So, you've decided to study English in the United States - how do you decide what type of program you want to attend?

Before you begin the process of choosing the right English program for you, you should determine what type of program will suit your goals and objectives. Are you preparing for academic studies in the United States? Are you preparing for using English in your job? Do you just want to have a great experience in America and learn some English as a special bonus? You will want to use these and other questions to determine what type of program will provide the resources for you to best achieve your English learning goals.

Once you have determined your language goals, you will be able to choose the type of English program which will suit those goals. Intensive English Programs can very broadly be divided into three types: general English and Culture programs, English for Academic Purposes (EAP), and English for Specific Purposes (ESP).

English & Culture Programs
Programs of this type help to prepare students to gain English and understand American culture. This type of program tries not to focus specifically on one type of English, such as English for airline pilots, but will bring in all types of American English language and American culture. Students in this general English type of program may be planning to study in an American college or university or they may be planning to work in an English environment or they may want to learn English for personal reasons.

English for Academic Purposes
Programs of this type help to prepare students for academic studies in universities and colleges in the United States. These programs may focus on skills that will help students to be successful in university courses. Students learn to write academic papers, take lecture notes, learn the culture of the university, and prepare for exams. These programs often provide courses in preparing for required tests such as the TOEFL, GRE, and /or the GMAT.

English for Specific Purposes
Programs of this type are often developed on a needs basis. An English program may be contacted by a government agency or a large company or a university abroad and asked to develop a program to meet a specific need. A program of this type may be developed for bankers from Brazil, English teachers from Russia, students who will be entering graduate programs across the United States, or students who will be Teaching Assistants while they study for their Masters or PhD degree. These types of programs are usually more focused on the specific skills necessary for the students to be successful in these defined contexts.
Most large university-based Intensive English Programs (IEPs) will have EAP, ESP, and general Language and Culture programs within their overall program. Many, if not most, small IEPs will have EAP focused programs that feed directly to the college or university from which they are based. So you may find that you can meet your language goals at nearly any IEP.

Now that you have chosen the type of program that best fits you, the other questions you will want to research are location, climate, student services, average size of the classes, costs of the program, and living expenses. Good luck!


Provided by Mark Porter, Associate Director of English Programs for Internationals at the University of South Carolina.

English Language Programs

Boston School of Modern Languages
814 South Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02131 USA
Telephone: 617-325-2760 / Fax: 617-325-2763
E-mail: study@bsml.com
Website: www.StudyEnglish.com

Clark University
American Language and Culture Institute
950 Main Street
Worcester, MA 01610 USA
Telephone: 508-793-7794
E-mail: alci@clark.edu
Website: http://www.copace.clarku.edu

City Colleges of San Francisco
Institute for International Students
50 Phelan Avenue, E107
San Francisco, California 94112 USA
Telephone: 415-239-3837
Fax: 415-239-3936
E-mail: international@ccsf.edu
Website: http://www.ccsf.edu

Embry-Riddle Language Institute
Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University
600 South Clyde Morris
Daytona Beach, Florida 32114 USA
Telephone: 386-226-6192
E-mail: grazu384@erau.edu
Website: http://www.erli.us

Humboldt State University
International English Language Program
Student Services Building
Arcata, CA 95521-8299 USA
Telephone: 707-826-5878
E-mail: ieli@humboldt.edu
Website: http://www.humboldt.edu/~ieli/

National University
English Language Programs
4121 Camino del Rio South, Suite 18
San Diego, CA 92108 USA
Telephone: 619-563-2657
E-mail: elp@nu.edu
Website: http://www.nu.edu/elp

Penn State University
Intensive English Communication Program
301 Boucke Building
University Park, PA 16802-5901 USA
Telephone: 814-865-7550 / Fax: 814-863-5889
E-mail: IECP@outreach.psu.edu
Website: www.outreach.psu.edu

Rice University
School of Continuing Studies
Language Programs — MS 550
P.O. Box 1892
Houston, Texas 77251-1892 USA
Telephone: 713-348-4019 / Fax: 713-348-5213
E-mail: esl@rice.edu
Website: www.esl.rice.edu

Rochester Institute of Technology
English Language Center
28 Lomb Memorial Drive
Rochester, NY 14623-5604 USA
Telephone: 585-475-6684
E-mail: lxdelc@rit.edu
Website: www.rit.edu/~370www

St. Cloud State University
Intensive English Center / Department of English
101 B Riverview
720 Fourth Avenue South
St. Cloud, Minnesota 56301-4498 USA
Telephone: 320-654-5344 / Fax: 320-654-5524
E-mail: iec@stcloudstate.edu
Website: www.stcloudstate.edu/~iec

Southwest Missouri State University
English Language Institute
901 South National Avenue
Springfield, MO 65804 USA
Telephone: 417-836-6540
Fax: 417-836-4784
E-mail: jer405t@smsu.edu
Website: http://ccpe.smsu.edu/eli

Towson University
English Language Center
8000 York Road
Towson, Maryland 21252-0001 USA
Telephone: 410-704-2552 / Fax: 410-704-2090
E-mail: medwards@towson.edu
Website: www.towson.edu/elc

University of Massachusetts - Boston
100 Morrissey Boulevard
Boston, MA 02125-3393 USA
Telephone: 617-287-7876
E-mail: susan.griffin@umb.edu
Website: http://www.conted.umb.edu/esl

University of North Carolina - Charlotte
English Language Training Institute
115 Denny Boulevard
Charlotte, North Carolina 28223 USA
Telephone: 704-687-2458 / Fax: 704-687-3168
E-mail: elti@email.uncc.edu
Website: www.uncc.edu/elti

University of South Carolina
English Programs for Internationals
Byrnes 207
Columbia, South Carolina 29208 USA
Telephone: 803-777-3867 / Fax: 803-777-6839
E-mail: epi-info@epi.sc.edu
Website: www.epi.sc.edu

University of Tennessee - Knoxville
The English Language Institute
907 Mountcastle Street
Knoxville, Tennessee 37996 USA
Telephone: 865-974-3404 / Fax: 865-974-6383
E-mail: eli@utk.edu
Website: www.outreach.utk.edu/eli