Improve your English language skills at the ESL program of Sacred Heart University, located on 56 beautiful acres of Fairfield, Connecticut, in northeastern USA. We offer six levels of English as a Second Language (ESL) classes. The first 4 levels of ESL are intensive and pre-academic. Upper level ESL students receive credit for their ESL courses and take regular university classes at the same time so that they can begin their academic programs while continuing to improve their English language skills.

A comfortable one-hour train ride from New York City, just three hours from Boston, and minutes away from the Connecticut shoreline, Sacred Heart University is the perfect place for international students to enjoy a rich experience of American culture and university life.

English Language Classes to Help You Succeed
The English as a Second Language Program at Sacred Heart University offers a variety of ESL courses. If you want to improve your English quickly and experience American life and culture, we offer intensive, 8-week English courses – approximately 20 hours per week of English and cultural learning. And when your English skills are ready, you may take a combination of ESL classes and University classes. This way, you can begin working toward a university degree while you continue to sharpen your English skills. We also offer evening classes in ESL reading and writing, ESL for business writing, and clear pronunciation. For course descriptions of our daytime and evening ESL classes, click here.

Six Levels
In the daytime ESL program we offer six levels. The first 4 levels are pre-academic, intensive English courses. The full-time ESL student takes a cluster of Oral Communication, Written Communication, and Pronunciation & Vocabulary (or an American culture elective), totaling approximately 20 hours per week. In addition, students work with audio, video, computer software, the Internet and an online grammar program.

Levels 5 & 6 are non-intensive (3 hours per week) and are "university bridge" courses, designed to "bridge" pre-academic ESL and academic courses. They focus on the English academic skills you need to succeed in an American university. In addition to one of these university bridge classes, the full-time academic ESL student normally takes a cluster of 3-4 academic classes.

Taking University Classes
From level 4, students may take academic (university) classes while they complete their language training. To help with the transition into regular, university classes, we offer sheltered courses in effective communication, freshman rhetoric, computer science, psychology, and history. Sheltered courses are special sections of credit bearing university classes taught by professors who have a great deal of experience with international students.

Academic Credit
Levels 5 & 6 are credit bearing. Students who take these courses receive foreign language or elective credits which meet certain core requirements of a university degree at Sacred Heart University.

Faculty
The ESL faculty members are native speakers with many years of teaching experience and advanced degrees in teaching English or related areas. They are also friendly and supportive, committed to helping you succeed in your language learning.

Advisement
From level 5, each academic ESL student is paired with a supportive, ESL academic advisor, a member of the faculty who carefully crafts a schedule of studies designed to ensure maximum comfort and success. Advisor and advisee meet every week to discuss academic progress and cultural adjustment.

Social and Cultural Activities
In addition to language instruction, the ESL student at SHU can experience America in a less formal way. SHU is located near the New England coast in a beautiful suburban area (just minutes away from major shopping centers). We are also within driving distance from the two great cities of New York (60 miles) and Boston (150 miles). Through Sacred Heart's International Club and other campus organizations, ESL students are offered many opportunities to enjoy this culturally rich and beautiful part of the country.

Also, to give students a close-up view of American culture, students have opportunities to visit local schools and retirement homes and to work with community service organizations. Through these kinds of activities, students experience "real" American life and may even develop some great friendships, as well!

Admission to SHU
Admission to the English as a Second Language Program does not guarantee admission to the University. However, successful completion of the program meets the English language requirement for admission to the University.