.png){kind=logo}
We've transformed the traditional ESL program into a rich and exciting intercultural experience for our students.
In 2023, the Gateway ESL English Language Academy will begin hosting its Gateway Getaways Intercultural Escapades for American immigrants in Houston, Texas and surrounding areas. It's an amazing and exciting new addition to their adult ESL program and a major feature that helps new immigrants successfully transition and adapt to American culture.
In its simplest terms, Gateway Getaways Intercultural Escapades is a unique educational program developed by Gateway ESL that consists of a series of field trips throughout the year to various non-religious centered, historical destinations and ethnocultural establishments located throughout major metropolitan areas. Examples include restaurants, heritage museums and parks, performance theatres, cultural amusement parks, cultural markets, shopping plazas, historical monuments, and much more.
With three main objectives, the program serves as an essential part of the present ESL curriculum.:
First objective: through supervised practice talking with merchants and performing transactions in public areas, students will gain knowledge of appropriate and acceptable American social standards for everyday interactions;
Second objective: students will learn about the unique customs, traditions, and etiquettes that are practiced in various ethnocultural communities and business establishments;
Third objective: students will gain an in-depth knowledge, understanding, and appreciation for the historically unsung, multinational, and multicultural contributors to American history, who both have and continue to impact, influence, and frame the foundation and social structure of the United States.
Reversing past destruction and preventing its recurrence
Unfortunately, during the past few years under the administration of the former U.S. President, the United States became a very divided nation—both politically and culturally—even though with more than 50 million immigrants living here, it is home to the world’s largest immigrant population. That said, at Gateway ESL, we believe that one of the main things that makes the United States such a great and unique place to live is that it is such a multicultural place, being filled with people from every corner of the planet.
Aside from Native Americans, everybody living here is either an immigrant or the descendent of immigrants who arrived here either by choice or by force. Therefore, since we’re all living here together, it greatly benefits us to become educated and familiar with one another's unique cultural differences. That is why we created the Gateway Getaways Intercultural Escapades program. We're using innovative methods to build community bridges that are founded on the bedrock of intercultural education.
One of the primary reasons why this program was developed was to address the culturally sensitive deficits that often exist between native-born Americans and the growing American immigrant population. We believe it will give students a greater degree of success in their futures as they learn healthy and culturally acceptable ways to interact with the various ethnocultural communities that make up the American culture.
Furthermore, we believe it will help to eliminate ethnic and cultural stereotypes and minimize the unfounded fears and critical misunderstandings that sometimes occur when people are interculturally ignorant or have been miseducated about the beliefs and sociocultural norms of other ethnocultural groups.
Taking ESL classes to another level
Although Gateway ESL is primarily an online agency, conducting most classes and tutoring sessions virtually, we have chosen to start the new in-person program in Houston for four major reasons, with the first one being the city’s phenomenal size. Other reasons include the city’s simple layout, friendly people, and incredible cultural diversity. Of course, there is little reason to wonder why when you consider the city’s whopping 665 square mile area, more than 10 major freeways (including 3 major loops), a high-speed mass transit system, loads of historical monuments, parks, and landmarks, and an exhaustive range of educational and entertaining places to go, restaurants to visit, and things to see.
With Houston being the fourth largest and most culturally diverse city in the nation, there are just so many different ways for us to formally introduce our students—many of whom are new immigrants—to the multiethnic and multicultural heritage of our nation. From the wonderful tapestry of restaurants, heritage museums, and historical landmarks to cultural festivals, theatrical performances, open-air markets, ethnocultural districts, and so much more, they all collectively tell a beautiful story of the rich, historically significant influence and impact each group has contributed to the cultural foundations and social framework of the United States of America. It is an undeniable fact that needs to be shared and celebrated.
Copyright 2022 Gateway ESL.
*If you are interested in participating in the Gateway Getaways Intercultural Escapades, please contact us at 1-855-2-ENGLISH or info@gatewayesl.com.
תגובות