About Florida State College at Jacksonville English Language Institute
The English Language Institute (ELI) offers intensive, high-quality, non-credit instruction to non-native English Language speakers. The ELI is an academic unit of Florida State College at Jacksonville and is located at the Downtown Campus. Our mission is to help students gain proficiency in English as a second language and a better understanding of the American culture.
Studying in Florida
Every year, a top choice for international students looking to continue their higher education is to study in Florida. With many universities and colleges in Florida that range from private to public, small to large, there are many options for international students to find the perfect fit to succeed professionally. Not only that, but international students will also have access to world-class beaches, amusement parks, and a multicultural environment that will enrich the overall experience of studying in the US.
Read our full article on studying in Florida
Life in Jacksonville
The Bold New City of the South
Jacksonville, Florida is known as the “bold new city of the south." Home to over 500 neighborhoods, there is a diverse culture of city life meeting the relaxed Florida beach lifestyle. During your time as a student here, you will have the opportunity to see the sights and experience true Floridian culture.
Here are some of the can’t miss things to do in Jacksonville:
Adjacent to downtown Jacksonville in the historic Riverside neighborhood is the Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens with picturesque views along the mighty St.John’s river. Make a day out of it and check out the local art market right next door on Saturdays from 10am until 4pm!
There is also a variety of other museums located in the downtown area such as the Museum of Science and History (MOSH), the Museum of Contemporary Art (MOCA). Beachside there is the Jacksonville Beach Historical Museum.
Here in the bold city, most Sundays are for football. The Jacksonville Jaguars are a pro football team part of the NFL. With plenty of home games to attend at Everbank Stadium during the fall months. Living here you’ll quickly catch the Jaguar fever and find yourself roaring with Jacksonville Jaguar pride!
If football isn’t quite your thing we also have our soccer team the Jacksonville Armada and our baseball team the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp.
Another great option for a day of fun is the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, with a wide variety of animals it’s easy to spend a whole day learning all about critters near and far.
Jacksonville also has a large shopping mall at St. John’s Town Center. Home to over a hundred shops and restaurants and still expanding! Located nearby is the newly opened Top Golf where you can put your golf skills to the test.
During the summer months, you’ll find both locals and tourists grabbing a surfboard and heading to Jacksonville Beach to shred some waves and soak up the sun. Jacksonville Beach has many bars and restaurants to really get into that relaxed Florida atmosphere.
No matter what part of town you’re in there is always something going on in Jacksonville!
Pathway to a Degree
Upon completion of the program, a second set of diagnostic assessments are given to determine the particular level the student would place in grammar, reading, writing and listening.
These scores are used to determine the student’s eligibility for the ACCUPLACER (CPT-L) Placement exam. These scores are used in placing the student in the follow-on English for Academic Purposes (EAP) courses should the student desire to pursue and academic path and earn a degree.
These four courses – Reading, Writing, Grammar and Speech – are three credit hours each and count as the full-time credit requirement for maintaining the I-20 status.
English Language Institute
High Quality English Instruction The English Language Intensive (ELI) Program offers intensive, high-quality, non-credit instruction for non-native English Language speakers. The ELI is under the Continuing Education Department of Florida State College at Jacksonville which is located at the Downtown Campus.
This program assists students in gaining proficiency in English as a second language and provides a better understanding of American culture. As the program’s central mission focus — consistent with the College's mission to provide meaningful learning, excellent teaching, and quality service — students will be provided an intellectually stimulating and supportive environment that is flexible yet goal-oriented.
Once a student submits their application along with the $80 non-refundable application fee, they will be sent an assessment test online. Prior to being admitted, the College requires additional information regarding the student’s current English skills. The test scores will help the staff determine if this program is the best fit for students to improve their English language skills and, if the student is accepted, whether to place them in an intermediate level or advanced level.
The student's acceptance letter and Certificate of Eligibility (I-20 Form) cannot be processed until the test results are received. Once a student has completed the test, they will be contacted by the College via email regarding their admission status. Additional correspondence is provided via a welcome email from student management regarding student orientation, term dates, tuition and other necessary items.
This program serves non-degree seeking F-1 international students only. The ELI staff helps students who wish to apply for degree programs by providing them with English instruction and college admission advising.
The ELI helps international students acquire the foundation in English they need to enter and excel in degree programs at Florida State College or other higher education institutions.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the application fee be deferred for international students?
Yes, students can pay the application fee once they arrive in the United States.
Does Florida State College at Jacksonville offer conditional admission?
Yes, Florida State College at Jacksonville offers conditional admission for students who complete the Intensive English Language program and pass the college English proficiency exam. Admission is also contingent upon receipt of official documents proving graduation from high school and providing proof of financial requirements.
Are international students required to pay an advance tuition deposit?
No, you are not required to pay an advance deposit on tuition. You must notify the English Language Institute of your decision to attend.
What should I do to get a student visa?
