Seeking Academic English Programs in the United States for Foreigners
January 26, 2021 9:04 AM Subscribe
My friend is a Thai citizen who is interested in coming to the United States for an extended period. I suggested that the best way for him to do this might be an academic program for learning English. Can anyone recommend something like this?
Response by poster: Wow, thanks pangolin party, that looks great. I'd also like to mention that if anyone knows good search terms to use for this type of thing, please share them.
posted by matkline at 10:04 AM on January 26, 2021
posted by matkline at 10:04 AM on January 26, 2021
What your friend is looking for is called an Intensive English Program.
posted by pangolin party at 10:06 AM on January 26, 2021
posted by pangolin party at 10:06 AM on January 26, 2021
There are lots of programs like this at various colleges and universities. Is there a particular area or region of interest to your friend? They can look at that as well as tuition costs.
posted by bluedaisy at 10:13 AM on January 26, 2021
posted by bluedaisy at 10:13 AM on January 26, 2021
The Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA) accredits such programs and has a list of the programs they accredit on their website, which includes the aforementioned CELOP at Boston University.
posted by Jahaza at 10:29 AM on January 26, 2021
posted by Jahaza at 10:29 AM on January 26, 2021
When you say for a long period, do you mean that they need to be enrolled in a program like pangolin party and Jahaza linked to? Or are they coming and just need somewhere to study English?
Probably not on Jahaza's list are a bunch of schools that will issue visas that have pretty crappy ESL programs but it still looks like you are enrolled in a university. Shamefully, I taught ESL at a for-profit called Stratford University (not linking to that craphole) that did exactly that.
There are lots of adult education opportunities if your friend doesn't need a visa. I know that Carlos Rosario PCS in DC is focused on workforce development via ESL and job training and strives to educate adults who are residents of DC. And there are a bunch of community colleges that offer ESL non-degree programs around the country.
posted by Snowishberlin at 2:18 PM on January 26, 2021
Probably not on Jahaza's list are a bunch of schools that will issue visas that have pretty crappy ESL programs but it still looks like you are enrolled in a university. Shamefully, I taught ESL at a for-profit called Stratford University (not linking to that craphole) that did exactly that.
There are lots of adult education opportunities if your friend doesn't need a visa. I know that Carlos Rosario PCS in DC is focused on workforce development via ESL and job training and strives to educate adults who are residents of DC. And there are a bunch of community colleges that offer ESL non-degree programs around the country.
posted by Snowishberlin at 2:18 PM on January 26, 2021
Those classes look like they're only for a few months. If that counts as an extended stay, there's the student J-1 visa for students. Might be cheaper to do a semester in Thailand to count as a student, then get hired on as a seasonal worker. It is a great way to learn English AND you get paid. I worked for Delaware North in Sequoia a bunch of years ago, and every season we'd get a new batch of student J-1 visa coworkers from a different part of the world.
posted by aniola at 2:28 PM on January 26, 2021
posted by aniola at 2:28 PM on January 26, 2021
Where I worked, they usually ended up doing housekeeping or bussing tables.
posted by aniola at 2:29 PM on January 26, 2021
posted by aniola at 2:29 PM on January 26, 2021
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posted by pangolin party at 9:59 AM on January 26, 2021 [1 favorite]