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American Culture & Language Institute
NOVA Workforce’s American Culture & Language Institute (ACLI) serves local residents, visitors to Virginia, and international students. ACLI helps students improve their English skills for life, study, and work. ACLI offers classes both online via Zoom and Canvas and at most NOVA campuses.
- Got questions about studying ESL with ACLI? Chat with us.
- Need to set up an ESL Placement Assessment? Email: AN-ACLI@nvcc.edu.
Customized Contract ESL Training
ACLI also offers customized training in ESL for Northern Virginia businesses in the areas of cross-cultural communication and business-specific communication.
The Intensive English Program (IEP) is a pre-academic program that prepares students for college at NOVA or other American colleges and universities. IEP is offered at six levels: Low Beginning to High Intermediate.
IEP students go on to study in NOVA’s College ESL and academic programs or transfer to other American Universities.
F1 Application Information
If you want to take classes in the ACLI IEP and need an F-1 student visa to study at NOVA, please review the International Student Admissions Process.
NOTE: F-1 visa students must take two intensive classes in Fall and Spring to fulfill their visa requirements of full-time study. New F-1 visa students must take two intensive classes in Summer. Summer study is optional for continuing F-1 students. Other students may take one or two IEP classes according to their academic and self-improvement goals.
The Part-Time Program is made up of Part-Time ESL, Support ESL, and Specialty ESL courses. Many of our Part-Time students are immigrants who live and work in Northern Virginia or are visitors to the area.
Part-Time ESL Courses
Part-Time ESL courses help students improve their English skills for life, school, and work. Each course teaches reading, writing, speaking, and listening. Students also study grammar and pronunciation. Part-Time ESL is offered at five levels: Low Beginning to Intermediate.
Part-Time students go on to study in ACLI’s Intensive ESL Program (IEP). At the higher levels, Part-Time students go on to study in NOVA Workforce programs in healthcare, information technology, and business. Some students go on to study in College ESL.
Support ESL Courses
Support ESL Program helps students improve their English skills in pronunciation and grammar. Both ACLI and NOVA Workforce students can take a support class as a stand-alone class or with their other classes. Support ESL is offered in multi-level classes at six levels: Low Beginning to High Intermediate.
Specialty ESL Courses
The TOEFL Preparation course helps students improve their TOEFL scores. The Contemporary Issues & Current Events course helps students develop advanced communication skills. These courses are popular not only with local residents but also with international students and au pairs. Specialty courses are offered at two levels: Intermediate to High Intermediate levels.