This month we're getting to know the lovely Bella Oktay, a lawyer from Turkey whose lessons at the IELP helped her prepare for the next stage of her career in the U.S.

NAME: Bella Oktay
HOMETOWN: Istanbul, Turkey
PROGRAM: IELP, two sessions

IELP: Hi, Bella! How did you decide to come to the U.S. to study English and what was it like when you first came here?

From Malinke to Attiéké to Garba, Nadouba is bringing a bit of the Ivory Coast to the City of Brotherly Love.

Name: Nadouba Diakite
Hometown: Abidjan, Côte d’Ivoire, Africa
Program: IELP, one session

IELP: Nice to meet you, Nadouba! What was it like when you first arrived in the U.S.?

From studying in the U.S. to student blogging to founding her own organization, Diana's future is looking bright.

NAME: Diana Vicezar
HOMETOWN: Asunción, Paraguay
PROGRAM: EducationUSA Academy

IELP: What’s the best thing about your home country? 

DIANA: I am a proud South American girl. I truly believe that the best things about my country are the culture and the fact that we have two official languages, Spanish and Guarani (indigenous language).

He's the friendly face at IELP orientations who can give you the scoop about everything from authentic shawarma to mechanical engineering.

Name: Ahmed Aljandal

Country: Saudi Arabia (Riyadh, capital city)