Learn English at the English Language Center

The English Language Center (ELC) at Brigham Young University is under the direction of the Department of Linguistics and the Division of Continuing Education. The program is designed to provide a laboratory school for teachers learning to teach English to speakers of other languages and to provide high quality English language instruction for students desiring to learn English and improve their English language skills. Students can expect most of the teachers at the ELC to be graduate students studying in the TESOL master’s degree program or to have graduated from that program with a graduate certificate or master’s degree.

Although ELC students are not BYU students, they nevertheless have access to many BYU facilities including the university library as well as to the ELC computer lab and resource center.

The English Language Center strongly promotes an English-only environment. At the ELC, language instruction and testing take place Monday through Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Students are expected to complete 2 to 3 hours of homework assignments daily. They also participate in social activities sponsored by the ELC. Above all, the intensive nature of the program supports language development; students attend 20 hours a week of in-class instruction plus lab work.

Semester Dates

The wait time to get a visa appointment varies by country. We recommend applying early to have sufficient time to schedule your visa appointment.

Primary and Additional Costs

*Do not send money for the additional costs

Placement Levels

Entering students are tested in order to determine their level of English proficiency and are placed in the appropriate program level according to their performance on the placement test.

The ELC has two general types of courses. Foundations Courses focus on basic language skills. Students admitted to this track usually have some foundation in English prior to coming to the ELC. Academic Courses focus specifically on preparing students to develop English language skills in order to attend a university where English is the medium of instruction. Students in Academic Courses should have at least an intermediate-high level of English proficiency.

The table below shows each level offered in both the Foundations and Academic Program. Foundation Prep classes are offered based on enrollment.