Today’s post is brought to you by our Academic Support team to provide some insight into the level of support and guidance they provide our students throughout the school year.
The academic year is in full swing, classrooms vibrant with activity. Among students attending classes and roaming the corridors in schools are our international students — bright-eyed, eager, sometimes homesick freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors — who we are excited to support as they progress through the school year.
At partner schools with Cambridge Academic Support, international students receive training not only in English language and critical thinking, but also in the social skills needed to integrate with American peers. A successful school experience for international students is much more than getting good grades and speaking good English; therefore, our programs such as College Prep Language and Culture and Guided Study not only impart academic skills but also coach students in the nuances of attending school and living in the United States. Cambridge ESL teachers are on hand to guide our students every step of the way. With experience living abroad or working with diverse cultures, our teachers anticipate and understand the unique needs of international students, becoming a crucial resource that students rely on for academic success.
Starting this fall, we are offering two new online services to international students in Cambridge Academic Support schools.
Online TOEFL Prep:
For the busy student who want to sharpen her English language skills, this online TOEFL prep course offers a convenient option. The course runs in 11-week sessions, with classes meeting twice a week. Instructor Megan Bonacker-Sequeira holds a Master’s degree in Curriculum and Instruction and has a number of years of experience teaching ESL to international students. During live online sessions, she will introduce students to strategies in reading, writing, listening, and speaking to improve performance in the TOEFL test. The next session of Online TOEFL Prep will begin in January 2016, and interested students may sign up when registration opens in November.
Online Academic Support:
Students looking for quick help with homework, projects or preparing for tests now have access to a tutor via Skype after school hours. Instructor Collin Glenn holds an M.A. in Political Science from The University of Toledo and has tutored a number of students preparing for IELTS and TOEFL tests. Mr. Glenn is available Sunday through Thursday from 7.30-10 p.m. EST, during which students may schedule 20-minute tutoring sessions. So far, our students have sought his help in writing current events articles, reading Gulliver’s Travels and understanding Emission Spectrum in Chemistry, among other subjects.
Online TOEFL Prep and Online Academic Support are free services for our international students in schools with Cambridge Academic Support, and we encourage students to avail of these services.