University Spotlight

Beginning Intermediate

Business Communication

You will practice speaking and writing skills to develop the personal presence necessary for success in business. You will learn how to communicate more effectively in professional situations, including meetings, social events, and presentations. You will also learn how to compose at least three different types of professional business communication.

Everyday Conversation

You will develop your vocabulary and practice communicating in short, everyday personal conversations. These may include talking about your daily life, or role playing what to say at a restaurant, shopping, at the doctor's office and more. You will develop your fluency and confidence in everyday situations.

Reading Club

You will read short, entertaining texts such as short stories, a short novel, lyrics and articles. You will develop vocabulary and reading skills by using strategies such as understanding inferences. In groups, we will discuss characters, story/plot, and ideas presented in the readings.

Topics in the News

You and your classmates will choose news stories and topics that we will cover in class. You will read articles and watch video clips of various news stories and discuss them. You will learn and use new vocabulary that relates to the topics we study, and we will review vocabulary with group activities and games. As a final project, students will work in groups to create their own news video stories.

Everyday Conversation

You will develop your vocabulary and practice communicating in short, everyday personal conversations. These may include talking about your daily life, or role playing what to say at a restaurant, shopping, at the doctor's office and more. You will develop your fluency and confidence in everyday situations.

Talk More 1

Do you want to feel more comfortable speaking in English? In this class, you will have fun expressing yourself orally while working in pairs, small and large groups, or alone. Using the improvisational system of InterPlay, you are invited to speak without preparation and to make things up. In addition to expanding your story telling abilities, you will learn other ways to communicate with others using movement, voice, and stillness. Whether you are shy or outgoing, you can learn how to succeed at getting your message across more effectively and enjoy the process!

Reading Club

You will read short, entertaining texts such as short stories, a short novel, lyrics and articles. You will develop vocabulary and reading skills by using strategies such as understanding inferences. In groups, we will discuss characters, story/plot, and ideas presented in the readings.

High Intermediate to Advanced

GRE Writing

This class will help you develop your critical thinking and analytical writing skills. You will learn how to develop complex ideas and arguments and provide coherent support for them. You will practice both the "analyze an issue" task, for which you need to construct an argument and support it and "the analyze an argument" task, for which you evaluate someone else's argument.

Improving Oral Skills

In this course, you will improve your speaking and listening skills in English using current news events. Activities will include listening to news reports, studying vocabulary and speaking styles, and participating in debates and discussions. You will receive feedback on your speaking to help you focus on what to improve. You will also participate in group discussions and situational role plays.

IELTS Prep

In this course, you will learn the basic skills needed to improve your scores on the IELTS test. We will practice strategies for the four sections of the test: reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Textbook Required.

Professional Writing

In this course, you will practice the grammar and style needed to write several professional writing forms. These may include professional emails, resumes, cover letters, blogs, and white papers. You'll write and have your writing reviewed each class and join your classmates in activities to improve your grammar and North American voice.

American Pronunciation

In this course, you will learn what aspects of your pronunciation make it difficult for North Americans to understand you. You will learn strategies to improve your English pronunciation. We will practice how to make specific sounds, intonation, linking and stress. Other activities will help you eliminate your problem areas.

TOEFL Prep

In this course, you will learn the requirements of the four sections-writing, reading, speaking and listening-of the TOEFL exam. You will practice answering sample questions from each section and receive feedback on how well you perform the various tasks required on the test. Textbook required.

Talk More 2

Do you want to feel more comfortable speaking in English? In this class, you will have fun expressing yourself orally while working in pairs, small and large groups, or alone. Using the improvisational system of InterPlay, you are invited to speak without preparation and to make things up. In addition to expanding your story telling abilities, you will learn other ways to communicate with others using movement, voice, and stillness. Whether you are shy or outgoing, you can learn how to succeed at getting your message across more effectively and enjoy the process!

