destination
Florida’s
fascination
Sunshine, beaches and Disney World may be Florida’s most famous attractions,
but it has much more to offer including laid-back cities, a unique national park
and plenty of history. GILLIAN EVANS finds out more.
S
tudents and tourists alike flock to
the Sunshine State because of its
wonderful beaches, world-famous
tourist attractions and, of course, the
Tallahassee
Jacksonville
weather. “Florida has hot summers
[and] the winters are very mild and
comfortable,” asserts Ingrid Powers,
Director of Rennert Miami (formerly
Accent on Language). “Moreover,
Orlando
it has a lot of attractions and is
Tampa
Saint Petersburg
one of the number-one spots for
tourism in the States.”
Marco Pinna from The
Fort Lauderdale
Language Academy (TLA) in
Miami
Fort Lauderdale adds that the
great weather means students
Key West
can make the most of the area’s
natural attractions. “With average
temperatures of 25 degrees Celsius, low
humidity and warm waters, students attend
classes and enjoy the beach, while most of
“One of our students, who
the world has frigid temperatures,” he says.
had only been in Miami a
week, purchased a car. While
Apart from the weather and beaches,
out driving he entered a
says Richard Hitt, Director of Studies at
one-way street the wrong
way and was stopped by
Language Exchange International in Boca
a policeman. When the
policeman asked him to
Raton, there are lots of other reasons for
show his driver’s licence, the
student panicked, raised both studying in Florida. “We offer the excitement
his arms up and said, “I’m
of Orlando and the ‘Space Coast’, the
sorry, I forgive you!” At first
the policeman was puzzled
romance and laidback nature of Key West,
but then started laughing.
and the history of St Augustine [the oldest
Once he saw the driver’s
licence and the I-20, he
city in the USA],” he says. “More and more,
realised he was dealing with
an international student.”
this area is becoming known as the gateway
Ingrid Powers, Rennert
to the Caribbean and all of Latin America.”
Miami, Miami
February2005
2005
34 February
The state capital, Tallahassee, sits just 14 miles from Georgia,
in an area known as the Big Bend, straddling the foothills of the
Appalachian Mountains and at the juncture of Florida’s Panhandle
and peninsula. There, “students can experience the ‘real’ Florida of
swamps and alligators at Wakulla Springs State Park,” says Patrick
Kennell, Director of the Center for Intensive English Studies at Florida
State University. With a population of 150,000, Tallahassee is a
relatively small city, but is home to two major universities – Florida
State University and Florida A&M University – which means plenty
of cultural opportunities, shops and restaurants, as well as a lively
nightlife. “We, in Tallahassee, pride ourselves on our friendliness,
hospitality and Southern charm,” asserts Kennell, adding, “We
are more ‘Southern’ than south Florida! Unlike south Florida, the
influence of the Spanish language in Tallahassee is not seen.”
Further west from Tallahassee is the city of Pensacola, which
is on the border with Alabama. “The northwest Florida gulf coast
is known for its beautiful white sand beaches and emerald green
Florida Keys
The Florida Keys are
a chain of islands
stretching for 100 miles.
Small resorts offer jet
skiing, snorkelling and
diving opportunities,
while Key West, at the
foot of the chain, is the
main draw for many
water,” enthuses Michael Yots, Director of International Programs &
Education at the University of West Florida. “Pensacola lifestyle is
laid back and relaxed.” As well as enjoying the local geography, Yots
points out that New Orleans is within reach for a “weekend of fun”.
In contrast, Miami in southern Florida is some way away from
other US states and is in fact closer to the Bahamas. The city has
Agent viewpoint
Gator crossing
Alligators are a popular
attraction for tourists,
who are fascinated by
the dangerous animals
living in the swamps of
the state. Gatorland in
Orlando capitalises on
visitor interest in the
resident creatures
South Beach art deco
buildings in Miami
(main picture)
“Our customers choose Florida for the
tropical climate and the sandy beaches.
Florida has got a very good image and is
one of our top destinations in the USA.
Florida is recommendable for sports enthusiasts
of all ages. Another advantage is the good flight
connections between Europe and Miami. We send
our students to Fort Lauderdale. It is a relatively
small place and so young students find their
way [round it] easily. The beaches are clean and
beautiful, [and] there is a pretty good range of
restaurants, shops or cinemas. Our students are
most surprised by the friendliness of the locals.”
