New York: students and staff

My work involves:

Putting teachers in the position to teach as best they can, and putting students in the class where they'll learn as best they can. My job is to establish the school's busy schedule, to manage the number of students in each class, and the school's student intake and outgoings.

My top tip for learning:

Keep an English journal.  Record exciting events and new experiences in it: you learn better when it's real.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

I like to advise students to visit the New York Public Library: it's a structure of beauty and magnificence, and not an ersatz experience.

Mind you, I learn more from my students than I have to offer when it comes to which sights to see. For weeks on a Monday, I'd practice the Past Simple with classes by asking, 'What did you do at the weekend?'. When you live in New York, you don't necessarily notice the exceptional: it's not part of your purview. I'd never even visited the Empire State Building, but my students could tell me all about it.

My experience:

I've been with Embassy on and off since 1997. In that time I've grown personally and professionally. I've gone from unattached bachelor to a married family man with two kids (two girls). Professionally, I've gone from part-time teacher to Centre Director - it's the ultimate work-your-way-up-from-copy-boy scenario!  

Working in a school in a dynamic organisation is like a prism that takes an entire spectrum of social dimensions - education, design, human relations, management, sales - and emits a clear ray of learning and enlightenment.  I love the creative and interesting people I work with; I'm constantly humbled yet gratified by all the talents they bring to bear to make Embssy NY the outstanding school it is.

My work involves:

Finding fun and interactive English Internship placements, overseeing entry to the Cambridge exam, and helping students apply to university or graduate school in the USA.

My top tip for learning:

Always keep an open mind and a light heart.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

Make sure to try the pizza, and check out The People's Improv Theater, it's right across the street from Embassy and has comedy shows seven nights a week.

My experience:

I was born and raised in the NYC area and really enjoy the diversity here. 

Before coming to Embassy I ran cultural exchange programs with high school groups from China and Japan, worked at an alternative college, and was a white-water rafting guide. 

I love travelling and have spent time in Europe, Latin America, Asia, and once lived in New Zealand.  My favourite place I've been in world is the Philippines. 

I love working with students and want to help you however I can, so you can have the best possible experience here in NYC.

My work involves:

Teaching, teaching and more teaching!

My top tip for learning:

Set yourself a task to talk to one native speaker every day.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

Check out our activities and excursions. You'll see the best NYC has to offer, at a great price and surrounded by friends.

My experience:

I was born in Englewood, New Jersey but at the age of nine moved to Palermo, Italy with my family and lived there for twelve years. After receiving my High School diploma, I moved back to the US to continue with my university studies majoring in Spanish Language and Literature with an Italian minor.

Being bilingual in English and Italian, I studied other languages such as French, German and Latin for five years while living in Italy. In High School, I had the great opportunity to study abroad for two months and lived with host families in Paris and Berlin.

I grew fond of being around foreigners, translating and teaching. In fact, my passion for languages carried out through college, studying Spanish, and still continues to play a major role in my career.

My teaching experience began at an ESL school in Long Branch, New Jersey where I taught South American immigrants survival English for about two years.

Shortly after, I decided to go to Manhattan where I got my CELTA certification from Teaching House. Immediately after completing the course, I began working at Embassy and continue doing so.

Teaching in a multilingual environment where English is the target language, can be challenging especially at the lower levels.

Having a clear lesson plan, therefore preparing ahead of time, helps anticipate any problems within the classroom regarding comprehension.

Obviously we can’t anticipate every single difficulty a student may encounter, but we can prepare several concept questions that can immediately assist their doubts (if any).

I always provide the model (teacher centered) to work on and the students do the rest (student centered); in fact, my goal is for students to ultimately speak like a native. 

Therefore, the key is to satisfy the various learning styles presenting a wide range of activities.  Being enthusiastic, friendly, happy and full of energy are the main ingredients to engage the students no matter what the topic is.

My top tip for learning:

Take the class into the real world.  Apply what you learn in class to real situations, real people.

My top tip for enjoying New York:

Know the difference between local and express trains: you don’t want to miss your stop. 

My experience:

I have been studying at Embassy for seven months.  I have friends who go to other schools in New York and I could easily have left Embassy and joined another school, but I have never even been tempted to do so. My teachers are the best! 

My work involves:

Every aspect of student life outside the classroom, from welfare to activities and excursions.

My top tip for learning:

Listen in to conversations on the subway!

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

Try a different cuisine every night: chances are, you won't reach the end of the choices here before it's time to go home.

My experience:

I have lived in or travelled to more than 12 different countries (I even performed in an opera in the Philippines!), and this has given me a great interest in world cultures.

If I can't actually live and work in another country, at least I live in New York City and work for Embassy, which provides me with a wonderful opportunity to enjoy international contact and culture on a daily basis.

This sentiment is shared by all the talented and hardworking Student Services staff at Embassy New York.

It's this interest in our students (and an understanding of their experience) that motivates everyone to provide the superior services and support that Embassy is known for.

It's a real group effort and I feel fortunate to be part of a great team and a great organisation.

My work involves:

Placing students in their accommodation, making sure that the residences are of a good standard, and to recruit new families for Homestay and bed & breakfast.

