Every January, the Youth English Program (YEP) at Valencia College opens its doors to a new wave of eager students and this year, 91 bright minds from Brazil joined us! We were excited to host these international students, who came not only to improve their English skills, but also to experience the vibrant culture of the United States. This educational and cultural experience may lead to these students returning to Valencia College as degree-seeking students in the future! The program is also flexible to respond to student’s various levels of fluency. Out of the 91 students, 20 students came to Valencia College with a more advanced level, and they were able to participate in a Study Abroad and Global Experiences (SAGE) class for Leadership and Public Speaking.

The Youth English Program is far from just language lessons and textbook learning, it focuses on real-world English with the students having the chance to practice all four essential language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Whether they were chatting with classmates, tackling reading assignments, or perfecting their grammar, they were constantly working to  improve pronunciation and to becoming more comfortable with everyday conversations, improving their fluency. 

The students were also immersed in American culture, helping them understand how native speakers live, work, and interact. By doing so, students gained the confidence to connect with people and form ideas in new ways. All the students went home from the program with the new skills and knowledge gained to help them to succeed.