Michael Eck, STA Travel, Switzerland
a sizeable Hispanic population, giving
it a decidedly Latin flavour. “Miami is
a very diverse city that brings together
people from all over the world,” says
Powers. “Spanish and English are spoken
throughout [the city].” Each district has
its own flavour, from the beach life of
Miami Beach to the Art Deco district of South Beach and the endless
nightlife of Coconut Grove. The people in Miami have a reputation
for being easy going and relaxed, and students at Rennert Miami
have ample opportunity to use their English. “Our school organises
because of its network of waterways,
Fort Lauderdale has canals, lakes and
rivers on one side and an ocean beach
on the other. “Fort Lauderdale is right in
the middle of south Florida with miles
and miles of fantastic beaches, water
sports, a casual lifestyle and world-famous
nightlife,” enthuses Philip Sherman from Fort
Lauderdale-based Florida Language Center.
Pinna claims that Fort Lauderdale is one
of the safest cities in the USA. “The average
mall quests where students have to ask and locate information.
We arrange tours of the airport and the courthouse to listen to
proceedings,” explains Powers. A short distance from Miami are the
Florida Keys, well known for their vacation appeal, while the waters
around the islands contain the only living coral reef in the USA.
Situated just one hour’s drive away from Miami and exclusive
Palm Beach is Fort Lauderdale. Nicknamed “the Venice of America”
age of the Fort Lauderdale population is 45,
making it one of the ‘younger’ cities in the
country,” he asserts. Every spring, the city’s
population swells with American students,
who make it their favourite “springbreak”
destination. Natural attractions are also close
by, as the city is surrounded by the
Language Travel Magazine 35
“Our students come from Quebec mostly,
a cold country in winter. Through our
website, we also have more and more
[French-speakers], especially French
and Swiss. Their dream is to discover America.
Everyone is looking for a sunny destination and
Florida is one of these destinations. In general,
Florida schools are a little bit less expensive than
Californian ones. We send students to study in
Miami, Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Boca Raton and St
Petersburg. Among all requests for Florida, Miami
remains the most popular for its cosmopolitan
atmosphere (especially Cuban) and the art deco area
in Miami beach. Students are most surprised by the
very diverse people living [in the region], and the
year-round ‘holiday’ atmosphere. They say, ‘People
don’t seem to work there.... they seem to be always
on vacation’. They like the unstressed behaviour of
the population. For Europeans they like the contrast
with their own cities and way of life. For Canadians
the first motivation is sunshine, then the relatively
close proximity (a three-hour direct flight) from
Montreal. And, some parts of Florida are called ‘le
petit Quebec’.”
Philippe Beaudaux, Unique Tours, Canada
“America is a dream for Italian students, not only for
tourism but most of all for study. Studying in Florida
Everglades, one of the USA’s largest natural parks and the only
subtropical reserve in North America.
Just north of Fort Lauderdale is Boca Raton, home to Language
Exchange International. “Boca offers the security of a small urban
environment with all the amenities of a larger urban area,” says Hitt.
He continues, “We have also evolved Florribean, a style distinctly
our own, and our
lifestyle is decidedly
Tampa
less hectic than
Tampa is the business
hub of west Florida and
other places
a dynamic small city that
you might visit.”
boasts Busch Gardens,
a popular theme park,
Activities organised
and hip neighbourhood,
by the school
Ybor City. Tampa’s port
include, Hitt says,
is the seventh-largest in
the USA
“the usual South
Florida attractions in
Orlando and Miami, as well as boat ‘Cruises to Nowhere’ and airboat
rides into the Everglades looking for alligators in the wild”.
36 February 2005
means [experiencing the] wonderful palm
tree-lined beaches, a tropical climate
throughout the year and a Caribbean
atmosphere. What also attracts students
is fashion, shopping and natural attractions. We
send students to Fort Lauderdale, which we think
is a safe town, and to Miami. Our students are
surprised by the willingness of American people to
talk to students and spend some time with them.
Thanks to the good mix of young international
students that live and study there, it is very easy
to improve one’s English and get to know other
cultures and different ways of life.”
Vittorina Pravato, Valmondo Viaggi, Italy
Close to the Gulf coast as opposed
to the Atlantic coast, is Dunedin, where
students can study at Schiller International
University, just a short drive from the city
of Tampa. Here, students can experience
a small-town Florida atmosphere against
an idyllic backdrop. “Students can look to
the west through swaying palm trees on to
St Joseph’s Sound, which is part of Tampa
Bay of the Gulf of Mexico, [and there are]
nature trails everywhere in the area,” says
Robert Lawrence at the university. With over
1,400 acres of unspoilt parkland, Dunedin
is a popular Florida getaway destination.
“Museums, cultural environments such as
Tampa Bay Performing Arts Center and many
other attractions make this one of the nicest
areas in the world to live!” says Lawrence.