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USA Feedback
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US English language programmes are attracting a greater mix of nationalities although Japanese and Korean students still dominate many classrooms, and reliance on agencies to book courses has declined.
USA feedback at a glance
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Total number of students: female 67, male 68 (unknown 1) 136
Average age in years: 24.7
Average length of programme in weeks: 18.24
Average number of students in class: 9.5
Average number of hours of language tuition per week: 20
% of students who found their course through an agent: 35
% of students who booked through an agent or adviser: 24
% of students who had been on another lang. programme: 19
% of students who would recommend their school: 92
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| Respondents by world region of origin |
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Top nationalities |
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Asia (52%)
C & L America (16%)
W Europe (15%)
C & E Europe (5%)
Africa (3%)
Other/Unknown (0%)
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1. Japanese 20%
2. Koreann 18%
3. Taiwanese 6%
4. Brazilian 4%
4. Saudi Arabian 4%
6. Chinese 3%
6. Colombian 3%
6. Mexican 3%
6. Swiss 3%
6. Turkish 3%
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| In my class there are... |
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How will you use your English in the future? |
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Too many students (7%)
Too many students of my language (12%)
Too many students from one other countries (18%)
None of these (58%)
Unknown (5%)
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Coll. study in the USA (40%)
For work (37%)
College study elsewhere (10%)
College study at home (8%)
For pleasure only (2%)
Unknown (3%)
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| How did you find your programme? |
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Standard of the teaching |
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It was recommended by an agent (35%)
It was recommended by a friend/relative (38%)
II found it on the Internet (22%)
Unknown (5%)
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Excellent (56%)
Good (35%)
Satisfactory (2%)
Poor (1%)
Unsatisfactory (2%)
Unknown (4%)
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| Standard of your academic programme |
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Standard of your accommodation |
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Excellent (30%)
Good (52%)
Satisfactory (10%)
Poor (2%)
Unsatisfactory (1%)
Unknown (5%)
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Excellent (22%)
Good (44%)
Satisfactory (17%)
Poor (4%)
Unsatisfactory (1%)
Unknown (12%)
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| Standard of your social programme? |
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What is your accomodation while in the USA? |
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Excellent (21%)
Good (49%)
Satisfactory (17%)
Poor (4%)
Unsatisfactory (1%)
Unknown (8%)
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Host family (21%)
Residential/single room (27%)
Residential/dormitory (24%)
Other(24%)
Unknown (4%) |
Did you book your course through an agent or an educational adviser?
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Yes (24%)
No (72%)
Unknown (4%)
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Before looking for your course, did you know where you wanted to study?
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Country
Yes (78%)
No (16%)
Unknown (6%)
City/town
Yes (56%)
No (37%)
Unknown (7%)
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School
Yes (44%)
No (49%)
Unknown (7%)
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Student nationality
US English language programmes continue to attract the bulk of their international students from Asia, with 52 per cent of this issue’s Feedback respondents coming from this world region. However, this was down from 60 per cent last year (see Language Travel Magazine, October 2005, pages 16-17) and 73 per cent in 2004 (see Language Travel Magazine, September 2004, pages 14-15), indicating an easing of the market’s reliance on this region. Further evidence of this is that students from 40 different countries took part in our US survey this year, compared with 26 last year. In this issue’s survey, there was a slightly higher proportion of Central and South American students – up from 13 per cent to 16 per cent; and Central and Eastern Europeans – from two per cent last year to five per cent this year. Taking a closer look at individual nationalities, Japanese led the way, accounting for 20 per cent of students – down on 31 per cent last year – followed closely by Koreans. Swiss, in fifth position, had lost share, from eight per cent in 2005 to three per cent.
Student motivation
Preparation for college studies in the USA was the most important driving force behind taking an English language course in the USA for 40 per cent of respondents this year. This is higher than last year, when only 35 per cent of students were taking an English programme for this reason. Instead, a higher proportion – 13 per cent – were going to use their English skills for further college studies in their home countries. This year, this figure was down to eight per cent.
Student enrolment
The most important recruitment tool was word-of-mouth recommendation, with 38 per cent of students saying they had found out about their school through a friend or relative. Thirty-five per cent of students chose their school with the help of an agent although only 24 per cent said they booked via an agency - this is down from 41 per cent in our last survey. Among the students who gave specific answers as to why they chose a school, 16 per cent said because an agent had recommended it and a further 13 per cent said because of recommendation from friends or relatives. Only 19 per cent of students had been on a language travel trip before – half of whom had learnt English before – and only one student had been on more than one trip.
Standard of the schools
The number of students in each class ranged from three to 20, averaging out at just over nine per class. This was satisfactory for most students as only seven per cent, when asked, agreed that there were too many students in their classes. More of a problem was being in a class with lots of students of the same nationality; 12 per cent of respondents, mainly Japanese, indicated that there were too many of their own compatriots in their classrooms.
Living in the USA
The average cost of a language course with accommodation was US$311 per week. Sixty-two per cent of respondents said they thought the cost of living was higher than at home, and a further 21 per cent said it was about the same. The best aspects of the USA that students liked were the language, the people and the culture, followed, in joint-fourth place, by the countryside and sports.
Thank you to the following schools for participating in our survey:
Austin English Academy, Austin, TX; Colorado School of English, Denver, CO; English language Institute, Syracuse, NY; Fulton Montgomery Community College, Johnstown, NY; ICC, Honolulu, HI; Language Studies International, Boston, MA; Language Studies International, San Diego, CA; Language Studies International Berkeley, San Francisco, CA; Seattle Central, Seattle, WA; Tennessee Technological University, Cookeville, TN; University of California Extension Santa Cruz, Santa Cruz, CA; University of Dayton, Dayton, OH; University of Illinois, Champaign – Urbana, Chicago, IL; University of Nevada, IELC, Reno, NV; University of New Orleans, New Orleans, LA; University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA; University of Tennessee ELI, Knoxville, TN.
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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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