American Pronunciation

In this course, you will learn what aspects of your pronunciation make it difficult for North Americans to understand you. You will learn strategies to improve your English pronunciation. We will practice how to make specific sounds, intonation, linking and stress. Other activities will help you eliminate your problem areas.

American Popular Culture

In this course, students will learn about American popular culture through reading, speaking, writing, listening, and visiting sites in Atlanta. This class will be taught in a manner that is similar to a typical academic seminar in US universities, giving students an opportunity to learn more about the teaching and learning practices of typical university classrooms. Students will also participate in two in-class field trips - one to the World of Coca-Cola and one to CNN - as well as complete one independent field trip. Students will pay their own entrance fees for class field trips, and the total cost of those may be about $30.

Leadership Across Cultures

In this course, you will learn about the theoretical and practical aspects of leadership in the cross-cultural context. You will practice giving oral presentations, listen to interactive lectures on specific topics, and engage in academic discussions and hands-on activities. You will gain an appreciation of cross-cultural differences in leadership as well as enhance your personal leadership capabilities.

Professional Writing

In this course, you will practice the grammar and style needed to write several professional writing forms. These may include professional emails, resumes, cover letters, blogs, and white papers. You'll write and have your writing reviewed each class and join your classmates in activities to improve your grammar and North American voice.

Improving Oral Skills

In this course, you will improve your speaking and listening skills in English using current news events. Activities will include listening to news reports, studying vocabulary and speaking styles, and participating in debates and discussions. You will receive feedback on your speaking to help you focus on what to improve. You will also participate in group discussions and situational role plays.

Low Beginner

100L Grammar

In this class, learners will write sentences using simple present and past tense. Learners will understand basic sentence structure, word order in English, and use nouns and verbs in sentences. This class is paired with Writing 100. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

100L Writing

In this class, learners will write simple and compound sentences. Learners will write short paragraphs (5-7 sentences) about familiar topics and use writing mechanics like capitalization, punctuation, and indentation.

This class is paired with Grammar 100. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

100L Reading

In this course, students will begin to read ESL beginner passages of 200-300 words, understand and use vocabulary, and respond to questions about the readings. Learners will also be able to express ideas and opinions about the reading passages.

100L Speaking/Listening

In this class, students will practice speaking and listening for everyday situations. Students will give simple presentations and speak on a variety of topics such as daily activities, plans, likes and dislikes, and past experiences. Students will also use listening strategies to improve their listening comprehension. In addition, students will develop their pronunciation, including English rhythm, intonation, consonant sounds, and vowel sounds.

Level 200 - Beginner

200L Grammar

This is a high-beginner grammar course. In this class, students will form sentences using present, past, future, and present-progressive verbs. Learners will use grammatical vocabulary to explain simple, compound, and complex sentences. Learners will use correct word order and identify parts of speech such as nouns, verbs, articles, adjectives, adverbs, pronouns, prepositions, and comparative adjectives and adverbs.

This class is paired with Writing 200. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

200L Writing

In this class, students will write simple and compound sentences and be able to add information to sentences. Students will write texts for social purposes such as emails, as well as short paragraphs about familiar topics. Students will use correct writing mechanics and formatting such as capitalization, punctuation, indentation, and margins.

This class is paired with Grammar 200. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

200L Reading

In this class, students will develop strategies, skills, and vocabulary for reading ESL high-beginner passages on different topics. Students will develop reading skills such as making predictions; identifying the topic, main idea and major details; and using pictures and context to understand vocabulary. Students will respond to questions about the readings, make sentences using key vocabulary, and express their opinions about the topics.

200L Speaking/Listening

In this class, students will practice listening and speaking for everyday conversation as well as more abstract conversational situations such as comparing cultures. Students will give simple presentations and participate in speaking tasks using simple present, past and future tenses. Students will also use basic listening strategies to understand ESL-beginner listening passages. Learners will develop and practice American English pronunciation using rhythm, intonation, consonant, and vowel sounds.

