MIDWEST LANGUAGE SERVICES - BLOG
Engaging International Employees
Business English language training is a necessity for international companies who need and want improved cross-cultural communication, efficiency, and employee engagement. Midwest Language Services, LLC has been providing business executives and their families language training since 2006. Our team of seasoned teachers can help your team improve their listening, speaking, reading, and writing skills. Contact us today about how we can help your organization.
Do you want a more efficient and effective workplace that helps employees feel more connected and invested in their work?
Business English language training is a business necessity for international corporations to work more effectively and efficiently. It is essential that employees are able to listen, understand, and respond to requests, make requests, learn industry-specific terminology, and be active participants in meetings. Business English also includes composing e-mails and other writing that coworkers are able to understand.
Midwest Language Services, LLC has been helping business executives communicate more clearly and effectively since 2006. Contact us about a business English language training program for your company.
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Moving to the United States from France
Audrey Ruel is a journalist from France who now lives in the Midwestern United States. In this article, she shares her expectations of life in America and some of her observations along with a bit of advice. The article has been shared with Audrey’s permission.
Audrey Ruel is a former journalist from France who takes one of our English conversation classes. I asked her about her expectations about moving to the United States and what the reality has been. The following is what she shared with us:
Living in a foreign country since January 2019 has been a new experience for me. It was on my dream board to have the opportunity to spend more than vacation time outside of France. We have had this opportunity thanks to my husband's work. We moved with our two young daughters. We thought it would be a good experience for them too, and speaking English will help them throughout their entire lives. We moved 3 months before the COVID-19 pandemic. In fact, we were lucky because living in the countryside during this period has been easier than it would have been in the big city where we previously lived in France (Nantes).
I didn’t expect there to be a big gap between French and American cultures because we are both Western and we know about each other, but I was wrong! If you spend more than vacation time in a foreign country, you will understand the way of life of the local population, and I can now say that it’s really different here from my country!
For example, my husband and I were really surprised at the beginning to see people going to restaurants at 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. In my country, dinner time is from 7:00 - 9:00 pm. American people wake up earlier, eat earlier, and go to school earlier, (and consequently go to sleep earlier), compared to France.
Before moving, I was anxious about not speaking English well. I knew that the American accent was hard to understand, and I thought I could stay alone a long time or stay only in the French community, but I can now say that it’s really easy to form new relationships with American people. You can easily find a club or association where you can volunteer your free time and meet nice people. School is also a good place because they hold a lot of events with students and parents. You also have opportunities in your church community. My Hoosier neighbors are such nice people that I really enjoy having small talk with them.
Living in America
We asked Audrey to share her expectations of what it would be like to live in the United States, the reality, and any advice she might have to newcomers.
Another big challenge when you move to the USA is to buy or rent a house. Real estate prices are really high compared to Europe and for less quality. Take your time to find a good place. Hopefully, we will be here for more than one year. We really enjoy our place. My family and I adore traveling in this huge and wonderful country.
If I have advice to give, it would concern official documents. As a foreigner, there are a lot of documents to be careful with. If you can have a new passport when you move, that can help, because when the passport expires, you have to ask for a new visa, etc. If you don’t want to have immigration problems, take care of all those forms, and be as smart as possible.
My last point is about electricity! In Europe, it is 220 volts, and in the USA it is 110 volts. You have to be aware of that point when you are packing all your stuff if you come from Europe.
Midwest Language Services was On-the-Air with Julie Metz
Julie Metz, Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, interviewed Tanya Hoover, President of Midwest Language Services on Giant FM, 106.5 in Shelbyville, Indiana.
Tanya Hoover, President and Founder of Midwest Language Services, was invited to talk about her business on a radio show this morning that aired on 106.5 FM, The Giant. Executive Director of the Shelby County Chamber of Commerce, Julie Metz, invited Ms. Hoover to speak on the Chamber Chat radio show. While Tanya is not new to Shelby County, Midwest Language Services, LLC is. She started English as a Second Language teaching adult students from Yuma Industries when she started her business as a sole proprietorship nearly fifteen years ago.
A new English as a Second/New Language (ESL/ENL) class is being offered by Midwest Language Services in Shelbyville, Indiana that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 noon for non-native speakers of English. For more details about this and other services Midwest Language Services provides, such as sign language (ASL) interpreting, document translations, and other interpreting services, please contact us at info@midwestlanguageservices.com or call (317) 296-7997.
Eikawa English Conversation Group
Join us for a weekly English conversation group that will meet on Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 12:00 beginning in March. The cost for each class is $12.50. We will meet at 735 Shelby St., Suite #106, Indianapolis, IN 46203. Class size is limited to five students.
Telling the Story of Thanksgiving Using a Story Map
This is an example of a story map for Thanksgiving. Finding out what vocabulary the students know and introducing new vocabulary should be done before drawing the story map. Also, draw the map as you tell the story. This helps with comprehensible input. Drawing the entire map ahead of time may contribute to visual overwhelm and reduce comprehension of target vocabulary and ideas.
Today we learned about the first Thanksgiving and why the Pilgrims came to the New World. Before we began, I asked everyone what words came to mind when they heard the word, “Thanksgiving.” The words “turkey,” “family,” and “dinner” were called out by our students. I wrote these on the board.
