ADDITIONAL PROGRAMS

These programs play a crucial role in helping communities, whether within Greater Atlanta or internationally, by supporting individuals in learning English and pursuing ongoing education.

DID YOU KNOW?

The Intensive English Program (IEP) collaborates with local and global partners to craft dynamic, customized language instruction, teacher training, and more!

Community Partnerships

Our commitment to making English courses accessible and affordable relies on invaluable support and partnerships with local entities. The Intensive English Program takes pride in hosting programs and fostering opportunities through collaborative efforts with a diverse range of organizations and institutions in Georgia.

Inglés Para Padres en Doraville and Chamblee

In partnership with the City of Doraville, City of Chamblee, and Los Vecinos de Buford Highway, our Inglés Para Padres program has been providing free English learning classes to parents in the Doraville area since the Fall of 2023, and in Chamblee starting Fall 2024. This 12-week program, open to all, conducts classes in the evenings, allowing parents to dedicate their focus to improving their English skills while their children are engaged in after-school activities and sports.

English for Healthcare in Doraville and Clarkston

In 2023, we initiated a project to help new Americans and immigrants master the English skills essential for navigating pharmacies, doctor visits, and other medical situations. The course first launched in Clarkston on Saturdays in collaboration with the Afghan-American Alliance of Georgia in Spring 2024. Due to its success, a second semester was added in Summer 2024. We now offer new cohorts every third semester.

Starting in Fall 2024, the course will also be available in the evenings at the Forest Fleming Arena in Doraville, thanks to our partnership with the City of Doraville and Los Vecinos de Buford Highway.

Community Based Academic English Program

The Community Based Academic Program at Georgia State Perimeter College Clarkston Campus is dedicated to assisting Atlanta's immigrant and refugee populations in gaining English proficiency, a critical tool that creates pathways for further educational opportunities. Open to new Americans and visitors alike, this program fosters inclusivity and opens doors to brighter futures.

Read more about the Community Based Academic English Program here.

“English” Production at Alliance Theatre

To celebrate the rich linguistic diversity of Metro Atlanta, the Alliance Theatre organized a production titled "English," a heartfelt and humorous exploration of how identity can be lost in translation. The Intensive English Program and Community-Based Academic English Program served as community partners for this event. Students from both programs were extended invitations to attend the performance, which featured a post-show Q&A session with the cast and a Community Potluck Reception. This partnership not only increased visibility for our students but also provided a unique opportunity for community-building.

Creating Educational Opportunities: Afghan Students @ Berry University

In the winter of 2021, six young Afghan women sought refuge at Georgia State University, fleeing the Taliban siege in Kabul and leaving their studies at the Asian University for Women (AUW) behind. Welcomed into Georgia State, they enrolled in our Intensive English Program on a three-semester full scholarship, including room and board. With collaborative assistance from dedicated instructors, staff, mentors, and volunteers in the Applied Linguistics & ESL Program, as well as the broader university community, these women received specialized academic support and culturally competent assistance.

During their final semester in the Intensive English Program, these young women, determined to resume their interrupted education, received help with college applications. Today, all six are pursuing bachelor's degrees at Berry University, supported by full-ride scholarships, and they maintain enduring connections as GSU Panthers. This success story underscores the importance of our student support work and the creation of educational opportunities, beginning with language learning, for those overcoming challenging circumstances.

Read more about their journey at Georgia State here.

Teacher Trainings

Teacher Trainings

The Intensive English Program actively collaborates with various partners to provide English instructors with valuable training opportunities. Among our recent initiatives in teacher training were projects with:

Government of Brazil
Fulbright
Department of State
Amity University
FHI 360
U.S. Embassy in Tashkent

In Summer 2024, the Intensive English Program hosted 25 teachers from around the world for a comprehensive training program in media and digital literacy, funded by the U.S. Department of State and administered by FHI 360. The program was designed to equip English as a Foreign Language (EFL) teachers and administrators with essential skills to teach their students how to navigate and critically assess media. Topics covered included recognizing misinformation, fact-checking, evaluating the quality of information, and understanding copyright and fair use. Participants also explored techniques for addressing cyberbullying and personal bias, ensuring they could effectively incorporate media literacy into their curricula. The program was led by Sharon Santmyer, IEP Lecturer, and Lisa Gonzalez, IEP Visiting Lecturer, and featured guest speakers and engaging projects, fostering a global network of educators committed to enhancing media literacy education. Read More Here