Most students attending the Intensive English Language program hold student F1 visas. After a student is admitted to the program the student will receive an acceptance letter and a Certificate of Eligibility I-20 Form. In order to obtain a student visa you must present the Certificate of Eligibility I-20 Form to a U.S. embassy or consulate. The United States Department of State offers some more information about obtaining a student visa.
If you are attending another college in the United States, you must obtain a new I-20 form from the English Language Institute at Florida State College at Jacksonville. Be sure to complete the International Student Transfer Form. Your SEVIS record must be released from your previous school to the English Language Institute of Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Can I fax my application materials or do I have to mail them?
You will need to mail all application materials as the originals of several documents which are required to process your I-20 for your visa.
Please mail materials to:
English Language Institute 101 W State Street A2057 Jacksonville, Florida 32202 USA
When are classes held?
Classes are held during the day from Monday to Thursday at the Downtown Campus. There are no evening classes or weekend classes.
What class level will I be in?
The Intensive English Language program is offered at an intermediate to advanced level. When a student applies they will be sent an assessment test online. Prior to being admitted we like to learn more about the student’s English skills. The test scores will help the staff determine if our program is a good fit for students to improve their English skills. We cannot process the student’s acceptance letter and Certificate of Eligibility I-20 Form until we get the test results. When a student completes the test he/she will hear from us in regards to their admission to our program.
How will I be evaluated?
At the end of the semester, students are given an exit exam. The exit exam will determine if you are ready to take the college placement test (COMPASS Test) that will place them into college credit EAP courses and a degree program. Students must place into college-level EAP or English courses to be admitted into a degree program. Those that are not ready and do not place into college-level EAP classes and will need to repeat the Intensive English Language program.
What will I receive at the end of the semester?
At the end of the semester, students will receive a grade of satisfactory or unsatisfactory. Students who attend 85% of all classes and receive a satisfactory grade will receive a Certificate of Completion. Each student will have a final conference to discuss their progress and future plans.
What kinds of cultural activities can I expect?
Activities are planned to help students learn English and experience American culture. Examples include trips to local museums; the Jacksonville Zoo; cooking classes; a tour of downtown; a visit to St Augustine, the oldest city in the United States; and American holiday celebrations.
How long can I study at the English Language Institute?
You can continue to study as long as you'd like if you are improving each semester. Students typically study for at least two semesters in order to improve their level of English.
Is there an application deadline?
There is no application deadline. However, we do encourage you to apply at least 60 days prior to the starting date of a program to allow sufficient time for processing paperwork and getting an interview appointment with the embassy. If the process of receiving a student visa in your country takes longer than four weeks, you should apply even earlier.
How can I pay the school fees?
All fees can be paid with cash, a cashier's check, money order, personal check, and made payable to Florida State College at Jacksonville, or by credit card.
What are important items to bring with me?
- Medications and medical records
- Home country’s driver’s license or country ID, if you have one
- Items from home such as recipes of native foods, small souvenirs, music, cultural clothing, photos, etc.
- Original high school diploma documents
- Any university diplomas or transcripts you have
ELI Program
What to expect:
20 hours of instruction per week for 13 weeks.
A dynamic and quality curriculum (grammar, reading, writing, listening and speaking), and local cultural immersion activities and field trips.
The students meet Monday through Thursday each week. Students will attend classes starting at 8:30AM and finish at 2:00PM or 9:30AM and finish at 3:30PM depending on their cohort.
Attendance at all classes, activities and field trips is mandatory and required to maintain the student’s F-1 status.
Immersion/field trips are normally conducted on the third Thursday of each month.
Field trips take the students throughout Jacksonville and present them with opportunities for cultural immersion and to learn more about the geographical area, its culture and rich history, and the people who aided in the development both economically and politically.
Small class size sizes: 15-25 students
Cost: Tuition for the ELI program is $2,934 per term and includes books, all educational materials, admission to activities and field trips, and covers a class lunch after each field trip.
Students are required, as part of their registration paperwork, to provide a Certificate of Financial Responsibility demonstrating sufficient funds to cover the tuition and approximate annual living expenses of between $10,000 and $12,000, adding approximately $6,000 per dependent.
Students typically attend for two terms so financial responsibility is figured at approximately $17,000 plus any additional for dependents for one full year.
International Student Services
Services for Non-Degree Seeking Students At Florida State College at Jacksonville their trained ELI advisor will help you in a number of ways to ensure that you achieve your dream to study and live in the US. Here are some of their area's of expertise:
- Pre-admission Immigration Counseling - The ELI offers pre-admission counseling to all prospective F-1 international students who wish to take non-credit English courses.
- International Admission Processing (Issuance of I-20) - An I-20 Form will be sent to the international student when the applicant has been accepted as a student at the ELI.
- Immigration status change to F-1 - The ELI facilitates immigration status changes to F-1 in some cases.
- Reinstatement to F-1 Status - The ELI does not have a role in approving the application. Only USCIS can reinstate the status. However, the ELI advisors are available to review the application before it is submitted. Assistance in Bringing F-2 Dependents - ELI will issue a Form I-20 for a spouse and children if the student has sufficient finances to support them.
