Classes are scheduled Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. for a total of 20 contact hours per week. Students cannot pick their class schedule. Schedules are distributed during registration and orientation. There are no classes on most Wednesdays.

The IEI wants to encourage students to engage in meaningful co-curricular activities or self-study outside of the classroom. On Wednesdays, students may go on local field trips, participate in study clubs, or work on homework. In the past, many learners preparing for university entrance exams missed class during the summer. We want to encourage all learners to attend regularly scheduled classes and use Wednesdays for additional language study which is meaningful to them.

By spending adequate time outside of class on homework, by meeting with your language conversation partner, and by participating in co-curricular activities, a significant amount of progress is expected. Individual progress will depend on a variety of factors: your effort, hours of homework completed, language background, facility with learning languages, etc. However, do not expect to make as much progress as you would during the 14 week semester. 

The fall and spring semesters are not equal to the IEI’s summer program. The fall and spring semesters have 276 total instructional hours and 263 hours of optional co-curricular activities, whereas the summer session has 164 total instructional hours and 72 hours of co-curricular activities. By spending adequate time outside of class on homework, by meeting with your language conversation partner, and by participating in co-curricular activities, a significant amount of progress is expected, but it may not be as much progress as you would make by attending in the fall and spring. 

A student enrolled in IEI summer program will take an end-of-course proficiency test which measures current proficiency levels. For students continuing in the fall, these test results will also be used for fall placement. Individual progress will depend on a variety of factors: your effort, hours of homework completed, language background, facility with learning languages, etc. Some returning IEI students will move up to the next level in the fall semester based on proficiency test results. Some returning learners will be placed in an similar level from summer to fall.

The IEI offers a variety of academic and cross-cultural programming during the summer. Students can take advantage of the IEI Conversation Partners Program, Wednesday study clubs, field trips, and local community events. The more you participate in these events, the more opportunities you will have to use your English.

The IEI's summer program offers a rigorous academic learning experience. Most students attend classes 4-6 hours per day, and complete 2-4 hours of homework each evening. For upper-level academic courses, students will spend additional time out of class preparing written assignments and organizing the annual student-led IEI B.E.S.T. Conference.

Every student enrolled in IEI summer program will take an end of course proficiency test during the last week of class. This test measures current proficiency levels. These results will tell you your overall English proficiency level. For returners, these test results will also be used for fall placement.

Yes, every student is required to take the proficiency test.

Yes. The end of course proficiency test will be used to tell you your overall proficiency and that overall proficiency rating will be sent to you with your final grade report. The test is also used to ensure that the IEI curriculum is rigorous and is helping our students improve their English proficiency.

If you missed the end of course proficiency test and you are returning to the IEI in the fall, your placement recommendation from the spring will be used to place you in the fall. If you do not have a placement recommendation from the spring or you think you should move to a higher level, you will need to take the placement test during the fall registration and orientation week.