Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Schools and Programs in The United States

Language Courses and Cultural Immersion Programs Studies in The United States

For international students, language study in the United States mostly means English: intensive courses at a university language centre or a private language school, often combined with cultural activities and a stay with a host family. EducationUSA, the US Department of State's advising network, describes the country as the top destination for international students who want to learn or improve their English. The schools listed here also include US-based organisations that run language and cultural immersion programmes in other countries.

How the programmes are organised

The standard format is the Intensive English Program (IEP). According to EducationUSA, English courses range from beginner level to advanced courses for students preparing for academic study or employment. Some programmes focus exclusively on English for academic purposes, while others prepare for specific examinations or teach English for the workplace. There are two main kinds of provider:

• University language centres, such as the Drexel University English Language Center in Philadelphia, the English Language Institute at Syracuse University, the English Language Institute at the University of Utah and the University of Houston Language and Culture Center
• Private language schools, such as WESLI - Wisconsin ESL Institute in Madison and The Language Company, which offer general, academic and business English and test preparation

Language courses do not lead to a degree; schools issue their own certificates. Many university centres, however, are a route into degree study. EducationUSA notes that some colleges and universities offer bridge or pathway programmes in which students build their English while earning academic credit or transfer directly into a degree programme once their English is sufficient. At Drexel, undergraduate students who qualify for and complete the International Gateway Program can matriculate into the university. The core programme at Syracuse is Academic English, designed among others for students who are conditionally admitted to Syracuse University.

Cultural immersion is usually built into the course. Drexel offers summer cultural immersion programmes, the summer programme of the English Language Academy at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee combines English classes with workshops and local site visits, and schools such as WESLI and The Language Company arrange homestays with local hosts.

Accreditation

Accreditation is the main quality check, and it is linked to the visa. The Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) is a specialised accrediting agency for postsecondary English language programmes and institutions, recognised by the US Secretary of Education since 2003. CEA explains that federal legislation which took effect in 2013 requires all English language programmes that want to enrol non-immigrant international students to be accredited by a recognised accreditor; it now accredits over 300 programmes and institutions. Private schools may instead be accredited by ACCET, as The Language Company states it has been since 2000. Schools mention their accreditation on their own sites: Drexel, for example, states that its Intensive English Program and International Gateway Program are accredited by CEA.

Admission and visa

The visa is the main formality. EducationUSA lists the F student visa as the category for studying English at an English language institute, and before applying a student must be accepted by a school certified by the Student and Exchange Visitor Program (SEVP), which then issues the Form I-20. Part-time courses are a different case: the University of Utah, for instance, describes its evening General English classes as intended for tourists on B1/B2 visas and local residents, and not for people with student visas. Students should confirm with the school which visa a given course requires.

EducationUSA advises starting the search for a short-term programme, which it defines as lasting 12 months or less, at least a year in advance.

Costs

Prices are set by each school and differ widely, so no general figure can be given. EducationUSA reminds students that total costs include tuition, fees and living expenses, and that many programmes charge an application fee, often non-refundable, and a tuition deposit. It suggests comparing public and private schools and considering areas with a lower cost of living, such as the South, the Midwest or rural areas.

Where to study

Language schools are found throughout the country, both in large cities such as New York, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, Miami and Denver and in university towns such as Madison and Syracuse. The University of Houston Language and Culture Center has provided intensive English instruction since 1975.

Programmes abroad run from the United States

A second group on this page are study abroad providers with offices in the United States, many of them in Austin. They organise study and language immersion programmes in other countries. USAC, a non-profit organisation since 1982, runs more than 50 study abroad programmes in 26 countries. Other examples on the list are Academic Programs International (API), IES and the American Institute For Foreign Study (AIFS). Each provider sets its own conditions for participation.

Frequently asked questions

Which visa do I need to study English in the United States?

For a full-time intensive English course the usual category is the F student visa, which requires acceptance by an SEVP-certified school. Some part-time courses are open to visitors; ask the school before enrolling.

How do I know whether a language school is reliable?

Check its accreditation. English language programmes that enrol international students must be accredited by a recognised agency such as CEA or ACCET, and schools state this on their websites.

Can an English course lead to admission to a US university?

It can. Some universities offer pathway or conditional admission programmes through their language centres, but admission rules are set by each university.