Unlike high school classes, there are many tasks that require many complicated English skills, such as having discussions and writing long paragraphs. The use of English is quite different from high school, and it might have been awkward to some students who have not been accustomed to using English. But, did you know that? there is an “English Clinic” that has progressed for a long time at Chung-Ang University. Let’s get more information about English Clinic operating for our better English skills.
The clinic is a program running in the English liberal arts room, and open to anyone who is from the Seoul or the Anseong campus. Students can receive one-to-one tutoring with English speaking professors. The clinic operates from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday, except for midterm and final exams. Reservations for programs can be arranged either at the university's liberal arts college site or by visiting directly to the English Clinic on each campus. The cost is free, and it takes about 30 minutes to complete. The contents of the clinic are helping with English writing, presentation of English and English interview lessons, and speaking tests practice for TOEIC and TOEFL.
Interview with Professor Kevin Mitchell who teaches English Clinic
1. How often do you think students in University use the English Clinic?
Some students attend Clinic many times during the semester, and some attend only once or twice. It really depends on how much time they have, as well as what their goals for English Clinic are. For example, some students really just want English conversation practice, so coming many times is very useful. Other students want to focus on something specific, like test prep, resume writing, speech practice, or something similar. For those students coming once or twice can be enough.
2.What do students need to prepare before attending the English clinic?
It's very helpful if students come with at least an idea of what they want to do or at what they want to improve upon. It's much harder if they come and just say that they "want to be better at English." There are so many ways to improve at a language that we need to know specifically on what they want to focus. So it would be great if all students knew they should come with at least a conversation topic idea (or specific reading or writing practice they want) for us to get started.
3. What positive influences do you expect that the English Clinic has for students?
I think English Clinic is a great way for students to get help with their English; as well as being a very cool service for our university to offer. It's a free, 30 minutes, 1:1, English practice session that would normally be expensive and difficult for students to organize themselves. I've had a couple students who have come to see me very often for the past couple years and I've seen a definite improvement in their English skills over this time. English Clinic definitely can be helpful, and CAU students should try to take advantage of it as much as possible.
Do you want to receive an English language clinic? Then, you'll need to visit one of the following locations.
Seoul Campus: The Legal Building (303), English Clinic Office (804), 02-820-6633
Anseong Campus: One-hyeong Building (810) , English Clinic Office (8405) 031-675-4824
If you have trouble with your English, sometimes the best way is to confront it yourself. Hopefully, you can improve your English skills through direct tutoring by English speaking professors!
Park Ji-yeon
std03080@cau.ac.kr