ESL students are unique. They come to our campus from different corners of the world to improve their lives and make the ESL Institute at OU their second home.
Whether it's to earn a degree, pursue career goals or to communicate more confidently with friends, family and within the local community, these Golden Grizzly English language learners achieve it here.
Learn more about the positive impact OU’s ESL classes have made in our Golden Grizzlies’ lives through the voices of our students on this page.
Dinh Tuan (Joseph) from Vietnam
Transcript
Hello everybody, I am Joseph, I come from Vietnam, I study English from high school.I study English because I would like to communicate with other people and get job opportunity with ESL program.I know a lot of things, especially for skills especially reading, writing, listening and speaking. I also understand many cultures in the world. I will study more effective if I am good English. I can buy food, clothes, open banking account, talk with new friends or ask for the direction. My advice to other student is that practicing English make you better. My future plan, find a job, find my favorite job, and English is one of the most important key for my job. I like the quote “Success never come easy, patience and hard work are the only key.”
Kleber from Brazil
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.
Thanh Tam (Tony) from Vietnam
Transcript
Hello my name is Tony. I come from Vietnam. I study English for 10 years. I decided to study English because I want communicate with people around the world and English is the universal language that I need to have. When I study at ESL, I like plays. I like teaching style and I like everything. Right now, I’m living in US, so English help me a good life, understand everyone and I’m more confident. Thank you.
Fu-Wei from Taiwan
Transcript
Hi. My name is Fu-Wei. I am from Taiwan. When I applied for a master’s program at OU, I didn’t meet the English requirements at first. So, I was advised to join the ESL program, which turned out to be a good recommendation. If someone I know is considering studying abroad, I would highlight three key points. The first one staff dedication. OU faculty and advisors are passionate about helping you succeed. The second one support for international students. OU offers resources like the Office of Global Engagement and International Oasis to help you feel at home and connect with others. The third one, achieving your goals. OU ESL helped me get into my master’s program, and the support I have received from faculty continues to inspire me. This is why I believe OU is special and why I recommend it to my friends in Taiwan. So, go Grizzlies!
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.
Thao Nguyen (Hazel) from Vietnam
Transcript
Hi everyone! My name is Hoang Phuong Thao Nguyen and you guys can call me Hazel. I’m from Dong Nai, a small town in Vietnam, and now I’ve been in the United States and learn English for over two months. I decided to learn English because it’s a way to improve for my future major and it also makes me more confident to communicate with native people. For me, study ESL give me lots of knowledge and I can connect with a lot of friends from different countries and the important thing is the friendliness of Ms. Wendy. Actually learning English help me a lot in my daily life. Like now I can communicate with the sellers at the market, and I also understand the vocabularies in books, social media. So the advice I want to give to the students who are learning English is to try your best and studying, do your homework and communicate with native people to improve your accent. So, so, the word in English that I love the most is cute. I think this word is to express myself. Thank you for listening.
Leo (Yujin) from China
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.
Ngoc Vy from Vietnam
Transcript
Hello my name is Vy. I’m nineteen years old. I’m from Dak Nong province, Vietnam. I am studying English for 2 years. I decided to study English because I want to learn another language. My goals in the future are to improve my speaking skills and listening skills. When I learn at ESL Institute, I like chatting together, speaking together, learning together, and I really like. I feel comfortable when I learn with friends and teacher. That’s all. Thanks for listening, Bye.
Taehan from South Korea
Transcript
Hi! My name is Taehan Kim who has been studying in ESL class this semester. My English could be better through the ESL class. After Oakland University’s program and ESL program, I will go back to my country, my school, and I will keep practicing English really hard. I wish that I can come back to Oakland University again. Come on, Oakland University! Thank you so much!
Anh Thu (Belle/Jennifer) from Vietnam
Transcript
Hello teacher and my friends. My name is Ngoc Anh Thu Nguyen, you can call me Belle or Jennifer. I’m 20 years old. I come from Vietnam. I live in Dong Nai. I come to the USA for 3 months, and I learn English for 15 years in Vietnam at high school and secondary school. And now I study ESL at Oakland University. I want to learn English because I want to improve myself and for my future. When I speak English good, I will find good job with high salary. And I’m very happy when I’m come to Oakland and study with a new friend and learn about many thing. I have to new experience and new cultures. When I study English and talk everyday, my speaking and listening skills will improve better. I will no longer be shy about communicate issue. And I will introduce the semester ESL for everyone because it’s very suitable and very happy for many people want to learn and improve English. Thank you for listening to me. Bye.