My top tip for learning:

Read posters, leaflets, newspapers - whatever is around you.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

The Metropolitan Museum on 79th and 5th is always first on my list of places to recommend. It has such interesting travelling exhibits and a wonderful Egyptian section.

My experience:

I've been working here since 2003 and I think it's a nice environment.

Before this, I worked as a recruiter, and I also had my own business for 16 years, spending time in Italy in the shoe business. No woman would turn down a chance to work with shoes, right?

What I like about New York is the diversity: the interesting people of so many different cultures. Everything is at your fingertips: for example you can always find a good restaurant at any price point!

In my free time, I love reading, movies and museums.

My work involves:

Being part of the Student Services team. Accommodation for our students is the heart of my job here at Embassy. We want students to feel comfortable, welcomed, and right at home. Part of my job is helping them make the best of their stay in the Big Apple.

My top tip for learning:

Write a blog in English - you'll be addicted in no time.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

Talk to everyone: shop-keepers, taxi-drivers, museum attendants...

My experience:

I'm of Chinese-American descent and a native New Yorker! I'm lucky to be trilingual, speaking Cantonese, Tai Shanese, and English. And now I'm learning Korean as well. I have a passion for learning languages, and fully understand our students' desires to learn and do well.

After graduating with a BA in Sociology and BSc in Global Business Marketing, I decided to join Embassy to do what I love: meeting people and helping them get to the next step in life.

In a city that is rich in many different cultures, languages, arts, music, and food, New York is the best environment for our students to learn and study English.

We have over 120 Homestay hosts, and I visit all of them every year. That not only ensures quality, diversity, and safety for our students, but it is also a great way to maintain strong and good relationships with each host family.

We are very attentive and work hard at catering to our students' needs and learning environment. Student preferences are looked at carefully and best efforts are made to ensure they are met.

Our hosts look forward to welcoming the students to New York and their homes. I also look forward to meeting our students and always hope that I have contributed to some of the wonderful memories of their experience here at Embassy.

Welcome to New York!

My top tip for learning:

Chatting with friends.  Set up a chat group.  It's a great, fun way to learn. 

My top tip for enjoying New York:

Don’t hesitate to make foreign friends!

My experience:

It's awesome to have a teacher to correct all my grammar and vocabulary.  My teacher and I have become friends, so I don't feel any stress about being corrected and can learn freely. 

Embassy really welcomes you. I feel comfortable and supported.

I always enjoy the multicultural experience of New York: the food, the music, that people - you can’t get this feeling anywhere else. 

My work involves:

Teaching many students, from Beginners to Advanced. Because of my experience, I have also become a mentor to new teachers who need guidance. I help them plan lessons and I explain complex grammar.

My top tip for learning:

Take it home with you: don't let what you learn in the classroom remain there - use it with friends, in the street, anywhere.

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

Sit by the window in a coffee shop and watch all sorts of people from all walks of life go by. It's the quintessential NY experience.

My experience:

I have been an English teacher at Embassy CES since 1993.

Currently, I'm teaching TOEFL preparation. The first challenge for most of my students is studying academic English, of which the TOEFL test mainly consists. Other challenges are grammar and reading. Many test-takers consider them boring subjects, but not in my class. I always make learning interesting and fun because students tend to stay focused longer and remember more when they enjoy their lessons.

Another concern that most of my students have is raising their scores. To help them achieve this goal, I often assign specific homework to eliminate weaknesses. Test-taking strategies are also a big part of TOEFL preparation. By learning valuable tips, students make fewer mistakes and almost never waste time.

I've got the best job I could ever have. It's located in New York City, where the cultural diversity attracts students from all over the world. I'm always learning something new from them.

I'm also fortunate to work with very talented and experienced teachers. We often exchange ideas and help one another, but the greatest reward I get from teaching is watching the progress of my students. It makes me smile.

My work involves:

Teaching students at every level.

My top tip for learning:

Remain open to challenges and don't be afraid to make mistakes!

My top tip for enjoying life in NY:

I'm a native New Yorker and what I love about the school is what I love about New York. It's a microcosm of the world. You can find people and restaurants from nearly every country in the world here.

My experience:

I've been teaching at Embassy since 1996. I've seen a lot of growth and change in that time but the essential nature of the school has stayed the same. Each skill level has its own challenges and rewards. I love the variety!

Prior to coming to Embassy, I spent four years teaching English in Japan. I'd also worked in neighbourhood schools here in the US teaching Chinese and Latin American immigrants.

The international atmosphere and cultural exchange at Embassy is one of its most exciting aspects. I enjoy seeing students share their cultures and cuisines with each other.

Because of the cultural diversity in New York, almost everyone is a foreigner and no one is really a foreigner. Many students say that after a little while here they feel just like New Yorkers.

My top tip for learning:

Spend time as much time with native speakers as possible.

My top tip for enjoying New York:

Going to Central Park in the summer. 

My experience:

I have been at Embassy for over a year.  In my time here I have been a student in almost all the academic programs that Embassy offers, and in addition I have had the opportunity to improve my English in the workplace environment as a Student Worker as well. 

For me, Embassy is more than just a school.  It is like a little world - both an institution that I can turn to for support, and a community that I can rely on for friendship and personal growth.

I'm grateful for the opportunities I've had.  The coolest thing is that even after all this time, I'm still learning!