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US Feedback
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US language schools had fewer nationalities in their classrooms this year and Asian students remained the most dominant world region. Agent usage among students was higher than last year.
US feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: (female 53, male 43, unknown 10) 106
Average age in years: 25.4
Average length of programme in weeks: 14.7
Average number of students in class: 8.6
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 22.5
% of students who found out about their course through an agent: 34
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 44
% of students who had been on another language programme: 25
% of students who would recommend their school: 97
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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1. Asia 44%
2. W Europe 21%
3. Middle East 8%
3. Latin America 8%
4. C & E Europe 7%
5. Africa 2%
No reply 10%
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1. Korean 20%
2. Chinese 11%
3. German 9%
4. Japanese 6%
5. Swiss 5%
6. Russian 4%
6. Colombian 4%
6. Libyan 4%
9. Brazilian 3%
9. Saudi Arabian 3%
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| In my class there are... |
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How easy is it to practise English with native speakers? |
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1. The right number of students (56%)
2. Too many students who speak my language (17%)
3. Too many students from one other country (11%)
3. Too many students (11%)
No reply 5% |
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1. Quite hard(37%)
2. Quite easy (32%)
3. Very easy (13%)
4. Very hard (8%)
No reply (10%) |
| How did you find your programme? |
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Did you book your course through an agent or an educational adviser?
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1. Recommended by an agent (34%)
2. Recommended by a friend/relative (31%)
3. I found it on the internet (31%)
4. I saw it advertised (4%)
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Yes (44%)
No (44%)
Unknown (12%)
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Student reasons for school selection included:
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“It is part of a respected university”
“I liked the brochure”
“The location, sunny weather and possibility to live with a host family”
“The staff were willing to help any time and the programme was suitable for me”
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| Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study? |
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Country
Yes (73%)
No (14%)
Unknown (13%)
City/town
Yes (49%)
No (37%)
Unknown (14%)
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School
Yes (34%)
No (51%)
Unknown (15%)
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Student nationality
Just 23 nationalities took part in this year’s Feedback survey of the USA, a noticeable decline from the 44 nationalities that completed the survey last year (see LTM, July 2007, pages 16-17), although fewer students were in this sample. Asia remained the most dominant region, accounting for 44 per cent of respondents, although the top nationalites had shuffled since last year when Japanese, Saudi Arabian and Chinese students held the top spots. This year, these podium positions were taken by Korean, Chinese and German students, with Saudi Arabian students slipping to joint-ninth place.
Student motivation
A greater number of respondents (40 per cent) said that they currently used their language for study purposes compared with the 35 per cent who indicated that they currently used their English at work. Work was also the most popular reason given by students for improving their language skills with a study trip – indicated by 46 per cent of respondents. This was closely followed by future college studies in the USA which was indicated by 36 per cent of students as their motivation. The average length of stay held steady this year at 14.8 weeks, compared with 15 weeks last year.
Student enrolment
The percentage of students who found their course through an agent stayed the same this year at 34 per cent, compared with 33 per cent last year, but the percentage of students who booked through an agent increased dramatically from 23 per cent last year to 44 per cent this year. This suggests that more language schools are directing students to agents in their own countries when receiving direct bookings. Agents were the top method used by students for finding a school this year, closely followed by the Internet. However, it is clear that students probably use a range of methods when deciding where to study once they have found a potential school as relying on the advice of friends relatives and agents featured heavily when students were asked how they chose their course.
Standard of the schools
Student satisfaction was high this year, with 97 per cent of students who answered the question saying that they would recommend their school to others, compared with 89 per cent last year. With an average of 8.6 students in the class, only 11 per cent of students said that there were too many students in their class. Class sizes overall ranged from one to 20 students although 32 per cent of classes contained 11 students or more. The teachers and academic programme scored well with students this year and 71 per cent said that the academic programme was either good or excellent, while 84 per cent said the same of their teachers. The largest number (36 per cent) were staying in host family accommodation and 76 per cent said that their accommodation was at least satisfactory.
Living in the USA
The average weekly cost of a language course including accommodation was US$507 this year, an increase compared with last year’s average of US$417. Despite this, fewer students (58 per cent) found the cost of living to be higher in the USA than in their home countries, compared with last year’s 65 per cent. Just 13 per cent of respondents found it very easy to practise their English with local people however, while a further 32 per cent found it quite easy and 45 per cent found it to be either quite hard or very hard.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in our survey: Bell Language School, Brooklyn, NY; Bridge Linguatec, Denver, CO; Colorado School of English, Denver, CO; Diablo Valley College, Pleasant Hill, CA; EC, Boston, MA; English Language Center, Los Angeles, CA; Intercultural Communications College, Honolulu, HI; LAL, Fort Lauderdale, FL; Rennert Bilingual, New York, NY; South Bend English Institute, South Bend, IN; Southern States University, San Diego, CA; St Giles International, San Francisco, CA; Talk International, Davie, FL; University of Bridgeport, Bridgeport, CT; University of Florida ELI, Gainesville, FL.
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Contact any advertiser in the this issue now
The following language schools, associations and accommodation providers advertised in the latest edition of Language Travel Magazine. If you would like more information on any of these advertisers, tick the relevant boxes, fill out your details and send.
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