Frequently Asked Questions

Program Overview

1.   What program are English Now! and ELI 360 offering, and what kind of student should enroll? First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome! will bring together international students from around the world for a three-week intensive English and cultural orientation program from August 9-27, 2010. Students enrolling in the program will have already been admitted to a U.S. college or university academic program for the 2010-2011 academic year.

Students in the program will benefit from intensive, high-level ESL program that will accelerate their transition to an English-language academic environment; student success courses and cultural studies programming that will increase their ability to succeed in their university studies. Most importantly students will enjoy a welcoming atmosphere that will smooth their transition to American college life.

The program will start with a five-day residential camp and immersion English language & cultural program. After the retreat the program will continue with classroom high-level ESL, cultural orientation, and student success programming, with students residing in a home stay with an American family, from August 15-27.

This program will include the following. (Schedules will vary by week.)

• High-level ESL studies – ~ 15 hours per week
• Local tourism – ~ 15 hours per week
• Directed social activities – ~ 15 hours per week
• Culture orientation programming – ~ 8 hours per week
• Speakers / presentations regarding American business, media, politics, law, and student life – ~ 8 hours per week
• Excursions – one / week (including day trips to Philadelphia and the Virginia countryside)

Students will travel on their sponsoring college’s or university’s F-1 student visa. (Under the terms of the F-1 student visa, students may enter the U.S. up to 30 days in advance of the start of their university studies.)

2.   What ESL skills are emphasized in the English program? The program will emphasize high-level conversation skills to prepare students for the environment of a U.S. college or university classroom. Students in the program will have demonstrated their proficiency in English language on the TOEFL or other language proficiency test, but will not have been in an English language immersion environment and consequently may be limited in their abilities to use the language. Students will build their active vocabularies in conversation on academic topics; address pronunciation issues; develop listening comprehension related to topics like those that they will encounter on campus; and be exposed to idioms common to student culture. Instructors will all be certified ESL instructors associated with English Now! and ELI 360.

3.   What cultural issues are addressed in the program? The program will address issues including patterns of social life; current topics in American popular culture; urban vs. suburban vs. rural behavioral norms; trends in American family life; current topics in American politics; residence hall behaviors; student activities; campus safety; and typical challenges to international student acculturation. Presenters will all be experienced advisors to international students or international students associated with English Now! and ELI 360.

4. What student success courses will be provided in the program? Issues addressed will include classroom protocol on American college campuses; faculty treatment of international students; note taking techniques; how to work with international student offices; and how to work effectively with other university administration. Presenters will all be experienced advisors to international students, professors with experience teaching international students, or international students associated with English Now! and ELI 360.

5.   What tourism activities are included in the program? The group will visit museums and monuments in and around Washington, DC, including the Air & Space Museum, the Jefferson Memorial, the Lincoln Memorial, the National Archives, National Gallery of Art, the National Portrait Gallery, the National Natural History Museum, the U.S. Capitol, the Vietnam War Memorial, the Washington Mall, and the White House. These destinations are amongst the best-known tourist destinations in the United States. In addition, the group will undertake day trips to Philadelphia and the Virginia countryside.

6.   Where do students stay while enrolled in the program?

Students will arrive in Washington, DC, on Sunday, August 9, and will travel together with English Now! and ELI 360 staff to a residential camp, Concord Retreat, located in the beautiful Potomac Highlands of West Virginia, where they will stay together from August 9-14. See http://concordretreat.com/ for more information about Concord Retreat. After returning to the Washington, DC area on Friday, August 14, they will reside with American families in the Washington, DC area from August 14-27, experiencing American culture directly through their host families alongside a schedule of structured classes and activities.

7. How should I arrange my travel plans? Will English Now! or ELI 360 help? Who will pick me up at the airport? You will purchase your plane ticket to Washington, DC (Washington Dulles airport preferred, but we can also pick you up at Baltimore-Washington International or Washington-Reagan National Airport). Ask us if you are having problems confirming a reservation, and we can recommend a travel agent to assist in your travel planning. You will be met at the airport – First DaysUSA and your Washington Welcome start as soon as you arrive in the U.S.! You will know the name and have the photo and mobile phone number of the representative of English Now! and ELI 360 who will meet you at the airport specifically we will be waiting at baggage claim when you arrive. We will arrange transfer from the airport to Concord Retreat as well as all local transport during your stay.

