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English for university, work, community, and teaching. Students come to the English Language Institute with different goals. We begin with yours, and shape the learning around it.
Why ELI
Approved by the Georgia Board of Regents · an approved campus-based ESL program of the University System of Georgia
How we teach
Four principles run through every ELI classroom:
- Interactive — you use English in every class, through conversation, teamwork, and real tasks
- Integrative — grammar, culture, and communication taught together, the way real life uses them
- Intensive — focused and well supported, with frequent practice and useful feedback
- Immersive — campus experiences, community activities, and authentic projects beyond the classroom
There is a place for you at ELI
International students
Prepare for university study and life in the United States: academic English, study skills, and the expectations of an American university.
Local & community learners
Practical English for work, appointments, family life, and community participation. Evening and Saturday options welcome all levels.
Professionals
Workplace English tied to real professional goals: meetings, presentations, interviews, pronunciation, and intercultural communication.
Organizations & educators
Customized training for teams, and professional development for teachers of multilingual learners, from TESOL methods to AI for education. Offered by request: on campus, online, or on site.
How the program runs
The Intensive English Program runs in sixteen-week fall and spring sessions, Monday through Friday, on campus at the Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center. Online and evening courses run in shorter blocks within each session.
Current dates, times, and tuition are listed with each course below. Download the ELI program guide (PDF).
Intensive English Program
Academic English across reading, writing, listening, speaking, and grammar. A placement test sets your level, and you choose your intensity: from two to six classes per week, up to full-time study. Register below for the option that fits your plans.
Successful IEP completion satisfies English proficiency requirements at 25 University System of Georgia institutions, with no additional proficiency testing.
More ways to learn English
Evenings of English
Reading, writing, speaking, and listening, scheduled for working adults.
In person · evenings
Saturday Conversation Club
Guided conversation practice for oral fluency and pronunciation.
In person · Saturday mornings
TOEFL® Prep Online
Test preparation with live online classes plus independent coursework.
Fully online
Academic Excellence Certificate
Academic reading, writing, and grammar for intermediate through advanced students.
Fully online
How to enroll
- Submit the ELI Student Application (PDF).
- F-1 visa students: submit the Financial Guarantee (PDF) with bank documentation, so your I-20 can be issued.
- Take the placement test when you arrive. Your course level is set by the test.
- Register for your courses on this page, or contact us and we will help.
New students: the ELI Student Handbook covers what to expect before and after you arrive.
Admission to the ELI does not guarantee admission to a Columbus State University degree program.
Headed for a degree?
The ELI is built to move you forward. Completing the Intensive English Program satisfies English proficiency requirements across the University System of Georgia, and the Bridge Pathway Program, the only program of its kind in Georgia, lets eligible students begin earning university credit from the first day while completing English requirements. Learn more at CSU International Admissions.
Let’s connect
Questions about programs, applications, or placement? Contact us. Translation assistance is available.
assistance@columbusstate.edu | 706-507-8070
English Language Institute · Raga Mukherjee, Director · Elizabeth Bradley Turner Center, 4225 University Avenue, Columbus, GA 31907
TOEFL® is a registered trademark of ETS (Educational Testing Service). This program is not endorsed or approved by ETS.
Courses
AI For Educators
This course contains no sessions