English in Miami

Miami

With 900 miles of beach, palm trees galore, and a chain of islands called The Keys, it’s not hard to see why Florida is known as the Sunshine State. The state is home to NASA headquarters at the Kennedy Space Centre, the magical Walt Disney World in Orlando and the Everglades National Park – and of course every water sport you could imagine!

Deemed the “glamour” capital of America, Miami is a multicultural mix of Latin America, the Caribbean, the USA, and Europe. It’s also a major business hub in the USA and the top-ranked beach resort on the East Coast, with endless white sand beaches and crystal blue waters.

Our partner school, EC, is located in the heart of South Beach on the world-famous Lincoln Road, with lots of restaurants, cafés, bars and shops nearby. The best part? Miami Beach is just a few minutes’ walk away!

EC is accredited by ACCET and English USA.

School facilities include:

14 bright, recently renovated classrooms
IT suite with 13 computers
Free WiFi access throughout the centre
Student lounge to relax on your breaks
Large TV screens
Disabled access

Service VIP – The Orange Carpet Experience

EC welcomes you with their orange carpet

Before your arrival: access to the online platform of EC to prepare for your stay
A warm welcome upon your arrival at the airport of station
A warm welcome in the residence or in your host family
A welcome activity on Sunday to meet the other students
On the first day of course: a VIP reception at the school
A presentation of all members of the EC team

Now you’re ready to learn!

English language courses: the basics

Lesson length: 45 minutes
Class size: Average 12 students (maximum 15)
Schedule: morning and/or afternoon lessons
Placement test: first day of lessons
Certificate of completion at the end of your stay
Open access to the EC e-learning site up to 12 weeks after your stay
Regular progress tests (oral test every week, written test every 6 weeks)
CELTA-qualified native English teachers

20 lessons per week

4 lessons a day will give you a practical understanding of the English language and take you all the way to fluency. See your confidence improve as EC trains you in all four communication skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Language level: all levels

30 lessons per week

The ideal course to get your English where you want it to be, fast. Includes the above General English classes, and also allows you to personalise your course by taking an additional 10 lessons per week across a wide selection of electives (see the choices below).:

Write Now
Media Studies
The Language of Music
Film Studies
Global Citizenship
Comparative Culture & Communication
Basic English Writing
Academic Techniques in Practice (writing assignments, taking notes and preparing presentations)
Get Talking
And many more!

Language level: all levels

30 lessons per week

EC’s English for Work course will allow you to improve your English fluency and empower you with the language, knowledge and skills to confidently deal with a variety of business issues. Every week you will take 30 lessons: 20 lessons of General English and 10 lessons of Business English.

Business Skills:

Expressing personal opinions
Making suggestions
Presenting case studies
Problem solving

Business Focus – 10 tailored lessons :

Negotiating contracts
Management and HR
Branding and promotional strategies
Project management
Business ethics and CSR

Specific business techniques such as business English on the phone and interview skills are also covered.

Language level: Lower Intermediate to Advanced

Cambridge ESOL: 30 lessons per week
Session length: 8 weeks at specific start dates (see “Prices & Dates”).

Your teachers will guide and monitor you to make sure that you progress at the correct rate to succeed in your exam, giving you the specific vocabulary and grammar and study plan you need. Using sample exam papers you will learn how to effectively answer questions so by the time you take the test, you will know the style of questions to expect and how to answer them.

Minimum Language levels:

FCE: Intermediate (9/12 weeks), Pre Advanced (8 weeks)
CAE: Pre Advanced (8/12 weeks)

EC follows a ‘Communicative Method’ syllabus, which works to develop all four English language skills – reading, writing, speaking and listening. Special attention is paid to speaking, grammar, vocabulary and pronunciation.

To give an engaging and relevant framework to learning these skills, each lesson will focus on a specific topic, which will vary from current affairs to everyday issues. Your professional and friendly teachers will select topics that create interest, discussion and debate in the class, allowing you to develop your confidence both in speaking and listening throughout your stay, in a friendly and encouraging atmosphere.

The teaching materials EC uses are specially designed by the school and realia such as newspapers, videos and other materials is also used.

