week after class and I could meet a lot of the IEI students from different classes, teachers and American students. It was really a good opportunity to make friends. There are many more fun activities in the IEI.

Urbana-Champaign, the city where the IEI is located, is a clean, safe and beautiful city. It is not very big but has got enough entertainment places such as movie theaters and shopping malls. I often spent my time walking around campus to enjoy the beautiful scenery. I especially like the fall season. It's really amazing! This is too short for me to express my feelings for the IEI, but I hope this helps you to understand why I enjoyed the IEI.

"I think IEI has been one of the best places to accomplish my goals."

No doubt about it, my experiences at the IEI (Intensive English Institute) have been tremendous. We are here to achieve our purposes such as studying English or preparing to go to a University. I think the IEI has been one of the best places for me to accomplish my goals. At the beginning of a semester, it was arduous to follow classes because there was a lot to do such as research, interviews, and preparing presentations. But it made me more confident and my English stronger. So now I have acquired many skills such as professional speaking, academic writing, listening and conversation. Also, I can't forget about my great classmates and teachers. If someone asks me when the happiest and worthiest time in my life was, I am going to answer that it is "IEI" without any hesitation.

"What impressed me most about the program was .... their commitment to see individuals succeed..."

I feel greatly honored to have this opportunity to acknowledge the enormous impact that the IEI has had on my ability to speak and write the English Language. Upon my arrival in the US, I could not engage in a conversation using the English language except for exchanging greetings. The IEI gradually removed a significant hurdle that I had ? inability to speak or write in English. This led to a considerable improvement on my TOEFL score, and I built confidence in using the English language to communicate. As a result of the progress that I was making, I was admitted as a graduate student at the University of Illinois. The excellence of the IEI program was proved by some impressive achievements which included my being offered an assistantship to teach an undergraduate level class.

What impressed me most about the program was the ambiance that existed in the whole IEI environment - the caring and supportive nature of the staff and their commitment to see individuals succeed and progress to other opportunities. The exposure to people from other cultures was a rewarding and comforting experience and it created a sense of community that encouraged us to support each other.

"I'm very happy to have had the experience in the IEI..."

I'm very happy to have had the experience in IEI last summer. I spent my time learning how to use English more appropriately, especially American English. As a European, I have always studied British English. This was my first time in the USA, so I realized the differences in pronunciation and speaking between American and British English. I found this interesting because it has strong connections to the culture. Through the activities the IEI organized in class, but also outside of class, I could see and understand more about the American lifestyle. I also found it interesting to speak with native speakers about their culture.

At the same time I had a lot of fun. I met a lot of people from around the world and everyday there was something new I could learn from one classmate or another. It was great! I still keep in touch with them and I hope this could be for ever.

It wasn't in my plan to come to the US to study in the future but after this experience I think I will apply for a master program there, because my English turned out to be good after the work on grammar and pronunciation I did in the IEI. So thanks to the IEI and to the teachers!

"I loved the friendly atmosphere at the U of I and IEI."

I liked the way they work here [at the IEI]. It was practical and efficient. All the teachers were so kind, helpful and thoughtful. During the course, I was trained to master the necessary skills which were very useful for my work in my native country. I had occasion to practice speaking and writing as much as I could.

I loved the friendly atmosphere at the U of I and IEI. I had the chance to make friends with a lot of international students coming from various parts of the world. We had a good relationship and worked well together. We often participated in various activities at Convo Table or at the Illini Union. Everyone here had a good way of behavior to others. I think it was the common attitude of a civilized and human society.

What also impressed me a lot was the good environment here. It was clean, green and safe. I often spent hours after class and even on weekends walking around the campus and the neighboring area to enjoy looking at everything. Four months of the Spring term at UI was just a short time but it was quite a significant part of my life.

"I feel fortunate to have chosen the IEI . . ."

I feel fortunate to have chosen the IEI at Urbana-Champaign to follow my ambitious goals of learning English and getting into a Master's program in the USA. I feel very happy about my progress with my English. Right now, I am able to attend classes along with English native speakers and do well.

I think the IEI is a great English institute. The teachers are very competent, and their teaching strategies are very effective. In general, I can say the IEI has a very positive learning environment; besides academic learning, they expose us to American culture by organizing trips, visits to museums, and restaurants, conversations with native speakers, and organized fun activities such as parties and potlucks. The IEI also encouraged us to interact with our classmates, and to get to know their cultures. I am not a current student of IEI, but I still stop by their offices and join their activities because I feel at home there. I considered the IEI to be right place to learn English when you are away from your country.