Student Voices

I would like to praise my teacher for her outstanding teaching approach. Her lessons were incredibly engaging and interactive, creating a positive and motivating classroom environment. The practical nature of the classes, along with the well-thought-out materials, truly help students not only learn English, but also develop key language skills such as speaking, writing and listening. Her ability to foster a supportive and effective learning atmosphere makes each lesson a valuable experience for everyone. Certainly, the ESL course has greatly helped me develop my English skills and I am confident that these skills will be very important for both my professional and personal future.

Achieving Dreams Through Learning – My OU ESL Journey

Hello, I’m Fu Wei, and I previously worked as a Strategic Account Manager in the digital advertising field. To further develop my skills in digital analytics, I decided to come to Michigan, home to America’s Big Three automakers. After carefully considering tuition, faculty and industry reputation, I set my sights on just one school: Oakland University (OU).

After graduating from college, I had been working for some time. When I decided to pursue a master’s degree at OU, I only had about a month to prepare for the IELTS exam. Unfortunately, I didn’t meet the English requirements on my first try. But, as they say, good things are worth the challenge. The graduate program suggested that I join the ESL course first, meet the language requirements and then have my documents re-evaluated.

Looking back, this turned out to be one of the best decisions I made during my academic journey.

During this process, I met Elizabeth, OU’s International Student Advisor and ESL coordinator. She became the first guiding light in my journey to the United States. Elizabeth is warm, reliable and incredibly supportive. She patiently helped me understand the course structure, provided academic advice and guided me through adapting to a new environment. Her expertise and encouragement helped me overcome the anxiety and uncertainty I felt as a newcomer.

In the ESL program, my teacher created a safe and welcoming classroom atmosphere. She encouraged us to ask questions, share our thoughts and engage in interactive learning, which significantly boosted my confidence and language skills. These experiences not only improved my English, but also rekindled my passion for learning.

The teachers and staff at OU ESL were truly supportive and caring. My teacher created a highly interactive and engaging learning environment. She encouraged us to think critically and connect our learning to real-world experiences, like conducting surveys with local Americans and turning the data into academic-style reports. This process not only improved my English skills, but also built my confidence.

What impressed me most was her patience and humility—she guided us step by step and always respected our ideas, never dismissing our answers. It made learning a truly enjoyable and rewarding experience.

If I were to recommend a place for my friends or colleagues to study in the U.S., I would definitely choose OU. It’s not just a school; it’s a supportive community that truly cares about helping you grow and succeed.

The ESL institution helped me a lot with my English and gave me resources to achieve my goal. My professors were really kind and patient.

What I like the most is that I can meet other students from different countries. I really like to get to know their cultures.  Some of my friends' English is not very good.  So I will introduce them to study here and get used to American traditional classes.