Language Courses and Cultural Exchanges Worldwide

English in New York

With a population of 8.5 million inhabitants, New York is the most famous and most dynamic city in the United States.  Manhattan, the capital of the American financial world, offers students a wide range of incomparable cultural and sports events, attractions, restaurants, markets, ethnic diversity, shopping centers... more than we can name.  Public transportation is quick and efficient, and in the last 10 years New York has become one of the 10 safest cities in the United States.

The School

Our school in New York is spread throughout five buildings and teaches several thousand students each year, including those in university preparation programs.  The school offers intensive programs (min 2 weeks) or long duration courses of 20 to 30 hours a week for up to one year.  All of the programs offer a choice of emphasis between general English, TOEFL preparation, and business English.  To ensure proper placement of students (some courses require a minimum level of proficiency), the school organizes an oral and written aptitude test at the beginning of each course.  The student body is made up of a diverse mix of nationalities and there are not likely to be many other native French speakers.  Thus, we do not advise this destination for complete beginners.

Three of the school’s five campuses are located in Queens, one is in Manhattan, and one is just west of the city, in New Jersey.  Unless an applicant requests otherwise, we always place students on the Manhattan campus, as this is the most centrally located of the five.  It is just a stone’s throw from the Empire State building and close to everything that makes New York a unique city: the lights of Times Square, the art of the Lincoln Center, the United Nations compound, the theaters of Broadway, the tranquility of Central Park, the popular subculture of Downtown and the highest quality of New York’s stores and restaurants.

The school offers an excellent multimedia center with books, videos and CD-ROMs, PCs with educational software designed to prepare students for the TOEFL and, of course, Internet.  Class sizes are typically around 15 students, with a maximum of 20.  A cafeteria offers hot meals at lunch and snacks throughout the day.

The Courses

We offer semi-intensive (20 hours) or intensive course (25 hours) programs, lasting 2 to 48 weeks, of general English (grammar, conversation, pronunciation, written and oral expression).  It is possible to choose a TOEFL preparation program, lasting 8 weeks minimum, or a Business English program, including 18 lessons per week.  An oral and written placement test will be given upon arrival.

• Semi-intensive Courses
  • 20 hours per week
    
  • Programs lasting 2 to 48 weeks for all levels, year-round
  • Courses from 2:00-6:00 PM, Monday to Friday
• Intensive Courses
  • 25 hours per week
  • Programs lasting 2 to 48 weeks for all levels, year-round
  • Courses from 10:00 AM to 4:00 PM (1hour lunch break), Monday to Friday
• TOEFL Preparation
  • 25 hours per week
  • 8, 16, 24 or 36 weeks (sessions of 8 weeks)
  • Courses from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (TOEFL preparation) and from 2:00-4:00 PM (general English), Monday to Friday
    
  The student needs to pass a level test upon arrival in New York to be able to take the TOEFL preparation program.  If he or she does not pass, the student will first need to take a general English course.
  
• Business English
  • 18 hours per week
    
  • Programs lasting 2 to 48 weeks for all levels, year-round
  • Courses from 10:00 AM to 1:00 PM (general English) and two times a week from 1:30-3:00 PM (business English), Monday to Friday. The students needs to pass a level test upon arrival in New York to be able to take the Business courses.  If he or she does not pass, the student will first need to take a general English course program.

Accommodation

Accommodation can be either in a host family or in one of the three residences we offer in New York.

• Homestay
  Students who want to live with a host family can chose to stay in Manhattan (maximum 4 weeks) or outside of Manhattan. Host families provide breakfast; or breakfast and dinner on request (see supplement in the price table).
• Residences:
  In Manhattan, we accommodate students in single rooms (or double rooms for students travelling together) in one of the following residences, depending on availability and requests. One residence is available outside of Manhattan.
  
• Upper Westside (Manhattan)
  One residence is located in the Upper Westside, close to Central Park, Lincoln Center, restaurants and shops. Rooms (single or double) are all air-conditioned and equipped with their own refrigerator, sink, desk and chair, with bathrooms and showers on every floor. Students can use the lounge with high speed Internet, TV, and a kitchen with stoves and microwave ovens. Coin operated washing machines and dryers are available in-house. Linen will be provided but students will need to launder as needed during their stay.
  
• Manhattan YMCA
  The other residence in Manhattan is a YMCA located just off of Central Park, only 15 minutes away from the school. Rooms can be single or double (bunk beds), bathrooms are shared. There is no kitchen available. Facilities include: fitness center, swimming pool, steam rooms and saunas, basketball, racquetball, handball & squash courts.
  
• Queens YMCA
  Outside of Manhattan, we offer accommodation at a YMCA located in Queens, 45 minutes away from the school. Rooms can be single or double, with shared bathrooms on the floor. No kitchen is available. Facilities include: fitness and cardio center, olympic size pool including steam and sauna rooms, basketball, ping-pong and racquetball courts, as well as linen service. Television and internet are availbale.

Please note: Accommodation should be booked at least 4 weeks in advance, often earlier as residences usually fill up very quickly, especially in the summer. You may be asked to pay a refundable deposit (0) when you arrive at the residence.

Fees

Prices for this program are detailed in the table to the right.
Prices include:

• Selected courses
  
• Selected accommodation
• Assistance of our staff in Belgium and in the USA
• All taxes and enrollment fees
• Assistance in obtaining a student visa if necessary

Prices do not include:

• The flight
  
• Visa fees, when applicable
• The schoolbook (which needs to be bought at the school)
• Additional costs (see table):
  • Half-board (2 meals a day) in host family (except in Manhattan)
  • Transportation from the airport to the student residence on arrival
    

Dates 2010

Arrival is possible every Sunday; courses also take place during Christmas vacation.

 

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28 Rue de la Loi - 1040 Bruxelles   |   Tel +32 (0) 2 230 01 90   |   Fax +32 (0) 2 280 07 87