IEP students are really unique. Different nationalities, different ages, and different dreams. Are you still wondering if you should start studying English with the IEP? Please read their words!
Sachika Nojiri (IEP → HawCC → UHH graduated)
The reason why I chose IEP as my study abroad destination is the IEP’s blog. Through SNS, I was able to learn how the IEP’s classes are like, how Hilo life is going to be like in detail and I thought I feel comfortable to study there and decided to apply IEP. IEP’s classes give many opportunities to participate and talk in the classes so in the beginning, I was always nervous to go school. Throughout sessions, I got used to talk in English in front of people. Also, I started to enjoy learning English in English and I felt my understanding of English is better than when I was learning English in Japanese.Read More
Gin Tezuka (IEP → HawCC → UHH graduated)
Before I came to Hawaii, “Study Abroad” was something that I never considered doing. My first thought when I heard the words “Study Abroad”, was about language skills. Ever since middle school, I didn’t care for English. I felt the same way through high school and college. My two-month short-term study with the IEP changed my mind and I decided to study abroad. My parents like Hawaii and they had found an article about the IEP in one of their magazines. My parents recommended that I give it a try, and that’s how my study abroad life began.Read More
Mieko Yajima (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
After I graduated from high school, I wanted to expand my world where I never seen. I used my saving from my part time job and came to the Big Island for the first time and stayed for 3 months. At that time, my goal was simply to be outside of Japan. However, the time I spend in Hawai`i gave me a new goal – study in Hawai`i. The main reason I decided to study in Hawai`i is because I was fascinated by Hawai`i’s atmosphere, nature and the local people’s life styles. Also, meeting local students made me think that I would like to speak in English better to communicate with more people.Read More
Mei Nomura (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
Aloha e kākou!
I am majoring in Hawai`ian lifestyles-Hula track at Hawai`i Community College. After I graduated from an university in Japan, I decided to study in Hawai`i to make my dream comes true. My study abroad life started from IEP because I wanted to learn academic English to study at Hawai`i Community College. Another reason why I studied at IEP is because I can enter HawCC without TOEFL iBT score 60 or more, which is the requirement for international students, by completing IEP’s final level 4.Read More
Ayako Onishi (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
Aloha mai kākou!
I decided to join the IEP Spring II Session right after my graduation from high school because of my passion for hula. I wanted to learn the hula academically, so I chose Hawaii Community College. It’s the only school in the world offering a hula-focused degree. (Associate in Arts in Hawaiian Studies Degree).
At that time, my English wasn’t quite good enough yet to get the college-entry TOEFL score, so I chose to join the IEP. Read More
Kyoko Yumura (IEP→ Hawaii Community College)
The first day of the IEP orientation was my 50th birthday. For the first time, I thought about how much time I have left in my life when I face the beginning of my new challenge that is about to begin.
I experienced Tohoku earthquake in Sendai and I’ve been feeling that no one is guaranteed to live next day.
How do I live my life that was given? It may sound too dramatic but when you know the time is right, you just need to go with the flow and take actions. I was actually a part-time IEP student 2 years ago so I had some ideas how the IEP life is like. However, it wasn’t easy for me to decide my study abroad as I was in a difficult situation with my family.If I keep giving reasons why I can’t do something, nothing will happen for rest of my life. Read More
Nicola Carone (IEP)
Close your eyes, breathe deeply and imagine. Imagine a school surrounded by nature, trees and flowers everywhere. Than imagine classrooms full of qualified teachers, friendly classmates and everything you can need: PC, books, newspaper etc. Mix this factors with the Aloha spirit and… this is the IEP. I have beautiful memories in Hawaii and I miss it. My goal during this experience was to improve my English skills and it works better than what I thought. But I’m really surprised about the way IEP changed me as a man not only for my English skills. Read More
Nai-Hsin Hsieh (Nancie), Taiwan (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
Hello everyone, welcome to the IEP. My name is Nancie. I’m from Taiwan. Actually, I have already been here for 2 years, and took IEP classes for one year.
After I graduated from high school, I wanted to improve my English skills. It was also my dream to study in a foreign country. That’s why I came here to study and I believe that Hawai`i is a good place to learn English. I met so many friends from different countries. When I graduate from the IEP, I will study at Hawai`i Community College. Hospitality and Tourism will be my major. Read More
Maya Ishikawa (IEP → University of Hawaii at Hilo)
My dream is to be a geologist. When I was in junior high school, I was very impressed by the volcano when traveling on the Big Island. Since then, I have longed to study about volcanoes in Hawaii. However, my English wasn’t strong enough to take classes at the University of Hawaii. This was why I decided to study English first in the Intensive English Program. In the program, I developed basic skills for college In some activities such as the Rotary Club visit, we communicated with local people from Hilo, and not only improved in English, but also learned Hawaiian culture and history.Read More
Yossakorn Taveekaew (IEP)
I worked for a bank in Thailand for a long time, but I had been thinking to try something new. Coming to Hawaii to study English was a big decision, but I am enjoying it so much. I love the beauty of nature and the weather in Hawaii. After I improve my English, I want to study in Hawaii Community College and I want to work in a hotel as a concierge. Changing my career from banker to concierge is a very interesting experience, and I love doing something new!
Emi Kawashima (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
I enrolled in the IEP to study English, but I also had two other goals. One was to get a degree in marketing from Hawaii Community College, and the other was to get working experience in the US for my future career. In the second year of college, I started working on campus as a student employee. I also applied for OPT (Optional Practical Training) and worked on the campus even after I graduated from the college. When my OPT was going to expire, the college sponsored me to get an H1B visa. Every day I am learning something new from this experience. I can say if I had not decided to come and study in the IEP, I could not have met my goals.
Miya Shibano (IEP → Hawaii Community College)
The reason why I studied English was to apply as a senior volunteer for JICA (Japan International Cooperation Agency). I chose the IEP to study English because my friend knew that Hilo is a comfortable and “an old-Hawaii” town where students can focus on their studies. It was a big challenge for me because I had not studied English over 45 years. However, my wife encouraged me and let me go to Hawaii to study English. Because of my English level, I was placed in the lowest level. I was really worried if I could see my goal, but there is an IEP teacher who blew away my anxiety.Read More
Marco Rychlik (IEP)
After I graduated from the IEP, I got 2 jobs: in a technical firm and a church.
In the technical firm, I do tool management and programming. I use my English skill to understand operation manuals for machines, and for other tasks. In the church, I use my English to listen to podcasts from churches from all over the world. Both of these jobs require my English skill, so my IEP experience works very well for my career. Studying in the IEP was a really great time in my life. People are friendly, and the IEP teachers are good. I loved the location of the classrooms which are on the college campus, and I loved the cheerful classrooms. The town of Hilo is absolutely beautiful. And, yes, Hawaii! I wish I could go back!