Universal English Academy Kailua-Kona Hawaii
Culture * Nature * Communication * Education * Adventure
The Big Island of Hawaii's Vacation-Study Program
Universal English Academy
75-167 Kalani St Suite 203 Kailua-Kona, Hi 96740
808-325-0227
Aloha,
Noriko and I would like to thank you for your interest in our program. We have worked very hard over the last 7 years to create an unforgettable experience here on Hawaii's Big Island. The school has undergone many changes since it's first class in 2002 but all of those changes have been for the better and our promise is to continually work for the betterment of our student's experience.
I would like to write some of my thoughts below so that you can get a glimpse into the magic of the Big Island and understand why our program is one of a kind.
There are many great schools and amazing experiences out there, and everyone is looking for something different. That's great and I encourage you to follow you passions and explore this fantastic reality within which we find ourselves. The topic of "energy" is greatly discussed in Hawaii, has been a popular topic in Japan since the rise of Mr. Ehara, and is an often misunderstood subject. I find that most people consider any discussion of energy to be simply an esoteric discourse.
I view it more simply. We know that everything is made up of energy, that all matter is energy. If Mt. Everest is the tallest mountain in the world then the amount of energy released from the forces of the Earth were great there and we can say it is a place of energy. There are places of powerful energy, gentle and harsh energy and unique energy. Hawaii is in the position of possessing all of these energies in a completely unique cycle. We will of course explain this in more detail in Hawaii but please understand that the energy that flows from the Big Island is like no where else on the Earth. It pulls people here like magnet, speaks to us on a daily basis, and guides us in very subtle ways.
In this setting our commitment has been to share with our students these places and experiences that posses a certain kind of this energy. We also chose carefully the people who introduce it to you. When it is all said and done the net result is a feeling of being well tuned, in harmony with the world and yourself.
Our host families are chosen carefully to reflect island hospitality. Occasionally there is a personality mismatch (to be expected) but it is rare. We want you to become family to tap into the true rhythm of Big Island life and in so doing again experience the island in a deeper way. A Hawaii homestay is truly the best way to experience the local lifestyle.
At the center of all of this is our English Training program. Beware of programs with no classroom time that just talk and go places...with the right teacher your classroom time makes all of the difference. Also beware of schools that focus only on the class. No matter how great a particular text book may claim to be...it is nothing if the students are not properly prepared to accept the information and apply it to their lives. Our training focuses on you, helps you to see clearly what tools are at your disposal and what directions your studies can take. Life is complex...every student learns in different ways and for different reasons. Ultimately you must be the manager of your own English program. We teach you how to be your own English teacher, how to take control and make English an enjoyable part of your daily life and at the same time we reinforce these ideas in real life through our activities.
An easy example is surfing. How many hundreds of students have I driven to the surfing class, white in the face nervous. Yet they reach inside and find courage, they rise to meet the challenge and are so happy when they do actually surf. By doing this they are learning or remembering important life skills that all apply to their classroom studies. Finding courage, overcoming challenges, all have real and practical applications to our English learning. When I teach my students that they are amazing, have unlimited potential, and then they view a sky full of stars at 4000 meters or see the Earth form from molten lava before their eyes they remember these words, they experience in their body, in the language of nature, an intuitive understanding and there is no deeper learning than this. By weaving these different forms of learning together we can create life-long change and growth.
I tell all of my students during orientation that this is a vacation-study program. That's 100% vacation and 100% study. Relaxed, stress free, enjoying every moment and yet with antenna up and eyes wide open to absorb the world around us. This is a philosophy, a way of thinking and living that gives us a new satisfaction in our commitment to growth as a lifestyle.
All of these larger spiritual issues are essential for sustained learning. Of course we don't stop there. Once we understand our powers then we learn specific practical techniques gathered from over 20 years of active teaching experience. We study Basics, delve into the elements of style and learn the true meaning of presentation. If you are a willing and able student I can change your English in 2 weeks more than most schools can in years. It is not boasting...just the plain honest truth.
When all is said and done, we are growing UEA little by little, keeping our class sizes small, focusing on personal care and maintaining the original goal as reflected in our mission statement: Positively enhancing lives through Hawaiian Nature, Culture and English communication.
We would be honored if you would spend some time with us in Hawaii...a time we are sure you will never forget.
with Aloha,
Matt Carter
Owner /Teacher