8. How do I get from Washington, DC to my college or university? What if my college or university is not located in the Washington, DC area? We will help to arrange your travel by train, bus, or plane from Washington, DC to your college or university, upon the conclusion of the First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome program. We will assist you in finding the most convenient and least expensive travel option – just tell us where you are going – and you will purchase your ticket to travel to your college campus.

9. If I attend First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome, will I spend more on travel to the U.S.? Historically based on travel history you should actually save money on travel expenses if you join us for this program. Travel to the U.S. in the days immediately preceding the start of college and university classes at the end of August is very expensive. Reservations are difficult to confirm, and tickets are expensive, because so many of the almost 600,000 international students studying in the U.S. want to travel on the same few days preceding the start of the typical Fall Semester. Travel three weeks earlier will not be inexpensive – generally August is a busy month for international air travel – but availability will be better, and we think that costs may consequently be lower for many students. In addition, travel from the Washington, DC area to college campuses will be low-cost. We will suggest convenient, inexpensive means of getting where you are going – by train or bus, or discount airlines like Southwest Airlines – depending on your ultimate destination.

10. What if I arrive early or depart early or late for the program? We can arrange for homestay accommodations and will offer a limited activities program for students arriving early. (There will be a charge of $100 per day for students arriving before Sunday, August 9, 2010, or departing after Thursday, August 27, 2010.) If you need to travel to your college campus before Thursday, August 27, 2010, we will be sorry to see you go but can issue a credit for $50 per day for the days of the program that you miss.

11. How will First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome relate to ELI 360’s Priority One program? Students that participate in the First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome program may make preferential arrangements for continuing support through ELI 360’s Priority One program at the conclusion of the program, but this is not required.

Curriculum

16. What are the key elements of the English Now! ESL curriculum? The ESL curriculum will focus on the sorts of English competencies important in classroom situations, including listening comprehension / notetaking, conversation regarding sophisticated discussion topics, and pronunciation. In addition, the ESL curriculum will address slang and informal speech patterns typical on college campuses.

17. Will homework be required in the program? Yes. Students will be required to prepare readings to discuss in class and will engage in out-of-class conversation exercises in the community.

18. Does English Now! require students to take a final exam? Yes, but the exam will be used to track progress rather than to determine a grade. Students will complete an ESL skill inventory upon arrival and will complete parts of the same exam before departure to test their progress.

19.Will the courses that I take at English Now! be recognized at my college in the U.S.? No. This is a not-for-credit program and will not be awarded credit by your college or university. However, our principal objective – and our belief – is that it will increase the likelihood that you will succeed in your studies.

Financial

20. What are tuition and fees for the program? What does that cover? Tuition and fees for the program will total US$3,500. This covers tuition, accommodations, [21] meals, course materials, fees, and participation in all activities organized as a part of the program (including transport on day trips to Philadelphia and the Virginia countryside).

21. What does that total fee not cover that I should budget for? First, you will need to pay for air travel to Baltimore, Maryland, or Washington, DC. Then, you will need to pay for air, train, or bus travel from Washington, DC to your college campus. Most likely, you will book a one-way ticket from your country to Washington, DC, and then air, train, or bus travel from Washington, DC to your campus. The cost of travel will vary depending on where you are coming from and your ultimate destination. Next, you should budget for additional meal costs, including an average of one meal per day during the program. The average cost per breakfast will be between US$4 – 6 and per lunch / dinner will be US$7 – 10, bringing the cost of additional meals to approximately US$200. Finally, you should budget for spending money and souvenirs. The minimum you should budget for spending money and souvenirs should be in the range of US$150.

22. Will students be guaranteed a fixed U.S. dollar exchange rate for the event? No, they will not. Students will be required to pay in U.S. Dollars in full in advance of the program’s start date. Any payments will be translated into U.S. Dollars at the rate prevailing on the day payment is processed.

23. Are scholarships available? We do not anticipate that any scholarships will be available.

24. What payment methods are available? Payment will be made by wire transfer or international credit card. Please ask your ELI 360 Representative or English Now! for details.

25. Are payment plans available? Yes. Payment may be made in three installments: (1) an application fee of US$40; (2) a registration fee of US$500 that will reserve your place in the program; and (3) payment of the remaining amount outstanding by July 15, 2010 (note: a reduced early payment option is available for those making payment in full by May 15, 2010).

