How much does it cost?
Each class costs just $450 (US). All materials are
included, except students assigned to Levels 1 and 2 are expected to purchase
an online dictionary for less than $2.00 (US).
How does this compare to taking English classes at
a language institute?
Attending a language institute in the US usually
costs thousands of dollars in tuition and student fees and this doesn't even
include travel and living expenses to attend their program! ESL Online Courses
costs less than 10% of the costs of a typical language institute (admission
fee, tuition, books, miscellaneous student fees, etc).
Will I receive a diploma, degree, or credits toward
a degree through ESL Online Courses US?
No. We are not a degree-granting
educational institution. Our students participate in our courses for many
reasons. Some wish to improve their score on an English proficiency test, some
are preparing to travel to an English-speaking country for vacation, some wish
to improve their English for business or employment purposes, and others just
want to study another language for fun. There is no expectation that a
participant will complete all four levels. Our students complete whatever level
of English is consistent with each of their unique goals.
If I am already in the US on a B2, F2, J2, or M2
visa, can I take classes with ESL Online Courses US?
Yes. Our courses are 100% online.
Because you can take our online courses from anywhere in the world, if you are
in the US as a family member of someone here on an educational visa, you can
take our classes. We are not a degree program, and our students are not taking
classes full-time. We do not issue I-20s since our students do not need to
be in the US to take our courses. If you have any questions about your
visa status and the implications of taking an online English course, please
contact the US State Department.
What are the system requirements for my computer?
For PC-Compatible Computers
Operating System: Windows
2000, XP, or Vista
Web Browser: Internet Explorer 6.0 or
higher OR Firefox 2.0 or higher
Plug-ins: Adobe Reader 7 or higher;
Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher; AND Java 1.4.2 or higher
For Macintosh Computers
Operating System: OS X 10.3.9 or
higher
Web Browser: Safari 2.0 or higher OR
Firefox 2.0 or higher
Plug-ins: Adobe Reader 7 or higher;
Adobe Flash Player 8 or higher; AND Java 1.4.2 or higher
For All Computers
Hardware: headphones or speakers
(built-in or external) AND microphone (built-in or external)
Internet Connection: DSL,
cable/broadband, I, or other high-speed connection
Memory: 256 MB RAM or higher
Monitor Resolution: 1024 x
768 or higher
How do I register for my class?
Complete the registration form on
the "Registration for Class" page. After completing and submitting
the form, you will receive an email letter confirming your acceptance. Next,
you will receive an invoice for the $450 registration fee (within 48 hours).
Once you have paid the registration fee, within 48 hours you will receive the
information necessary to log in to our school.
How do I know what Level class I should take?
After you register, you will be assigned to a free
Orientation Course that includes a placement test. All new students must
complete the both the Orientation Course and the placement test. Once you have
completed both of these steps, ESL Online Courses professional staff will
assign you to the Level that is best for you.
When will my class begin?
That is up to you. You may begin the Orientation
Course after you have submitted the registration form, payment, and your log in
information has been sent to you. After completing the Orientation Course and
placement test, you will be assigned to your class. New classes begin on Mondays set to US Mountain Time (Denver, CO time zone). If you complete the
Orientation Class and placement test by Friday at 5pm US Mountain Time (Denver
time), your ESL class will begin the following Monday. If you complete the
Orientation Course and placement test on Saturday or Sunday, your class will
begin one week from the following Monday.
How much time do I need to spend studying for my
ESL Online Courses class?
Again, this is up to you. The most successful
English language learners devote at least 10-15 hours a week developing their
English study skills and applying those skills in useful and practical ways.
All of our courses include a "Study Skills" section for each unit
that includes lessons on developing and enhancing study skills. The exercises
and assignments for each unit provide students with useful and practical
applications of the materials covered in their ESL lessons.
Our program encourages students to spend at least 1
hour a day studying outside of the required work for their course. Studying
should be fun and engaging, for instance:
- listening to recorded lessons on vocabulary and grammar on their smart phone or computer while they are doing daily activities like cooking, cleaning, walking to school or other places, riding in the car, etc
- watching assigned videos several times for comprehension and understanding of the cultural contexts of the material
- reading and re-reading lessons for understanding and comprehension
- writing practice paragraphs (and essays in upper levels)
- working on supplemental academic vocabulary
- revisiting past lessons for reinforcement of materials
Most students will spend about 10 hours each week
on assignments for the Courses in Intensive Tutoring in English (CITE). Motivated students who want to
quickly acquire the practical use of English will choose to spend
additional time reviewing and practicing the assignments. In fact, we strongly
encourage reviewing the material and we make possible for students to do most exercises over and
over again! This repetition assists students in memory and recall of the material they were assigned.
I only have access to a computer with internet
access some of the time. Can I still take your courses?
Yes! Each week there will be a
set of assignments that are required. Some of the assignments can only be
completed online, but you may do them whenever it is most convenient to you
during that week. Some of our assignments and practice exercises can
be downloaded to your computer and/or printed and done "offline," limiting the
amount of time you need to be connected to the internet. If you have a specific
circumstance that you wish to discuss with us, please complete and submit the
contact form on our Home page, and we will respond to you.
What happens if I cannot complete my
assignments for the week, or I cannot complete the course in the allotted time?
We understand that uncontrollable circumstances come up in everyone's lives. We are prepared for students who cannot complete assignments or even the entire course in the normal amount of time. If this happens, please tell your instructor and he or she will work with you to develop a "Special Circumstances Alternative Educational Plan" that works for you. Students have access to their classes and exercises for a year from the day they are enrolled in the class.