As I told the story of the history of Thanksgiving, I drew pictures on the dry erase board to help illustrate key points I wanted our students to know and remember. In this case, I started with England on the right side of the dry erase board and moved westward, to the New World. New vocabulary was introduced and explained as we progressed through the story. We also paused for a three-minute video about Thanksgiving that included captions.
After sitting for a while, I asked everyone to stand up in a small group. Speaking doesn’t just happen when sitting in a classroom setting, after all. The students took turns sharing a sentence or two about the picture to tell the story in chronological order. I then challenged each student to tell the entire story independently.
Later, the students were given time to write their stories in their notebooks and have their teacher check them. Interestingly, the students repeated common errors when reading their stories aloud despite reading their own (corrected) writing; however, progress was still made. At first, when I asked what came to mind when they heard the word, “Thanksgiving,” only three words came to mind. Now they are able to talk about the history of Thanksgiving. One of the students commented that the story map was helpful for being able to talk about and write about this topic. Overall, I would consider this lesson to be a success!
Field Trips and Experiential English in Columbus, Indiana
Experiential learning gives ESL students the opportunity to learn what they have learned in class to help them become independent members of their community.
One of our ESL students found a book about interior decorating.
It was time for a change in our English class routine. Thankfully, the weather cooperated and some of our students met at a local library to learn where to find books they would be interested in reading. We prepared for this day last week when we reviewed vocabulary related to libraries. We tried using these words in sentences and with help from their instructor, they practiced key phrases they would need to be able to find books and check them out.
Last week, the students talked about topics they would like to learn more about. One student likes sports and is interested in marathon running. Another likes interior decorating and has experience with this in her home country. Our other student was interested in books about places to travel within the United States and abroad.
There are lots of books about running and marathons.
An ESL student chooses a book about travel in the United States.
Before we checked out our books, we sat at a table together and shared what books we decided to check out. It was a good opportunity to share and learn more about our classmates. Afterwards, we took a tour of the library that was designed by architect I. M. Pei and then went next door to the visitor's center where we saw glass sculptures by Dale Chihuly.
New ESL Classes
Here is an introduction to some of our new classes that are available at our Indianapolis office.
Beginner/Basic Communication:
This class is for students that already have very basic communication skills. If you can speak in a simple way about routines and already know some frequently used expressions, this course will be beneficial. The focus will be on perfecting grammar and increasing vocabulary. (CEFRL A1-A2)
Intermediate:
This class is for students who would like to practice conversation and improve their grammar. We will learn to speak about a variety of topics using various verb tenses in past, present and future. Some topics include hobbies, goals and plans for life. (CEFRL B1-B2)
Casual Conversation (MeetUp Style group):
This group is to give non-native English speakers an understanding of daily conversation, which can include anything from get-to-know you conversations, cultural differences, or current events. There will be a range of abilities in order for students to be able to hear and learn from others. Topics will be provided for discussion, but ultimately it is up to the students to determine where their interests lie and what they want to discuss. (Intermediate to Advanced, CEFRL B1-C1)
Monday
9:00 AM-10:00 AM - Beginner
10:00 AM-11:00 AM - Beginner
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Intermediate
1:00-2:00 PM - Intermediate
2:15-3:15 PM - Casual Conversation
3:30-4:30 PM -Casual Conversation
5:00-6:00 PM - Beginner
6:15-7:15 PM - Intermediate
Tuesday
3:30 - 4:30 PM Beginner
5:00 - 6:00 PM Beginner
6:00 - 7:00 PM Intermediate
7:00 - 8:00 PM Conversation
Wednesday
3:30 - 4:30 PM Intermediate
5:00 - 6:00 PM Intermediate
6:00 - 7:00 PM Conversation
7:00 - 8:00 PM Intermediate
Thursday
9:00 AM-10:00 AM - Beginner
10:00 AM-11:00 AM - Beginner
11:00 AM-12:00 PM - Intermediate
1:00-2:00 PM - Intermediate
2:15-3:15 PM - Casual Conversation
3:30-4:30 PM -Casual Conversation
5:00-6:00 PM - Beginner
6:15-7:15 PM - Intermediate
Letter to Newcomers from a Current Student
One of our students, Akiko, will be be returning to Japan very soon. After teaching a class about phrases used to offer advice and suggestions, I asked the students to write to a letter to people who would be moving to the United States. This gave an opportunity for Akiko to use her English skills while leaving a legacy here for newcomers who might look for advice about things to do while living in Indiana. Here is her revised letter.
Dear New Friend,
My name is Akiko and I’m from Japan. I’ve been in Columbus, [Indiana] for three years. I would recommend going to watch sports such as baseball, basketball, and football. There are many professional sports teams in the U.S.A. Live games are exciting.
My favorite game is basketball. Any team is fine, but I like the Indiana Pacers. You should check the Pacers home page [so] that you can get information about where you can watch the games, get tickets, and ticket prices.
You should take an English class or workshop. Don’t stay in your house alone. I would recommend Midwest Language Services.
Best regards,
Akiko S.