People

26. Who teaches English Now! ESL courses? English Now!’s ESL instructors are all certified English teachers with prior experience working with international students. English Now! is generally able to attract some of the top ESL instructors in the Washington, DC area because of its commitment to small group classes of six students or less. For summary biographies of English Now! ESL instructors, please see the English Now! website at: http://www.english-now.com/English_Now/Staff.html

27. Will I have one instructor or more in my English Now! courses? You will have one or two instructors in your English Now! courses. ESL courses will meet Mondays through Thursdays in the afternoons.

28. Who will teach English Now! and ELI 360 cultural orientation and student success courses? Cultural orientation and student success courses will be taught by English Now! ESL instructors, international student advisors from American colleges and universities, and English Now! and ELI 360 staff.

28. Who else will I meet? You will stay for two weeks with an American family in the Washington, DC area and get to know them very well! In addition, you will spend time with English Now!’s and ELI 360’s directors and senior administrative staff, including Paul & Elizabeth Boesen of English Now! and Erik & Shelli Presley of ELI 360.

29. Will I have the opportunity to meet professionals from business, education, journalism, and politics, during the program? Yes. You will meet four times per week for lunch or dinner with professionals from U.S. business, education, journalism, and politics. These informal meetings will provide a great opportunity to meet successful American professionals and hear from them about their American college experiences and how it prepared them for success in their lives and careers.

30. Will I have the opportunity to meet American students my age during the program? Yes. There will be one or two social events weekly where American students join the group for panel discussions and social activities.

Students

31. What countries will be represented in the program? This will depend on enrollments. We anticipate that students may enroll in the program from China, Japan, Korea, Thailand, and at least one or two other countries.

32. Where will students in the program be going to university? Students will be enrolled at multiple universities.

U.S. Immigration

33. Do I need a separate visa for the English Now! – ELI 360 program? No. Students will enter the U.S. on the I-20 / F-1 Student Visa arranged by their college or university. Students may enter the U.S. up to 30 days in advance of the date indicated on their college or university’s I-20.

34. Will English Now! or ELI 360 help with the immigration process? No. English Now! and ELI 360 can answer basic questions regarding the immigration process, but you should consult with your college or university’s International Student Office regarding any questions regarding immigration matters.

General

35. Where is English Now! located? English Now! is located in Bethesda, Maryland, three miles outside of Washington, DC. Bethesda is a small city that is the home of many international residents of Washington, DC.

36. Is English Now! a public or private school? English Now! is a private school.. It is owned by Paul and Elizabeth Boesen, Americans who have resided in China, Germany, Indonesia, Singapore, and Switzerland, and who have worked in education, business, non-profit organizations, and international organizations. Paul serves as the managing director of English Now!, and Elizabeth serves as its director of family programs. For more information regarding English Now!, please see its website at http://www.english-now.com.

37. When was English Now! founded, and what is its history? English Now! was founded by Jan Rea and Anda Sztankay in 1991. Originally operated from Jan’s and Anda’s homes, the school moved to its current location in Bethesda, Maryland in 1996. English Now! was inspired by Jan Rea’s experience as a student studying Italian language in a small town outside Siena, Italy. Jan had a wonderful experience studying in a small, Italian town. The atmosphere at the school was welcoming, class sizes were small, and the cultural experience was rich.

Upon Jan’s return to the United States, Jan and Anda, who were both trained ESOL teachers, created English Now! to provide the same sort of experience to the Washington, DC, international community. They formed small classes, with a maximum of six students in group classes, and instilled in the people and organization a warm and welcoming approach to learning. Though Jan and Anda have retired, the atmosphere they created remains to this day. Many of our teachers have been here for six to eight years or more, and we have helped thousands of students achieve improved levels of English proficiency.

38. How is English Now! licensed? English Now! is licensed by the State of Maryland, the Commonwealth of Virginia, and the District of Columbia.

39. What kind of certificate do I earn upon completion of the program? Students will receive a certificate of program completion but will not earn any sort of diploma or degree.

40. What is English Now!’s relationship with ELI 360? English Now! works with ELI 360 to offer programs, including First DaysUSA – Washington Welcome to university and professional students.

Miscellaneous

41. What is the appropriate attire for the Conference and the course? Students may dress casually. Clothing should be appropriate for warm summer temperatures. During August the average temperatures in the Washington, DC area is a high of 30⁰C and a low of 21⁰C.