As well as taking an active part in classroom discussions – the best way to improve your fluency – you will work on your language skills in small groups, pairs or individually on tasks and projects. EC’s teachers work to create a welcoming environment with mutual support among students – so you’ll feel at home while your English improves!

As an EC student, you will be able to participate in a variety of social and leisurely activities each week, either in the afternoon or the evening. You are very welcome to participate in these activities, though attendance is not mandatory. Many of these activities are free of charge, but some may charge a fee. All activities are subject to change and vary depending on the season.

Some of the many activities available include:

Welcome Activity
Museum outings
Beach sports and BBQ
Restaurant and movie nights
Boat cruises around Miami and the Everglades
Excursion to the Florida Keys

Single room, shared bathroom and breakfast.

Students travelling together may opt for a shared room in their homestay.

Travel time to EC: Travel time to EC usually takes 30-60 minutes by public transport.

Practical information:

Bed linen and towels provided
Laundry: your host family will let you use their laundry facilities once a week or let you know their laundry day

Optional Extra: – Half board

The Loft Studios Apartments are located in trendy South Beach, just a 5-minute walk to the beach and the restaurants and cafes on Ocean Drive.

Features:

Single or shared room
No meals included
25 minutes’ travel time to EC on foot
Located in Miami Beach, a few minutes’ walk from the beach
Deposit to be paid on arrival, to be refunded at the end of your stay provided no damages are incurred (fees apply, see Dates & Prices tab)

Facilities and services

Bed linen and towels provided on arrival, please bring your own beach towel
Fully-equipped kitchenette
TV
Bathroom
Iron and ironing board, hairdryer
Coin laundry facilities available on-site
Free WiFi access
Studios are cleaned once a week

Travel

Arrivals: Saturdays

Departures: Saturdays

For apartment accommodation only:

Check-in: after 3 pm
Check-out: before 10 am

Arrival airport:

Miami International, MIA

Airport transfers available on request (fees apply, see Dates & Prices tab)

Please note: Do not make travel arrangements until we have confirmed your enrolment in your chosen course.

Visa Information

You might need a visa for this course. For more information please visit our Visa Information page.

EU citizens do not require a visa for stays in the United States under 90 days. However, EU nationals do require an ESTA Travel Authorization.

Do not hesitate to contact us by phone or email if you require any additional information.

Dates & Prices 2020

Dates 2020

Course start dates: Most courses start every Monday year-round (exceptions are outlined below.) On Bank Holiday Mondays, lessons start on Tuesdays.

Bank holidays (No lessons will take place on these dates and they will not be rescheduled or refunded): 01.01 / 20.01 / 17.02 / 25.05 / 03.07 / 07.09 / 12.10 / 11.11 / 26.11 / 27.11 / 25.12

English for Work start dates: every Monday for up to 11 weeks.

Exam Prep Course Dates: contact us.

Prices 2020

All taxes and enrolment fees included

[/ HR] Course & accommodation with a host family, single room, breakfast
[/ CH] Duration	20L	30L or Business
2 weeks	€ 1.485	€ 1.670
3 weeks	€ 2.120	€ 2.395
4 weeks	€ 2.755	€ 3.120
6 weeks	€ 4.025	€ 4.570
8 weeks	€ 5.295	€ 6.020
12 weeks	€ 7.630	€ 8.460
16 weeks	€ 10.100	€ 11.205
18 weeks	€ 11.335	€ 12.580
20 weeks	€ 12.570	€ 13.955
24 weeks	€ 14.940	€ 15.680
32 weeks	€ 19.845	€ 20.955
36 weeks	€ 22.300	€ 23.545
Additional week	€ -	€ 650

[/ HR] Accommodation supplements and reductions (per week)
Family half-board	€ 80
REDUCTION Family ch dbl (for 2 p registered together)	€ 60
REDUCTION Double bedroom apartment - on request	€ 35

[/ HR] High season supplements (07 / 1-29 / 3 & 27 / 6-22 / 8)
Lessons (from 1 to 12 week (s) only)	€ 15
Family, single room, breakfast	€ 15
Host family, single room, half board	€ 20
Double room apartment	€ 50

[/ HR] Transfer * - Per journey
From Miami Airport	€ 115
From Fort Lauderdale Airport	€ 155
Transfer supplement arrival between midnight and 07.00	€ 40
* Round trip compulsory for children under 18.