Frequently Asked ELC Questions

questions about courses
questions about ELC
questions about visas
questions about accommodations & services
questions about payment

Questions About Courses

Q. When do ELC's courses begin?
A. General Courses, TOEFL Course and Individual Courses may begin on any Monday. ELC has official start dates for all courses every four weeks.

Q. How long are the courses?
A. Students may study for any length of time, from 1 to 52 weeks! The average length of stay is 12 to 16 weeks. ELC also offers a longstay discount for students who book for 16 weeks or more.

Q. How many levels does ELC have?
A. ELC offers 10 levels, beginning through advanced.

Q. How will I know my level?
A. On your first day, ELC will give you a placement exam consisting of a grammar test, a writing sample and an interview. Based on this exam, you will be placed into the appropriate level for each class.

Q. When do I move levels?

A. At the end of every four week session, your teacher will evaluate your progress and make recommendations for students to advance to the next level. Typically, students will move one level per four weeks, but this depends on factors such as test results, homework assignments, class participation and attendance.

Questions About ELC

Q. Which ELC location is best for me?
A. Each ELC school offers the same high quality programs and friendly, personal atmosphere. Whether you choose Los Angeles, or Boston, ELC is dedicated to ensuring you have a successful, enjoyable experience. If you want to study at more than one ELC location, read about our special ELC Combination Program listed on our Course Dates & Fees.

Q. Where do your students come from?
A. ELC teaches students from more than 70 different countries from around the world. The actual percentages vary with the season and with the school. In general, 35 - 40% of our students come from Western Europe, 10 - 15% come from Latin America and 35 - 45% from Asia. The rest come from other parts of the world.

Q. What age are the students?

A. Students of all ages have studied at ELC from 14 to 76 yrs.! Most of our students average between 18 and 26 years old. In our Junior programs, the age is 14 to 17 years old.

Q. How big are the classes?
A. The average class size is 9 - 12 students. The maximum number of students in one class is 12, except for July and August when the maximum goes up to 14 for Intensive and Semi Intensive Courses.

Q. Does ELC have a computer lab?
A. Each ELC school offers a wireless computer lab with free internet access and computer-based learning materials. We also have a wide range of materials for students who want to use our self-study language laboratory.

Questions About Visas

Q. How do I get an I-20 form?
A. ELC will issue an I-20 form for students enrolling in a course with a minimum of 24 lessons per week. After receiving the completed and signed application form long with all necessary fees and financial documentation, ELC will send the I-20 form within 24 hours.

Q. Must I get a student visa?
A. ELC recommends all students studying in a full-time program obtain a student visa. Students from certain countries may enter on the visa waiver program. Please consult your local U.S. embassy or an authorized ELC representative for further guidance.

Questions About Accommodations & Services

Q. What can I do in my free time?
A. Each ELC school has a dedicated Student Services Coordinator who arranges after school and weekend excursions. We offer a variety of cultural and social activities each month to provide even more opportunities for you to practice your English and learn about the culture in the U.S.

Q. Where will I live while I study at ELC?
A. Each ELC school has a full-time Housing Coordinator and offers a variety of accommodations. Our most popular option is living with an American host family. We also offer student residences, dormitories, apartments, and summer campus programs depending on which ELC location you choose.

Q. Can I transfer from ELC to an American college or university?

A. Yes! ELC offers free College Counseling and University Placement services for all ELC students. We will help you select a college and coach you through the application process. ELC partners with a number of colleges which give ELC students certain advantages. These special advantages include, conditional letters of acceptance and special TOEFL waiver agreements, as well as concurrent enrollment and auditing opportunities.

Questions About Payment

Q. How can I pay?
A. ELC accepts the following forms of payment: international money order; bank check (drawn on a U.S. account); travelers' checks; credit cards and bank wire transfers (see prepayment form). You may also pay using cash if paying directly at the school.

Q. What if I have to cancel my course?
A. Here are our policies:
Pre-Arrival Refund Policy
For any cancellation ELC receives by the first day of the program, most fees are fully refundable. The exceptions are:
- The application fee of $100 and the express mail fee of $60 are non-refundable.
- Housing deposits are refundable only according to the conditions listed in the accommodations section of the application.
- Airport Transfers are refundable with cancellation at least one business day before the service date requested.

Post-Arrival Refund Policy
Courses
For any course cancellation ELC receives after the first day of classes for a course of four weeks or less, no refund will be issued.

For any course cancellation ELC receives after the first day of classes for a course of 5 weeks or more, ELC will issue a refund according to the following scale:
- If up to 10% of the course has been completed, a 50% tuition refund of the unused portion will be issued
- If 11 to 29% of the course has been completed, a 30% tuition refund of the unused portion will be issued
- If more than 30% of the course has been completed, no refund will be issued

Accommodations
For any accommodation cancellation, ELC will issue a full refund of accommodation fees with at least four full weeks’ advance notice of the cancellation.

(Exceptions to this policy are the pre-stated cancellation conditions for the UCLA dorms, International Guest House and all apartments)

Refund through Representatives
For students who enroll at ELC through a representative refunds are made to the student by that representative. All refunds are subject to the policies of the representative.

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