ELS Language Centers
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| Type | English Language School |
|---|---|
| Industry | TEFL, EFL, ESOL |
| Founded | Washington, DC, 1961 |
| Headquarters | Princeton, New Jersey, USA |
| Number of locations | 50+ |
| Services | English courses, examination preparation courses, university placement |
| Parent | Berlitz International Inc. |
| Website | ELS Language Centers |
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.
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[edit] Operations
[edit] Locations
As of July 2009, ELS Language Centers had over 50 centers in 32 states distributed across the country, with special concentrations in Florida, New York and California.
[edit] 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 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.
[edit] Historical timeline
1950s
- ELS Educational Services was founded as an English education institute affiliated with the U.S. State Department.[1]
1961
- ELS Language Centers opens its first school in Washington, DC.[2]
1978
- First international school is established in Japan.
1997
- Berlitz International Inc. acquires ELS.[3]
1998
- ELS headquarters relocates from Culver City, California to Princeton, New Jersey.
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 Shanghai.
[edit] References
- ^ "ELS Language Centers - Oman: history". http://www.elsoman.com/about/history.html. Retrieved 21 March 2010.
- ^ "Familiarization Tour to ELS Language Centers in the USA". http://www.meiguo-liuxue.com/News_01.asp?id=13. Retrieved 13 March 2010.[dead link]
- ^ "BERLITZ TO BUY ELS EDUCATIONAL FOR $95 MILLION". www.nytimes.com. July 24, 1997. http://www.nytimes.com/1997/07/24/business/berlitz-to-buy-els-educational-for-95-million.html?pagewanted=1. Retrieved 13 March 2010.
[edit] 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