Level 300 - Low Intermediate

300L Grammar

In this lower-intermediate grammar class, students will understand and use specific grammar structures at the word and sentence levels. Students will use oral and written communication, focusing on progressive and perfect tenses, modals, count and non-count nouns, pronouns, articles, and comparisons.

This class is paired with Writing 300. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

300L Writing

In this class, students will write different types of paragraphs (process, descriptive, narrative, and opinion) using simple, compound, and complex sentences. Students will add information to sentences and combine sentences, as well as link ideas with transition words and dependent clauses. Students will improve their understanding of the steps of the writing process and use writing mechanics such as capitalization, punctuation, indentation, and margins.

This class is paired with Grammar 300. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

300L Reading

In this class, learners will develop strategies, skills, and vocabulary for reading ESL low-intermediate passages of 400-600 words. Students will make predictions before reading, identify topics, main ideas, and major details of a passage, and understand vocabulary in context. Learners will also identify signal words and common organizational structures, give simple summaries, and compare two ideas about the same topic.

300L Speaking/Listening

In this class, students will practice speaking and listening related to practical conversational situations, as well as formal interactions such as listening and responding to simple ESL lectures on academic topics. Students will give 3-5 minute presentations and participate in a variety of speaking tasks using simple present, past, and future tenses. In addition, students will develop listening strategies for ESL-intermediate passages on practical and abstract topics. Students will develop their pronunciation including American English word stress, reductions, sentence stress, rhythm, intonation patterns, and consonant and vowel sounds.

Level 400 - Intermediate

400L Grammar

In this intermediate grammar course, students will use specific grammatical structures at the word and sentence level, including all verb tenses and active and passive voice. Students will produce all possible sentence types.

This class is paired with Writing 400. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

400L Writing

In this class, students will compose different types of paragraphs such as opinion, descriptive, comparative, and cause-effect, using a variety of sentence types. Students will also improve writing mechanics and formatting for both paragraphs and essays. Learners will write a classification essay and follow the steps involved in the writing process.

This class is paired with Grammar 400. Students will have the same teacher for both courses.

400L Reading

In this class, students will read for general purposes and develop the skills, strategies, and vocabulary necessary to read ESL intermediate passages and non- simplified passages of 500-700 words. Students will make predictions before reading; identify the topic, main idea and details of a passage; and use context to understand vocabulary. Students will also use signal words, identify organizational patterns, make inferences, and understand pronoun reference.

400L Speaking/Listening

In this class, students will practice speaking and listening for practical and academic conversational situations. Students will also listen and respond to simple ESL lectures on academic topics. Learners will give 4-6 minute presentations and participate in a variety of speaking tasks using simple present, past, and future tenses. Students will use American English pronunciation including word stress, reductions, sentence stress, rhythm, intonation patterns, consonant and vowel sounds, and thought groups.

Level 500 - Upper Intermediate

500L Grammar

In this course, students will study sophisticated grammar structures such as adjective clauses, adverb clauses, noun clauses, and reduced clauses. Students will also study modals, pronouns, subject-verb agreement, and verb tenses. Learners will be assessed on their ability to recognize correct/incorrect structures, edit for errors, and also produce the forms in written and oral communication.

500L Reading

In this course, students will read for U.S. university classes and admission tests by reading texts similar to U.S. academic textbooks. Students will develop skills, strategies, and vocabulary for reading short and long passages, as well as develop summarizing, critical thinking, and written/oral discussion abilities. Students will practice extensive reading, which includes note-taking and comprehension of main ideas, as well as intensive reading of short passages, which is seen on the TOEFL exam. Students in this class will identify main ideas, use text organization to improve comprehension, understand the writer's purpose, and distinguish between main ideas and minor details. In addition, they will use context clues to understand new vocabulary, find clues to understand how writers develop their arguments, and make inferences about the reading passages.

This class is paired with Writing 500. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.

500L Speaking/Listening

In this course, students will prepare for the speaking and listening demands of U.S. university undergraduate classes and admission tests. Students will develop listening skills and note-taking strategies in order to understand ESL academic lectures and interviews as well as short news broadcasts and real academic lectures. Learners will also improve pronunciation skills and increase their vocabulary.

