Clint Hughes: Communicating Clearly in the Wake of September 11th

The terrorist attacks of September 11th affected our lives and jobs in many different ways. For Clint Hughes, Director of Intrax English Institute, a school that provides English language training for students from more than 50 countries, the tragedy had to be turned into an opportunity. "9/11 opened our eyes for opportunities to improve and nurture relationships with all people," says Hughes. "The ability to communicate clearly and effectively in any language has never been more critical than it is now."

September 11th also provided new challenges for Intrax. According to Hughes, "stricter INS code enforcement has made it more challenging for some students to obtain a visa, which has prompted some to seek English instruction in other countries." Part of the mission of Intrax is to promote the United States and Chicago as a safe, economical, and desirable place to learn, live, and work. "Sharing our culture and values with our students" is important to Hughes. "A foreign visitor’s experience in the United States is important to us, so we concentrate on helping to make that a positive one, both in and out of the classroom."

Intrax, which also has locations in San Francisco and San Diego, offers training in up to 10 proficiency levels and a variety of subject areas. Students can study English basics, accent reduction, American idioms,business English, and much more. Training also includes TOEFL and TOEIC preparation, as well as TOEFL test administration.

The foreign student's experiences are myriad, too. Students are in Chicago to join spouses, study while working, and study full-time. Some are under contract to their employer to study English while working in the Chicago area.

To learn:

Intrax
74 North Michigan Avenue, 2nd Foor
Chicago,IL 60601
312 236.3208
www.intraxenglish.com

This article originally appeared in the Fall 2003 issue of Chicago Learning Guide Magazine.