- Travel and Re-entry Advice and Authorization
- Assistance With Evaluation of Transcripts - Students will be referred to foreign transcript evaluation organizations by the ELI.
- Assistance in Applying to Florida State College at Jacksonville Credit Programs
Improve Your Conversation Skills!
FSCJ's American Accent Improvement Courses
Provides students opportunities to practice English language pronunciation, articulation, intonation, common speech rates and more. Students will learn to communicate more clearly in personal and professional situations through engaging classroom activities, including oral exercises, recordings, and read aloud.
The cost to participate is $199. For more information and to register please submit your information on the form at the top of the page.
Curriculum
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of English grammar through class instruction and practice both inside and outside of class.
Curriculum
Grammar
This course is designed to give students an understanding of English grammar through class instruction and practice both inside and outside of the classroom. There are a few areas of special emphasis in this course that separate it from a grammar course for native speakers. This is important because grammar textbooks and lectures in the standard college classes in English speaking countries are generally not designed for non-native speakers.
The first emphasis is on sentence and phrase structure. Although you may encounter familiar English grammar structures this semester, there will also undoubtedly be a variety of new information presented.
The second emphasis in this course is on word choice. Most foreign language learners find themselves at a loss when faced with choosing the correct word in their non-native language, this can result in questionable meaning or a complete loss. Specific grammar skills in this class include identifying and using correct verb forms, nouns, adjectives, adverbs, prepositions, pronouns, as well as conjunctions.
Reading
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of the reading process through class instruction and practice both inside and outside of the classroom. There are many areas of special emphasis in this course that separate it from a reading course for native speakers.
The first emphasis is on the inductive/deductive reasoning processes of Western culture. This is important because textbooks—and information in college-level courses—are organized and presented according to this linear reasoning process.
The second emphasis is on vocabulary. Although you will learn many new English words this semester, various techniques of vocabulary improvement are more important.
The third emphasis in this course is on reading fluency. Most foreign language learners read slower in their non-native language, which can mean more hours of study time. Specific reading skills in this course include identifying main ideas and patterns of organization, making inferences and generalizations, distinguishing facts from opinions, and recognizing tone.
Writing
This course is designed to give the student an understanding of the writing process through class instruction and also practice both inside and outside of the class. There are multiple areas of special emphasis in this course that separate it from a writing course for native English speakers.
The first emphasis , is on English grammar at the levels of the sentence, the clause, and the phrase.
The second emphasis is on vocabulary. Most foreign language learners have a limited vocabulary when writing in their non-native language, which could result in questionable meanings or a complete loss thereof. Students will be encouraged to use the English words they already know but to learn and use new words.
The third emphasis in this course is on information organization. Many English language learners come from cultures that organize information in a different manner from that found in Western society. In order to help students understand the ways in which information is typically organized in the West, appropriate class time will be devoted to discussion and explanation of this critical area. Specific writing skills in this class do include the formation of complete sentences, the effective use of various sentence types, the understanding and use of brainstorming and outlining, and self-editing.
Listening and Speaking
In the Listening and Speaking class, students will improve their skills through a customized curriculum, which is focused on pronunciation enhancement, intensive listening exercises, and opportunities to develop and practice a variety of speech functions through pair work, small group work, and class presentations. Students are required to present oral reports and/or speeches, participate in a mock employment interview, participate in a debate on some student-chosen current event, and myriad other activities that present opportunities for students to practice and hone their English speaking and listening skills. This class also calls upon and requires students to demonstrate what they have learned in the other three classes (Reading, Writing & Grammar) using complete sentences, correct grammar usage, and reading and interpreting certain documents.
English Language Institute Field Trips
International Students in the ELI program are treated to three (3) field trips each term.
English Language Institute Field Trips
USA Immersion Trips International Students in the ELI program are treated to three (3) field trips each term. These immersion events are used to present and familiarize each student not only with Jacksonville’s rich history and that of northeast Florida, but also introduce them to new things they may not have the opportunity to experience in their home country. Each field trip is led by a knowledgeable tour guide providing an enjoyable and educational experience. Follow-on activities, such as a written paper or short oral presentation, are assigned by each instructor to assess understanding, emphasize the experience, and further highlight the tour.
The following is a list of locations and activities:
Top-to-Bottom Walking Tour of Jacksonville
Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens
Cummer Museum of Art and Gardens
Sally Corp (Robotics & Animatronics)
Jacksonville Beach Historical Museum
Lavilla School of the Arts
Ritz Theatre
Alhambra Dinner Theatre
Amelia Island Museum of History
Castillo de San Marcos (St. Augustine)
Lightner Museum (St. Augustine)
Ribault Club
Kingsley Plantation
Museum of Contemporary Art
Cooking Class
Community Service Opportunities
FSCJ hosts an International Education Week each fall complete with student activities, dance and song presentations, documentaries and discussions, and food from all nations. Activities vary at each of the five campuses and students are encouraged to attend and participate in as many as they wish.