How We Teach

The Institute for International Studies (IIS) offers a full program based on the university calendar with two fifteen-week semesters, a four-week summer program and a one-week January inter-term. There are 20-24 class hours of intensive English language study available per week in a Monday through Friday schedule. We also offer special course for special interest groups in the fields of education, business, and inter-cultural studies.

Our English studies program prepares students to effectively serve in today's global community. The excellence of our program also prepares students for university level academic pursuits. Qualifying students may also be allowed to take selected classes at Hope International University while enrolled in the institute. Our commitment to a diversified study program allows for both language learning and cross- cultural exposure. Electives in travel study, service learning, drama, business English, and research writing provide a variety of opportunities for language acquisition.

In addition to our staff of well-qualified and experienced teachers, a listening lab, computer lab, and classrooms that are audio visually equipped, support our program. Our location in Southern California also provides us with a host of opportunities to learn English through day trips and weekend activities.

Five Levels

TOEFL scores and our own placement tests are used as placement tools so students are placed at a level where they can take maximum advantage of our program.

Beginning

Focuses on daily communication in an English-speaking environment, prepares vocabulary and grammar foundation for academic tasks.

Low Intermediate

Moves students from functional language toward a more academically oriented study. Classroom topics are more factual than personal, and the students practice simplified college like tasks.

Intermediate

Prepares students for academic success by helping them refine their language skills in the context of college level materials. At this level students may take an undergraduate course along with their ESL studies.

High Intermediate

Prepares students for greater academic success at the undergraduate level. At this level students may take two undergraduate courses along with their ESL studies.

Advanced

Designed for the undergraduate or graduate program students level V focuses on the format and content of the highly advanced academic tasks in the context of challenging topics and advanced vocabulary.