Hi, I'm Sonia

I'm from Spain and I'm 30 years old.

I arrived in Fort Lauderdale at the end of December. I started my classes at the beginning of January. I decided to come to USA to improve my English. I think it's the fastest way to learn. I chose Fort Lauderdale because of the nice weather!! If you like the beach, this city is for you!!  But if you like an big cities, you should go to New York, Boston...

If you live abroad, you will learn much more than a language, you will learn a lot about yourself.  It's an amazing experience!! You will meet a lot of people from other countries. The teachers are really friendly, and always there if you need any help. I recommend you to do that at least once. Not only for your career but for yourself, your own life experience.

When you learn a foreign language in your country, it is really difficult to be motivated to learn it. You do your lessons, twice, three times a week, and after you close your books, until the next lesson.

If you live here, you are learning all the time, not only in the school, but speaking with your new friends, watching television, walking in the street... you learn too about a culture, a way of life. That way, you learn much faster!!

Since coming here, I have met a lot of students. Some of them decided to come here to have fun, to do some tourism and at the same time to improve their English; some of them needed English for their jobs or their future careers (we all need that - English is so important!!); some of them chose to be here because they wanted to have a new experience... many different purposes, but they are all enjoying this great adventure!!

Before I came to the US, some of my friends asked me: aren't you afraid that you'll feel lonely there? In this big country? Well, to be honest, I have never feel lonely here. The first day you don't know the students, everything and everyone is new to you, but not for very long. You feel confident very quickly. Everyone is in the same situation. So don't worry, you will meet friends, a lot of friends!!
I wanted to share this feeling, because I think it is a question that we may ask ourselves: will I feel lonely? I really like the people in this school. This is a big family!

Comments

[Henrik]

Hello, my name is Henrik and I'm from Norway but living in England. I'd really like to know more about Fort Lauderdale. What do you do in your free time, and what is the public transport like? Is it easy to travel around there?

[Sonia]

Hi Henrik, how are you?
Well, if you enjoy going to the beach, you will love Fort Lauderdale. It depends on your interests. If you are a person who loves big cities, visiting museums, having a nightlife - you know, the things you do in a big city- you might find Fort Lauderdale boring. This is a small city but there are many things to do here. Miami is only 30 minutes away by car. South Florida is a wonderful place. You can visit Key West, Naples. Our school organizes a trip to the Bahamas every month . Then if you like beaches, you'll really enjoy it here. If you like NBA, you can go also to see a NBA game live!!

Orlando is four hours by car from Fort Lauderdale. Then you can go to Disneyworld. I'm going there in two weeks. I will tell you what it's like, but some of my friends have already been there, and they really enjoyed it! You also have Bush Gardens (the school also organizes trips there). In this theme park, you have the greatest roaller coasters! You can also visit the Kennedy Space Center. There are a lot of activities to do in Florida. Not especially in Fort Lauderdale, but in the area. If you are going to stay for a while, it will be much better for you to have a car! Here, like in a lot of cities in the US, the public transportation isn't very good.

For example, yesterday I went to a mall, and I was waiting for the bus for more than 30 minutes! And sometimes you can wait longer!! The problem with the bus is also that you can't go everywhere on it. But, you can buy a bicycle. A lot of students use them. For your weekend getaways, you can also rent a car, with your future friends!! Because you will meet a lot of friendly people here.

I hope I have helped you a little bit!!

Sonia

[Nick]

Do they have a soccer team in Fort Lauderdale? I'd really like to visit America for the next football season and to see a game with David Beckham playing, that would be awesome!

[Sonia]

Hi Nick, how are you? I don't know if Fort Lauderdale has a soccer team. Here NBA and football (American football, different from soccer) are more popular. Soccer is much less popular. The SuperBowl is a huge event here, like the World Cup in Europe. I don't know exactly where Beckham is going to go, but I think it is Los Angeles. But if you like NBA, you can go see the games in Miami, or on TV. You have NBA games on TV at any time of day!!!

Sonia