Conversation and Culture

Conversation and Culture is a four-week program designed for students who would like to improve their conversational English skills and their knowledge of the United States. Offered in July and in August, the program features 20-25 hours a week of the following:

• Language Classes
  Every morning,students take formal language classes designed to help them improve their fluency in conversational English. Students practice speaking and listening skills and learn useful vocabulary and grammar. During class, students examine topics related to US society and culture such as family, education, relationships, recreation, values and ethnic diversity.  Each week group projects help students get practical speaking experience while expanding their knowledge of American culture.
• Community Interaction Activities
  Twice each week for a total of about five hours, students go into the Philadelphia community with their instructors, where they complete assignments that help them practice their English language skills and learn more about US society. These outings involve visits to historical sites, and local points of interest, where students observe and interact with native English speakers from a variety of backgrounds.
• Cultural Field Trips
  The program includes two half-day trips during the week and two full-day trips on Saturdays when students explore major attractions in the region, such as New York City, the Amish countryside, a sporting event, a concert or a resort town along the Atlantic Ocean.
• Independent Study
  Students are encouraged to spend three to six hours per week in independent study using our language and computer laboratories. There they have the opportunity to work on the language skills that they need most. In addition, students can use other tools for learning English that are available on the internet and on the course website.