Learning is often associated with seriousness and long hours of boredom. That is not the case with ESL classes, courses where year after year, many international students come to improve their English level and get used to the university life that awaits them in the future.
The ESL classes are in reading, grammar, listening, speaking and writing, and the levels are basic, intermediate and advanced, depending on the student’s level.
”We have very didactic classes,” said Camila Rossi, an advanced level ESL student from Argentina.
Sometimes, they play games and watch videos, which makes it easier to learn, Rossi said.
One of the big reasons why learning English at Campbellsville University is not boring is ESL professor Joshua Detherage, who has been working at CU since 2015.
”I love students,” he said. “I try to make it very obvious to them. I am very interested in their success. I really enjoy interacting with them, laughing and doing the activities, but always making the class personalized depending on the student’s needs. I try to make the classes as meaningful as possible.”
There are students of all nationalities in these classes, which makes ESL classes so much more interesting and informative.
“What I like most about these classes is the fact that I get to meet people from different countries,” said Oscar Gonzales, a Bolivian ESL student at the advanced level.
From Venezuela to Japan, from Europe to Africa, these classes can introduce students to representatives of each continent and different cultures.
“I never thought I would make friends with, for example, a Moroccan and in the same class be able to share a conversation with a Chinese [student], Gonzales said. “Also, learning about their religions and beliefs is very interesting.”
For international students, speaking English in front of other people can be scary. One of the main objectives of these classes is to overcome that fear and be prepared to perform well in different situations that arise.
“I truly believe that in that sense, the ESL classes totally fulfill their function of preparing you for the regular classes,” Rossi said, “and the classes themselves allow you to gain a lot of self-confidence to speak English since they make us prepare presentations and speeches that take away your shame.”