500L Writing

This course helps students prepare for the writing demands of U.S. university classes and admission tests by developing the skills necessary to write coherent paragraphs and essays. Students will summarize and write about the passages from the Reading 500 class. In addition, they will use APA style citation and develop understanding of the steps of the writing process in order to write in-class and at-home essays.

This class is paired with Reading 500. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.

Level 600 - Lower Advanced

600L Grammar

In this advanced grammar course, learners will develop an understanding of which grammar structures are more sophisticated, such as stative passive, complement noun clauses, and unreal conditionals. Students will apply these structures to their writing and speaking. Learners will also develop an understanding of their own grammatical problems in speaking and writing and then learn how to monitor and edit for those specific problems.

600L Reading

In this course, learners will read for U.S. university classes and admissions tests by reading authentic college-level material. Students will improve their summarizing, critical thinking, and written/oral discussion abilities that are necessary for both extensive and intensive reading. Learners will analyze main ideas, text structure, and purpose for extensive reading, as well as analyze details and determine the meaning of unknown vocabulary with intensive reading assignments. Learners will also improve post-reading skills such as summarizing and synthesizing texts in written and oral form.

This class is paired with Writing 600. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.

600L Speaking/Listening

In this course, students will continue to prepare for speaking and listening demands of U.S. university classes and admission tests by engaging in speaking activities that simulate real social and academic situations and assignments. Students will take notes on simulated academic lectures and interviews, as well as authentic newscasts and lectures. In addition, learners will improve pronunciation skills and vocabulary knowledge.

600L Writing

In this course, students will prepare for the writing demands of U.S. university classes and admission tests by writing integrated TOEFL-like essays, summary/response assignments, and a research-based persuasive essay. Students will write both in-class and at-home essays and assignments in a manner that is both linguistically and conceptually sophisticated. Students will also continue to use APA-style citation in order to avoid plagiarism and appropriately refer to texts. Students will follow the steps of writing including gathering, analyzing, interpreting, and evaluating information, as well as composing and revising their writing through multiple drafts.

This class is paired with Reading 600. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.

Level 700 - Upper Advanced

700L Academic Reading and Discussion

In this course, students will prepare for the reading demands of U.S. university classes by reading authentic college-level textbook chapters, academic research articles, and literary non-fiction texts. Students will develop note-taking skills, critical thinking, time management, intensive reading skills, independent research skills, and academic vocabulary. Students will improve both their extensive and intensive reading ability. They will also improve written and oral discussion skills such as evaluating and analyzing new ideas from different writers' points of view, synthesizing information from multiple texts, hypothesizing writers' responses, and justifying positions using evidence from multiple texts.

This class is paired with Writing 700. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.

700L Listening

In this course, students will continue to prepare for the listening demands of U.S. university classes by developing listening and note-taking skills. Students will listen to academic lectures, interviews, news broadcasts, and documentaries on a wide range of topics. In addition, students will expand overall communicative effectiveness and increase their vocabulary.

700L Speaking

In this class, students will learn how to deliver clear, well-organized, culturally appropriate academic presentations. They will also manage and participate in academic discussions based on two or more academic readings per week. Students will work to improve aspects of their pronunciation that may affect the overall clarity and fluency of their speech, as well as enhance non-verbal communication skills. The final project is a formal academic presentation based on the student's research.

700L Writing

In this course, students will prepare for the writing demands of U.S. university classes by writing academic emails, stand-alone academic research paragraphs, and an analytical research paper. Students will increase their ability to write in a linguistically and conceptually sophisticated manner and improve the ability to write texts that conform to readers' expectations. Students will utilize information from multiple sources and continue to use APA style citation in order to avoid plagiarism and refer to texts. Students will also enhance their editing and revision skills. This class is paired with Reading 700. Students will have the same teacher for both courses. Students must take both courses.