by Danna David | University Studies | Class of 2025
Academic Term of Essay Subject: Fall Semester 2019

The experience I have had at Miami University has been unique. By starting to study English in English Learning Center (ELC) classes as an international student, I have been able to acquire a lot of knowledge and meet new people and learn a little about American culture through teachers.

I have been studying at ELC for about two years. What I would like to start is to learn the language little by little. It was not so easy at first because I had never studied it. In my country, they gave English classes, but it was not the same because I always taught the basics. When I entered Miami University I was able to learn more about this language. Not only learn English but also to interact with people from different parts of the world and also with some native people from here. I started at Miami University at the beginning of autumn 2019 in which I could see different activities.

Some of the ELC students moved to the Hamilton campus to carry out the same activities that were done on the Middletown campus. The best thing was that not only did we interact with the people from the Middletown campus, but we also had the opportunity to socialize with those from the other campus.

One of the activities that I was able to appreciate was the one they did so that the Chinese could celebrate the Mid-Autumn Festival in which they used to eat the Moon Cake. This festival is celebrated in China as the end of the autumn harvest. In this festival, it is common for the Chinese to be reunited with their relatives. It is said that the moon is the brightest and most round on this day, so it is a good day to be reunited with your families. When it was held in 2019 in Middletown fields, it was a great emotion to be able to know what they do on that day, and it was a way that the Chinese who are here could celebrate part of their culture while being in this country.

Another activity they did was one of the cultural mixes where we could hear people talking to us about different countries, their culture, and their language. We were able to see a few dances per person from Russia and Ukraine. At one point, a Russian woman had a presentation about her country and taught us a few words in her language. In that mixture of cultures, we could see a woman from Hawaii showing her dances and some hand signals that are used to greet and say goodbye to a person in Hawaii. She also taught us some words in her language.

There was a time when ELC level 4 students had groups, and each group talked about a different city. We were able to learn a little about the cultures, traditions, and festivals of China, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, and Korea. Another very entertaining activity was to go to Kentucky and see the pumpkins in which each one had different images carved, not only like the typical images that are seen in the pumpkins that people make on Halloween, but these pumpkins had different images like the Statue of Liberty carved in a shoe and some famous monuments around the world. It was exciting to see the works of art of people who put a lot of effort into making them.

However, you not only have to focus on each of the activities that can be appreciated at Miami University; but also on the classes and the process that I take, learn English at ELC. When I arrived I knew almost nothing of English nor could I communicate or maintain communication with other people. Upon entering this class: I was able to learn to speak, learn more about the language, grammar, writing, and listening. All this is to have good communication with others and have the opportunity to learn more every day.

When the online classes began it was a bit more difficult to continue with the studies. At first, it was best to study from home but over time that ended up getting tiring. Online classes were difficult because being at home was easy to distract me. However, online classes have their positive side that way. I have been able to meet people from different parts of the world. What is good is that way, I was able to get to know more cultures and create a new friendship with some of those people.

My experience at Miami University has been one of the best, and I hope to continue enjoying every opportunity that comes my way.