In the summer of 2023, the Intensive English Program hosted 16 Uzbek teachers on Georgia State's campus for a 7-week teacher training program. Led by Sharon Santmyer, an IEP Lecturer in the Applied Linguistics & ESL department, the program facilitated skill expansion through courses, class observations, workshops, and cultural immersion. Learn more about the program and our international partnerships here.

Virtual Initiatives

Teaching English in Myanmar

Maria Anifowose, an outstanding Applied Linguistics MA student, spent the past summer teaching students in Myanmar virtually, addressing the challenges of limited educational opportunities. Inspired by the ongoing student needs, Anifowose initiated a project that has sustained the program through the 2023 fall semester, positively impacting many lives.

The program addresses the educational challenges faced by students in Myanmar (Burma) due to the combined impact of a military coup and the COVID-19 pandemic, which led to over a year of school closures. Targeting students aged 5 to 31 from the Kachin state, the program provides tutoring sessions to help them pursue academic goals despite ongoing challenges in their country. The students, with varying English proficiency levels, get help with enhancing their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Many of the students aspire to attend universities in neighboring countries or the U.S., seeking refugee or student visa status due to war and political upheaval. Zoom classes, led by Anifowose every Wednesday at 9:00 p.m. – 10:30 p.m. (EST), accommodate diverse schedules, reflecting her commitment to student accessibility. Over the summer, Anifowose even taught on Sunday’s to meet additional student needs.

International Partnerships & Short-Term Programs

International Partnerships & Short-Term Programs

International initiatives and short-term programs help make sure our passion for teaching English right here in the heart of Atlanta is felt abroad. In collaboration with various partners, the Intensive English Program has worked on projects with:

The Government of Panama
J.F. Oberlin University (Japan)
Fulbright Long-Term English Program
Ntambwe Foundation (Democratic Republic of Congo)
Summer Institute, Office of International Initiatives at Georgia State

One notable collaboration is with J.F. Oberlin University, where the Intensive English Program consistently welcomes students for semester-long English studies as part of an ongoing partnership.

English Language and Professional Development for Ukrainian Professionals and Civil Servants:

In Fall 2023, the Intensive English Program launched a year-long English for Specific Purposes (ESP) course for Ukrainian government professionals and civil servants. Funded by the U.S. Department of State and facilitated by the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv, this program aimed to enhance English proficiency and professional skills essential for Ukraine’s development and international engagement. Two courses were delivered online during Spring and Fall 2024, with an in-person intensive training in Summer 2024 which included visits to local, state, and federal governments. Topics covered legislative and policy language, governance and decision-making processes, negotiation and diplomacy, intergovernmental collaboration, and reporting and documentation. The program, conceived by Robin Cathey, Principal Investigator and IEP Associate Director, and Dr. John Bunting, IEP Director, was led by IEP Instructor Kimberly Kleiber and PhD Candidate Olexandra Kostenko, with guest speakers from various GSU departments and policy experts.

Special Programs For Global Engagement

Special Programs For Global Engagement

The Office of International Initiatives (OII) Special Programs for Global Engagement offers a range of programs for students, scholars, staff and faculty that focus on cultural immersion, English proficiency and field-specific learning.

Faculty and scholars can engage with OII through programs such as Faculty Mentoring. Cohort Training is available for faculty, staff, graduate students and other special groups. The faculty programs provide opportunities for participants to engage in academic activities, including research, teaching in a U.S. classroom, class observations, syllabi development and enhancement, course evaluation, lab training and language enhancement.

Short-term programming for international students aims to immerse participants in U.S. culture and enable them to experience U.S. higher education. Georgia State Students are also encouraged to participate in classes, workshops and excursions with their international peers to gain global competency skills through cross-cultural learning.

OII works in close collaboration with on-campus and community partners to ensure students, faculty and scholars can achieve their goals through strategic programming.