Live loose, don't lose!

It’s really hard to comment this program.

First of all, it’s very expensive- $6000 US dollars,

not including flight tickets and the expense in Yosemite National Park for the last three days of this program- let along extra costs you may spend like shopping or having something special rather than the cafeteria of the dorm.



However, I would definitely think it worthy.

First of all, as they are always emphasizing, it’s an English learning program.

There are English classes every morning which divided into two parts:

Effective Communication and Topic Development.

The first one is about pronunciation and one has to make several presentations during the class.



And the other one is mainly about paper work, which includes finishing a research from head to toe.

But basically both of them are not tough-students will receive an oral test and a short interview after arrival Stanford campus, which will put them into different sections.

For me, I would consider the classes and homework to be easy.

Basically the improvement I’m talking about in English is about “being capable and getting used to talk and use English.”

Since in this program there are Korean and Japanese students and local American Stanford students as well.



And you are in American.

So English is basically the only language that will work here to communicate with others except Taiwanese students (but basically all students are encouraged and asked to use English only through this program.)

And despite we are not native speakers and may make lots of grammar mistakes, you will find that Asian students just can communicate and understand each other with this “poor” English.

And students coming back from this program often desire to use English more even in their own country.

In addition to learning English, this program also emphasize on knowing the culture of American.

So the main parts of the classes are about American. However,

there are also lots of activities that students can join to know more about American culture after classes.



And personally after this program,

I really think I know much more about American than before,

which makes me really want to study and live in American in the future.

What’s more, this is also a life-changing program.

Many students changed a lot after this program, including my sister and me, who are both ALC participants in different years.

I experienced and thought a lot throughout and after this program.



And I’m more confident and optimistic now.

Last but not least, it’s a great program to cultivate international relationship.

Basically your roommate will be a foreign student.



And they will try their best to separate Taiwanese students to each group, section, activity equally, which means more chance to talk to and become acquaint to students from other countries.



Like the program founder said “You will be surprised how the relationship between these strangers can become after this short one month.”



Indeed, we developed deep relationship with almost everyone in this program.

And even the program is finished, this eternal relationship wouldn’t vanish. We really made good friends here, students from the same country or foreign students alike.

To sum up, I really recommend this program,

especially to students who are not so sure about the future or those who are interested in knowing and exploring more about themselves and the world.

It’s more than an English learning program.

It’s a combination of understanding and knowing different cultures and people around the world- a real International experience, more than simply visiting a country on vacation.

What the program gave me is simply beyond description. It’s really the best program I had ever joined!