Koby Language Center

Last updated

Koby USA (Koby Language Center) is a private English language school located in downtown Novi, Michigan. [1] Yoshihisa Kobayashi, founder and president of Koby International Academy, founded the school in 2006 in Ann Arbor, Michigan with the primary mission of teaching students with limited English proficiency the skills they need to succeed in academics, business, and life. The school was relocated in 2012 to its current location in Novi, Michigan.

Contents

Academic profile

Koby USA offers various language programs including the Comprehensive English Program, Intensive English Program, Test Preparation Programs for TOEFL (TPPI), TOEIC (TPPII), and SAT (TPPIII),[ clarification needed ] Academic English Program, Get Ready Program, Business English Program, English in Action, Personalized English Program, and Japanese Conversation Program. Various summer English programs are also offered in June, July, and August. Programs are generally four-week terms, except for some of the two-week-long summer programs.

Students include international students who are enrolled or entering grades K-12 in American schools, high school and post-graduate students who are preparing to take the TOEFL iBT (internet Based Test), and business professionals who need English skills for their profession and to prepare for the TOEIC test. The school also designs programs for businesses and individuals who have specific English needs and scheduling requirements.

The academic calendar runs month-to-month all year long. Students in the intensive English programs may spend up to eight months to go from Introductory to Advanced English proficiency. All programs run continuously, and students decide in how many terms they want to continue enrolling.

Campus and facilities

The school originally was located above One World Market in Novi, Michigan, a Japanese grocery store and sushi restaurant.

On May 2, 2014, the school moved to a new location off W 10 Mile Rd in Novi, Michigan.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Test of English as a Foreign Language</span> Standardized test

Test of English as a Foreign Language is a standardized test to measure the English language ability of non-native speakers wishing to enroll in English-speaking universities. The test is accepted by more than 11,000 universities and other institutions in over 190 countries and territories. TOEFL is one of several major English-language tests worldwide, including IELTS, Pearson Test of English (PTE), Duolingo English Test, Cambridge Assessment English, and Trinity College London exams.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International English Language Testing System</span> Test for learners of English as a second language

International English Language Testing System is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native English language speakers. It is jointly managed by the British Council, IDP and Cambridge English, and was established in 1989. IELTS is one of the major English-language tests in the world. The IELTS test has two modules: Academic and General Training. IELTS One Skill Retake was introduced for computer-delivered tests in 2023, which allows a test taker to retake any one section of the test.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">English as a second or foreign language</span> Use of English by speakers with different native languages

English as a second or foreign language refers to the use of English by individuals whose native language is different, commonly among students learning to speak and write English. Variably known as English as a foreign language (EFL), English as a second language (ESL), English for speakers of other languages (ESOL), English as an additional language (EAL), or English as a new language (ENL), these terms denote the study of English in environments where it is not the dominant language. Programs such as ESL are designed as academic courses to instruct non-native speakers in English proficiency, encompassing both learning in English-speaking nations and abroad.

A cram school is a specialized school that trains its students to achieve particular goals, most commonly to pass the entrance examinations of high schools or universities. The English name is derived from the slang term cramming, meaning to study a large amount of material in a short period of time. The word "crammer" may be used to refer to the school or to an individual teacher who assists a student in cramming.

The Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC) is an international standardized test of English language proficiency for non-native speakers. It is intentionally designed to measure the everyday English skills of people working in an international environment.

The International University of Japan is a private university located in Minamiuonuma city in Niigata Prefecture, Japan.

English for academic purposes (EAP), commonly known as Academic English, entails training students, usually in a higher education setting, to use language appropriate for study. It is one of the most common forms of English for specific purposes (ESP). It is also a course found in TAFE in Australia.

The Test of English Proficiency developed by Seoul National University or TEPS is an English proficiency test created by Seoul National University's Language Education Institute to evaluate South Korean test takers' English language skills. TEPS has been administered nationwide since January 1999. It consists of 200 questions which are divided into four sections: Listening, Grammar, Vocabulary, and Reading. TEPS scores are divided into the ten ratings ranging from 1 + to 5. It is designed to test applicants' communicative English skills and to minimize test-taker reliance on certain strategies such as rote memorization. A study of the test indicated that it is valid and fair.

Language proficiency is the ability of an individual to use language with a level of accuracy which transfers meaning in production and comprehension.

