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Choosing an English
Language Program Program Types
Program Types | Standards
| Curriculum | Length
of Study | Location and Setting
| How Classes Are Organized | Costs
| Admission Requirements
English language programs of high quality can be found at
a variety of U.S. educational institutions. High-quality programs
have a professionally trained faculty, an excellent curriculum,
and superior facilities for study. Such facilities may include
classrooms, libraries, laboratories, computers, and other
equipment. As a prospective student, you should examine the
following criteria carefully and use them to help you decide
whether a program is appropriate for you.
Program Types
There are three main types of English language programs available
in the United States:
Intensive English Programs (IEPs): These programs
generally require 20 to 30 hours per week in the classroom.
Courses include classroom instruction, small group discussions,
language labs, and out-of-class work. Intensive courses may
or may not allow students to attend regular academic classes
in subjects outside the English-as-a-second-language curriculum.
Most programs are developed as pre-academic preparatory courses,
designed to prepare students for admission into a U.S. college
or university.
Semi-intensive English Programs: Like IEPs, semi-intensive
courses include classroom instruction, small group work, language
labs, and out-of-class work, but students usually also take
academic courses in subjects other than English. A university
may require you to take a few semi-intensive English-as-a-second-language
(ESL) courses if your Test of English as a Foreign Language
(TOEFL) scores were sufficient for admission into a degree
program at the university, but further proficiency is desired.
Professional English Programs: Many private English
language programs and some university-based ones are tailored
to fit the needs of professionals. These may include programs
in business English or special certificate programs in fields
such as law, engineering, education, medicine, architecture,
computer science, aerospace, hospitality management, and travel.
Internships with U.S. businesses are available with some programs,
both private and university-based.
This chapter will focus on Intensive English Programs (IEPs)
only.
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Standards
Before you apply to a language school, you should make sure
it meets accepted minimum standards. Accreditation is the
process whereby standards are established and maintained for
educational institutions in the United States. There are two
specialized accrediting bodies for Intensive English Programs
in the United States: the Accrediting Council for Continuing
Education and Training (ACCET) and the Commission on English
Language Program Accreditation (CEA). Check to see whether
the programs you are considering are accredited by either
of these bodies.
The U.S. Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) authorizes
English language programs to issue the government Form I-20,
which you will need to apply for your student visa. The INS
will consider a program as an Intensive English Program only
if it offers a minimum of 18 classroom hours (also called
contact hours) per week for its students, and if it is accredited
by a national or regional accrediting body recognized by the
U.S. Department of Education. Therefore, if an Intensive English
Program has approval by the INS to issue the government Form
I-20, that is one indicator that the program is accredited.
Read further information on accreditation
and recognized accrediting bodies.
Two professional organizations for Intensive English Programs
have established standards that all of their members' programs
must meet: the Consortium of University and College Intensive
English Programs (UCIEP) and the American Association of Intensive
English Programs (AAIEP). Ask whether the programs you are
considering are members of UCIEP or AAIEP.
It is also important to know the academic standing of the
faculty who will be teaching you. Look at the program's brochure,
catalog, or Web site to see what degrees the teachers of a
particular program have earned. Look for institutions whose
teachers have degrees in English as a second language (ESL)
or in applied linguistics.
Lastly, you can ask whether the program's faculty members
belong to NAFSA: Association of International Educators or
to Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL).
NAFSA has a Code of Ethics to which members are expected to
subscribe. Both NAFSA and TESOL have established standards
of good practice for their members.
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Curriculum
Most language programs' curricula are divided into levels,
starting with courses for beginners who have never studied
English and progressing to courses for advanced students who
are refining their skills in preparation for beginning studies
at a university or college in the United States.
A typical language program's curriculum is designed to improve
the student's understanding and use of English in reading,
writing, listening, and speaking; some define grammar as a
distinct skill. Some language programs focus exclusively on
English for academic purposes, while others concentrate on
preparation for such examinations as the Test of English as
a Foreign Language (TOEFL) and the Test of Spoken English
(TSE).
To find out more about what a particular English language
program offers, check the program's Web site. If you cannot
access the information you need on the World Wide Web, contact
the admissions office of the IEP by e-mail, in writing, or
by telephone, and request that they send you detailed information
about their programs.
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Length of Study
How long will it take to achieve the language skills you desire?
It is difficult to determine how long a student will need
to spend in an IEP. At the beginning of each program, all
students take a placement exam so they can start their studies
at the appropriate level. Some students will progress quickly,
while others may take longer to develop the necessary skills.
It could take one or two terms/semesters, or in some cases
longer, to reach the level you are aiming for. Progress from
one level to the next depends on the abilities of the individual
student as well as on his or her existing English language
skills.
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Location and Setting
The United States is a large country with a diverse range
of geographic features, climates, urban environments, and
cultural flavors. An important factor in your choice of a
program will be where it is located. There are high quality
programs in all regions of the United States.
In addition to the geographic location, you should consider
the setting in which a program is offered and find out what
services are available. There are three common models:
- programs run within and by a department of a university
or college, such as the English language department;
- privately owned (proprietary) language schools that are
associated with a university or college and are on or near
the campus;
- private schools that are not connected to a college or
university.
IEPs in all settings provide a variety of academic and student
services. It is important to find out whether a program has
a connection with an academic institution, what services are
available to you, and how the program will meet your academic
advising, housing, health, and social needs. IEP students
who attend a program on a traditional U.S. college or university
campus are typically offered use of the institution's dormitory
housing, advising, and health services. Private language schools
usually offer students a variety of housing options, provide
academic advising and orientation counseling, and arrange
health services for their students. A good-quality IEP, regardless
of its setting, will clearly state what services are provided
— either by a university or by the language school itself
— so that you can select the right program for you.
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How Classes Are Organized
The way that classes are structured is another good indicator
of a quality IEP. Some questions you might want to ask are:
- What is the average class size?
- How many students are there per teacher?
- Is there a standard policy concerning the number of students
with the same native language who are placed in one class?
The class size and student-to-teacher ratio can indicate
the level of personal attention that students might reasonably
expect to receive. Having students from many language backgrounds,
and not just your own, usually will provide a setting in which
you will learn English more quickly.
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Costs
A very important item to consider in choosing any program
is cost. Besides tuition, programs may require payment for
student fees, housing, board (meals), books, health insurance
(required for anyone who is in the United States on a student
visa), and other miscellaneous expenses. Many programs require
an application fee, which is often nonrefundable. Some programs
also require a tuition deposit.
It is important to find out the total cost of the program
before you apply. Full payment is made after arrival at the
school, so make sure you are prepared to pay all of the required
costs.
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Admission Requirements
Each IEP in the United States sets its own admission requirements.
These vary from program to program; however, most require
that you have completed secondary school, and that you provide
financial information showing you can pay the full cost of
the program. Some programs will ask you to provide additional
information such as educational transcripts and documentation
of English proficiency, and some will require that you devote
the majority of your time to language studies while you are
studying with them. You should be able to find all of the
requirements for admission in the program's brochure or catalog
or on its Web site.
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