ESL at VIU

  United States

• Other Cities in United States: 
Fairfax

Dates: All year around

Description: Virginia International University (VIU) was established in 1998 with the goal of providing affordable, quality higher education for students preparing to meet the ever-evolving needs and opportunities of the 21st Century workforce. Located in Fairfax, Virginia, just minutes from Washington, DC, VIU is an independent academic establishment combining a liberal arts tradition with emphasis on career orientation. We are currently offering graduate and undergraduate level programs in computer science, business, and management, as well as full and part-time certificates in a variety of professional and technical fields, including English as a second language (ESL). Our Student body comes from 40 different countries.

At VIU, we are committed to setting a new standard in higher education. Through our student-centered approach, we endeavor to provide the most positive environment for learning available anywhere. Our programs are structured to allow students great flexibility in the design and direction of their own studies. At the same time, every student is assigned a personal mentor who acts as a guide in course selection and career orientation. VIU offers tuition scholarships to high potential students, because we believe that good education should be available to those who do not have the necessary funds to pursue higher education.

To keep pace with the latest developments in technology and teaching, our curriculum and materials are regularly reviewed and revised, and our instructors receive further training, as necessary. As students near completion of their programs, VIU career counselors help place them in internships and other work-study positions with local companies and organizations.

But unlike the philosophy of other institutions, where students' involvement in the learning process rarely extends beyond the classroom, at VIU, we believe that learning is not confined to the formal instruction of the traditional class period. Thus, we offer a full schedule of diverse educational activities, such as our unique Collegiate Colloquia, regular, informal meetings open to all university members, as well as members of the community, for a casual, informed debate of current issues and other topics of international concern.

In addition to these, VIU offers a variety of other exciting educational activities involving day or overnight travel to off-campus sites, such as Niagara Falls, New York, Historic Harper's Ferry, West Virginia, Shenandoah National Park in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia, and Assateague Island National Seashore.

Highlights: Learn English at Virginia International University!

English for Success:Our English as a Second Language (ESL) program is designed to prepare students for academic success. Our students learn the skills necessary to become confident writers, fluent speakers, effective listeners, strong readers, and savvy TOEFL takers. In addition to the traditional language classes and TOEFL preparation, we offer courses in business English, academic vocabulary, and various aspects of American culture. Our students have an opportunity to make lifelong friends with people from all over the world while attending classes, going on field trips, and having fun at our parties, contests, and other social events.

Dates: ESL classes are offered during the spring, fall, and summer semesters. Full-time students attend 20 hours of classes per week (during the summer, students attend 24 hours of classes each week).

Fall: September 2, December 22
Spring: January 20, May 18
Summer: June 1, August 14

Important! Students who need a visa must apply to VIU at least eight weeks before the start of the new semester. Students must arrive in the US at least one week before the start of classes to attend the mandatory student orientation and to take the placement test.

Four Levels: ESL classes are offered at four levels of difficulty: elementary, intermediate, advanced, and college preparatory. All new students must take our placement test to determine which level is the best fit for them.

Certificate: Full-time students who pass all their courses successfully will receive a certificate at the end of the semester. The certificate qualifies them to move to the next level. Students who complete our ESL program and pass the exit test are admitted into VIU academic programs without any further English testing.

University Attributes: We are located in Fairfax, Virginia -- one of the best and safest places in the US and close to the Nation's Capital, providing students with the flexibility to enjoy the tranquility of Northern Virginia or the multi-cultural atmosphere Washington, DC has to offer. Fairfax County is among the three wealthiest counties in the US and is known as the birthplace of the Internet. In Fairfax County the unemployment rate is very low. Northern Virginia is known as 'Silicon Valley II' because the headquarters of many high tech and IT companies are located here. Thus, there are numerous opportunities for your future career.
We have small class sizes, providing students with maximum, individual attention. Our class size is roughly 20 students for academic programs and 6-10 students for ESL and TOEFL classes. Our instructor/student ratio is 1/12.

We have very qualified instructors who have both educational and practical experience in their fields of expertise. Our professors teach the courses, not assistants or graduate students.

VIU offers very affordable tuition rates and payment plans. Programs are competitively priced compared to others in the Washington DC metropolitan area and also in the USA.

Tuition scholarships are available for most of our Graduate and Undergraduate students.

We update our programs every year. To keep pace with the latest developments in technology and teaching, our curricula and educational materials are regularly reviewed and revised.

VIU, as an international educational institution, has a diverse connection to the international market. Programs have been tailored according to market needs; therefore, every course has its counterpart in real-world applications.

We have a diverse faculty and student population, providing students with a comfortable learning environment.

We are like a family, with faculty and students alike working together to achieve a common goal-educational success.

Degree Level: Masters Degree

Minimum Education: High School

Cost in US$: 2,650

Credit Available: yes

This Program is open to American, Australian, Canadian, European, Kiwi, South African and Worldwide Participants.

Application Process Involves:

• In-Person Interview when Feasible
• Letters of Reference
• Written Application

Virginia International University's Mission Statement: VIU intends to serve an international body of students from all over the world with an equally diverse faculty and staff. This richness in total human resources reflects VIU's threefold mission, as follows: - As an institution of higher learning, VIU will strive to engender the intellectual curiosity, critical thinking, and creativity that are more urgently than ever needed in light of the challenges of the new millennium. We systematically encourage the development of the knowledge base, study skills, and personal motivation necessary for competent scholarly inquiry and the lifelong pursuit of learning. At VIU, excellence in teaching leads to excellence in learning. - As part of the American higher education system, VIU recognizes the value of career preparation as a principal goal of university education. In fact, we believe that academic preparation and professional or technical training go hand-in-hand, and that a person whose background covers more than one area of expertise is both a better human being and a stronger candidate for a good job position. For example, a businessperson familiar with some of Shakespeare's characters may have an advantage over others who do not. By the same token, an English major with knowledge of ways of doing business may find his grasp of Elizabethan drama strengthened. - And, finally, as a community of students, staff, and faculty drawn from diverse national, cultural, and social backgrounds, VIU aims to create an atmosphere in which freedom of thought and diverse interpretations of human experience are cherished. At the same time, we strive to foster a shared spirit of community that mirrors the increasing interconnectedness of the "global village." It is our hope and expectation that each member of the university will develop a greater awareness of and responsiveness to fellow members as well as to those beyond our campus who are less privileged. The ultimate goal of VIU's mission is no less than to graduate persons of moral, intellectual, and professional excellence who will not only make a better life for themselves and their families, but who-more importantly-will lead the way to a better world for everyone.

Year Founded: 1998