The Speaking Proficiency English Assessment Kit (SPEAK) is a test developed by the Educational Testing Service (ETS) to measure a non-native speaker's proficiency in spoken English. It is usually taken as a professional certification, especially by graduate teaching assistants and medical professionals in the American college and university system for communication with their students and patients, respectively. It is very similar to the Test of Spoken English (TSE), and is in fact a form of the TSE developed for institutions by using retired forms of the TSE.

Mute English is a term coined in the People's Republic of China to describe a phenomenon where people cannot speak English well and have a poor listening comprehension as a second language, typically through the traditional method of English language teaching where English is only taught as a subject. The phrase is a calque of the Chinese phrase "哑巴英语". The phenomenon is sometimes referred to as Dumb English.

The English Language Proficiency Test (ELPT) was the name of a SAT II last administered in January 2005. It was a one-hour multiple choice test given on English language proficiency by The College Board. A student whose native language was not English could have chosen to take this test instead of or in addition to Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) for college entrance depending upon requirements of the schools in which the student was planning to apply. Until 1994, the SAT II's were known as Achievement Tests. The ELPT assessed both the understanding of spoken and written standard American English and the ability to function in a classroom where English is spoken. The test was intended for students whose best language was not English; who attend U.S. high schools, or who had studied in an international school where courses were taught in English; had completed two to four years of English language instruction in an English as a Second Language program or in English enrichment courses; or students who spoke a language other than English at home or work. It was scored on a scale of 901 to 999.

Language assessment or language testing is a field of study under the umbrella of applied linguistics. Its main focus is the assessment of first, second or other language in the school, college, or university context; assessment of language use in the workplace; and assessment of language in the immigration, citizenship, and asylum contexts. The assessment may include listening, speaking, reading, writing, an integration of two or more of these skills, or other constructs of language ability. Equal weight may be placed on knowledge and proficiency, or greater weight may be given to one aspect or the other.

The Canadian English Language Proficiency Index Program, or CELPIP, is an English language assessment tool which measures listening, reading, writing, and speaking skills. The test is administered by Paragon Testing Enterprises., a subsidiary of the University of British Columbia (UBC). Paragon is the only Canadian company delivering Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) designated English proficiency tests. The CELPIP test is offered in two versions, CELPIP-General, and CELPIP-General LS.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International Test of English Proficiency</span> Test for second language English speakers

The International Test of English Proficiency or iTEP is a language assessment tool that measures the English skills of non-native English speakers. The test is supported by more than 700 institutions including the California State University system. The test is available in more than 40 countries, and is also used by businesses, and governments such as Saudi Arabia, Colombia, and Mexico for large-scale initiatives. There are over 600 iTEP test centers worldwide, with more than 100 in China where iTEP has partnerships with some of the largest education companies in the country.

Sundai Michigan International Academy, affiliated with the Sundai Center for International Education, is located in Novi, Michigan, in Metro Detroit. The school's purpose is to prepare Japanese children who have lived in the United States for a long time for a return to Japan, and to assist newly arrived Japanese children who have no fluency of English. As of 2008 it was the only Japanese-style year-round school within the State of Michigan; in addition to a day school program, the school has after-school and weekend classes.

The Canadian Academic English Language Assessment or CAEL is a standardized test designed to measure English language proficiency for admission to college and university, and for membership in professional associations. Test takers read articles, listen to a lecture, answer questions, and write a short essay, as they would be expected to do in a first-year university or college classroom.

Teaching English as a second (TESL) orforeign language (TEFL) and teaching English to speakers of other languages (TESOL) are terms that refer to teaching English to students whose first language is not English. The terms TEFL, TESL, and TESOL distinguish between a class's location and student population, and have become problematic due to their lack of clarity. TEFL refers to English-language programs conducted in countries where English is not the primary language, and may be taught at a language school or by a tutor. For some jobs, the minimum TEFL requirement is a 100-hour course; the 120-hour course is recommended, however, since it may lead to higher-paid teaching positions. TEFL teachers may be native or non-native speakers of English.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">International students in Australia</span>

Australia ranked third in top study abroad destinations with a total market value of over 5 billion AUD generated by international students in 2018. In 2023, 786,891 international students were enrolled in educational programs in Australia, which was 27% higher than the previous year. In 2024 this is forecasted to increase again by 18%. They come to gain a high-quality education, possibly immigrate, or to experience a different life. Each year, many new international students will enroll in Australian courses and add to the already significant international student body around the country.

References

  1. "Koby Learning Group". www.mapquest.com. Retrieved 2024-08-02.