Adjusting to America

[Tuanv 2]

My wife is 18.8 years old, so I plan to enroll her to high school for a couple of years when she got here. The reason for high school because her English is very limited. This is my plan for her as far as education goes. I am not sure about work yet but I just want her to focus on school. What about you guys? What did you do or going to do to help your love ones to get adjusted to America?

[Anh map 2,098]

Have you checked with your school district to learn if it is possible for her to be enrolled?

Would the pressures of a foreign school curriculum be helpful in her adjustment to married life and a new country? There are many other options for learning English.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Anh map

[Kevin and 10]

Check with your local Com Ed and see if they offer ESL classes. Most of the time they are free.

Anh Map is right , she would be lost in a US High School.

Edited August 24, 2010 by Kevin and Tuyen

[Tuanv 2]

Have you checked with your school district to learn if it is possible for her to be enrolled?

Would the pressures of a foreign school curriculum be helpful in her adjustment to married life and a new country? There are many other options for learning English.

It is possible for her to enroll in high school until she is 21.

Check with your local Com Ed and see if they offer ESL classes. Most of the time they are free.

Anh Map is right , she would be lost in a US High School.

You guys are right on the money. I am a little nervous that she may have a hard time adjusting to US High School. Students can be mean to one another. I personally know one girl who cried for a couple of years when she got here.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I teach HS and it is terribly difficult for a student to enter from another country into an English school. Not only is the language barrier an issue, but the cultural differences are HUGE. Often these experiences are very negative and takes a huge emotional toll on the student. If she doesn't NEED to enroll, I suggest you find an ESL school near where you live and enroll her in one of those.

Moving countries when you are only 18 is difficult enough, let alone going to a school with people who have been in school together for 4 years, in English, within US standards. And with budget cuts in US schools, she may not receive the benefits (ESL teacher etc) that she normaly would

Good luck

[Tuanv 2]

I teach HS and it is terribly difficult for a student to enter from another country into an English school. Not only is the language barrier an issue, but the cultural differences are HUGE. Often these experiences are very negative and takes a huge emotional toll on the student. If she doesn't NEED to enroll, I suggest you find an ESL school near where you live and enroll her in one of those.

Moving countries when you are only 18 is difficult enough, let alone going to a school with people who have been in school together for 4 years, in English, within US standards. And with budget cuts in US schools, she may not receive the benefits (ESL teacher etc) that she normaly would

Good luck

If you don't mind me asking, where do you teach? I live in the Washington DC area.

I am going to search for ESL schools in my area but my local high schools offer ESL programs too. But they are aim toward the Hispanics population though. Can she going to college with a certificate from these ESL schools?

[Anh map 2,098]

If you don't mind me asking, where do you teach? I live in the Washington DC area.

I am going to search for ESL schools in my area but my local high schools offer ESL programs too. But they are aim toward the Hispanics population though. Can she going to college with a certificate from these ESL schools?

Your basic ESL is not a college prep curriculum. It would certainly help her prepare for the TOEFL. Depending on her spoken and written facility she may need two or three semesters

For most colleges or universities admissions she would likely need a high school diploma (here or there) or GED along with passing the TOEFL.

Found this through Google >> http://www.esldirectory.com/search/advancedsearch.php?state=district+of+columbia&city=washington

The move is going to be a real eye opener for the both of you. Take it at a comfortable pace. Don't throw her into the deep end.

***Moving from IR-1 / CR-1 Spouse Visa Process forum & Procedures to Moving Here and Your New Life forum as topic does not deal with spouse visa***

Edited August 24, 2010 by Anh map

[Tuanv 2]

Thank for the info. I cannot really afford to pay $4000 for ESL courses. Hopefully, I find something by then.

[LotofPatience 65]

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[katie & sifa 25]

Check at your local community colleges - ours offer free ESL classes for all levels of non-native speakers and a GED/high school diploma is not required. Once she feels comfortable with English maybe she can enroll in a GED course so she can get a diploma if she doesn't already have one from her home country.

[jrmejia 31]

I am thinking something down that line. Sending her for her master degree.

[Tuanv 2]

Thank for the advices guys.

[rlogan 2,036]

Wow, enrolling her in a regular high school is about the last thing I would do. One thing to check on is distance education, homeschool or alternative school options in your area.

We have districts with half or more of the kids enrolled in homeschool, distance education, and boarding schools up here. The state funds this under equal treatment principles the courts have recognized.

Your state or school district might have similar programs so I would be looking at the state department of education and the school districts in your locality.

[Tuanv 2]

Wow, enrolling her in a regular high school is about the last thing I would do. One thing to check on is distance education, homeschool or alternative school options in your area.

We have districts with half or more of the kids enrolled in homeschool, distance education, and boarding schools up here. The state funds this under equal treatment principles the courts have recognized.

Your state or school district might have similar programs so I would be looking at the state department of education and the school districts in your locality.

There are a couple of specialized schools in my district but they are mostly aim toward the Hispanic population. How can she goes to college with home school? Does she has to pass some kinds of test in order to go to college.

[canadian_wife 1,822]

I guess the first question is, what is her education in Vietnam? It may be transferrable here so all she'll need is some TOFEL courses to get her English up to college standards

good luck