ELS Language Centers
Encyclopedia
ELS Language Centers is a private entity that provides English language
training in the United States
. It operates through various language centers, often based on a college campus. Originally set up as an organization for creating and publishing ESL materials, ELS opened its first center in 1961 and shortly thereafter began to focus on teaching
. It became a fully owned subsidiary
of Berlitz Languages Inc., a part of Berlitz International Inc., in 1997. ELS is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey
. It has been accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training).
ELS if often used by international students to prepare for study at a U.S. university. Its curriculum is proprietary, and it has a structure that accommodates 12 levels of instruction. Certain locations also offer IELTS
and TOEFL
testing.
, with special concentrations in Florida
, New York
and California
.
The Intensive English program (30 lessons per week) is divided into 12 levels from beginning to master levels. Each level takes approximately four weeks to complete. All language skills are taught. Sessions in the afternoon focus on reading
and writing
.
A Semi-Intensive English program (20 lessons per week) is also available providing the same morning instruction as the Intensive English program, but without the afternoon sessions.
Students at the intermediate and advanced levels in both programs may choose from a variety of special-interest programs such as TOEFL preparation
, pronunciation
, current events and idiomatic english
.
1961
1978
1997
1998
2000
2002
2003
2007
English language
English is a West Germanic language that arose in the Anglo-Saxon kingdoms of England and spread into what was to become south-east Scotland under the influence of the Anglian medieval kingdom of Northumbria...
training in the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It operates through various language centers, often based on a college campus. Originally set up as an organization for creating and publishing ESL materials, ELS opened its first center in 1961 and shortly thereafter began to focus on teaching
Teaching English as a foreign language
Teaching English as a foreign language refers to teaching English to students whose first language is not English. TEFL usually occurs in the student's own country, either within the state school system, or privately, e.g., in an after-hours language school or with a tutor...
. It became a fully owned subsidiary
Subsidiary
A subsidiary company, subsidiary, or daughter company is a company that is completely or partly owned and wholly controlled by another company that owns more than half of the subsidiary's stock. The subsidiary can be a company, corporation, or limited liability company. In some cases it is a...
of Berlitz Languages Inc., a part of Berlitz International Inc., in 1997. ELS is headquartered in Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton, New Jersey
Princeton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
. It has been accredited by ACCET (Accrediting Council for Continuing Education and Training).
ELS if often used by international students to prepare for study at a U.S. university. Its curriculum is proprietary, and it has a structure that accommodates 12 levels of instruction. Certain locations also offer IELTS
IELTS
IELTS , or 'International English Language Testing System', is an international standardised test of English language proficiency. It is jointly managed by University of Cambridge ESOL Examinations, the British Council and IDP Education Pty Ltd, and was established in 1989.There are two versions of...
and TOEFL
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
testing.
Locations
As of July 2009, ELS Language Centers had over 50 centers in 32 states distributed across the countryUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with special concentrations in Florida
Florida
Florida is a state in the southeastern United States, located on the nation's Atlantic and Gulf coasts. It is bordered to the west by the Gulf of Mexico, to the north by Alabama and Georgia and to the east by the Atlantic Ocean. With a population of 18,801,310 as measured by the 2010 census, it...
, New York
New York
New York is a state in the Northeastern region of the United States. It is the nation's third most populous state. New York is bordered by New Jersey and Pennsylvania to the south, and by Connecticut, Massachusetts and Vermont to the east...
and California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
.
Programs
ELS primarily offers two programs: Intensive English and Semi-Intensive English.The Intensive English program (30 lessons per week) is divided into 12 levels from beginning to master levels. Each level takes approximately four weeks to complete. All language skills are taught. Sessions in the afternoon focus on reading
Reading comprehension
Reading comprehension is defined as the level of understanding of a text. This understanding comes from the interaction between the words that are written and how they trigger knowledge outside the text. ....
and writing
Writing
Writing is the representation of language in a textual medium through the use of a set of signs or symbols . It is distinguished from illustration, such as cave drawing and painting, and non-symbolic preservation of language via non-textual media, such as magnetic tape audio.Writing most likely...
.
A Semi-Intensive English program (20 lessons per week) is also available providing the same morning instruction as the Intensive English program, but without the afternoon sessions.
Students at the intermediate and advanced levels in both programs may choose from a variety of special-interest programs such as TOEFL preparation
TOEFL
The Test of English as a Foreign Language, or TOEFL , evaluates the ability of an individual to use and understand English in an academic setting....
, pronunciation
Pronunciation
Pronunciation refers to the way a word or a language is spoken, or the manner in which someone utters a word. If one is said to have "correct pronunciation", then it refers to both within a particular dialect....
, current events and idiomatic english
Idiom
Idiom is an expression, word, or phrase that has a figurative meaning that is comprehended in regard to a common use of that expression that is separate from the literal meaning or definition of the words of which it is made...
.
Historical timeline
1950s- ELS Educational Services was founded as an English education institute affiliated with the U.S. State Department.
1961
- ELS Language Centers opens its first school in Washington, DC.
1978
- First international school is established in JapanJapanJapan is an island nation in East Asia. Located in the Pacific Ocean, it lies to the east of the Sea of Japan, China, North Korea, South Korea and Russia, stretching from the Sea of Okhotsk in the north to the East China Sea and Taiwan in the south...
.
1997
- Berlitz International Inc. acquires ELS.
1998
- ELS headquarters relocates from Culver City, CaliforniaCulver City, CaliforniaCulver City is a city in western Los Angeles County, California. As of the 2010 census, the city had a population of 38,883, up from 38,816 at the 2000 census. It is mostly surrounded by the city of Los Angeles, but also shares a border with unincorporated areas of Los Angeles County. Culver...
to Princeton, New JerseyPrinceton, New JerseyPrinceton is a community located in Mercer County, New Jersey, United States. It is best known as the location of Princeton University, which has been sited in the community since 1756...
.
2000
- ELS and Berlitz On Campus centers merge under the ELS name.
2002
- On-line directory is launched for ELS's University & Career School Cooperative Program at www.collegedirectory.els.edu.
2003
- ELS develops standardized exit testing with ETS's The Chauncey Group.
2007
- Prep Program for the TOEFL iBT offered at 12 ELS locations.
- The ELS American Education Center in ShanghaiShanghaiShanghai is the largest city by population in China and the largest city proper in the world. It is one of the four province-level municipalities in the People's Republic of China, with a total population of over 23 million as of 2010...
.
External links
- ELS Language Centers homepage: http://www.els.edu/
- ELS Language Centers programs: http://www.els.edu/programs
- ELS Language Centers locations: http://www.els.edu/locations