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ACLI ESL

  • two esl students share a laugh after class
  • ACLI student relaxes before class begins
  • ESL teacher working with student on computer

NOVA's American Culture and Language Institute (ACLI) teaches ESL to students from all over the world.

American Culture & Language Institute

NOVA Workforce’s American Culture & Language Institute (ACLI) helps our community members, visitors to Virginia, and international students improve their English skills. ACLI offers classes at the Alexandria, Annandale, and Loudoun (Signal Hill) campuses and online via Zoom and Canvas.

  • Got questions about studying ESL with ACLI? Chat with us on the bottom right of this page.

Levels of ACLI ESL

ACLI has six levels of instruction, from ACLI Level 1 to ACLI Level 6.

At ACLI Level 1, you can take:

  • Intensive 1 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 1 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 1.1 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 1.2 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)

At ACLI Level 1, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Answer simple questions.
  • Identify the main idea while listening or reading.
  • Understand simple questions and directions.

At ACLI Level 2, you can take:

  • Intensive 2 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 2 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 2.1 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 2.2 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)

At ACLI Level 2, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Begin to state your opinions.
  • Ask and answer simple questions.
  • Identify the main idea and some details while listening or reading.
  • Understand questions and directions.

At ACLI Level 3, you can take:

  • Intensive 3 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 3 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 3.1 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 3.2 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Grammar Review 3 (25 hours/2.5 CEUs)

At ACLI Level 3, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Begin to write a paragraph.
  • State your opinions.
  • Begin to support your opinions with details.
  • Identify the main idea and details while listening or reading.
  • Begin to use skimming and scanning.
  • Begin to take notes.

At ACLI Level 4, you can take:

  • Intensive 4 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 4 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 4.1 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 4.2 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Grammar Review 4 (25 hours/2.5 CEUs)

You can also take non-ESL classes:

  • Workforce Business
  • Workforce IT
  • Workforce Trades

At ACLI Level 4, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Write a variety of paragraphs.
  • Begin to argue persuasively.
  • Support your opinions with details.
  • Use skimming and scanning.
  • Take notes.
  • Paraphrase and summarize after listening or reading.

At ACLI Level 5, you can take:

  • Intensive 5 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 5 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 5.1 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Part-Time ESL 5.2 (50 hours/5.0 CEUs)
  • Grammar Review 5 (25 hours/2.5 CEUs)
  • TOEFL Preparation
  • Contemporary Issues & Current Events

You can also take non-ESL classes:

  • Workforce Business
  • Workforce IT
  • Workforce Trades
  • Workforce Healthcare

At ACLI Level 5, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Write a simple essay using well-developed paragraphs.
  • Argue persuasively.
  • Support your opinions with details.
  • Use skimming and scanning.
  • Take notes.
  • Paraphrase and summarize after listening or reading.

At ACLI Level 6, you can take:

  • Intensive 6 Reading & Writing (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Intensive 6 Speaking & Listening (125 hours/12.5 CEUs)
  • Grammar Review 6 (25 hours/2.5 CEUs)
  • TOEFL Preparation
  • Contemporary Issues & Current Events

You can also take non-ESL classes:

  • Workforce Business
  • Workforce IT
  • Workforce Trades
  • Workforce Healthcare

At ACLI Level 6, you will:

  • Speak or write about life, school, and work.
  • Write an essay using well-developed paragraphs.
  • Argue persuasively.
  • Support your opinions with details.
  • Use skimming and scanning.
  • Take notes.
  • Paraphrase and summarize after listening or reading.

ACLI Programs

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.

ACLI also offers customized training in ESL for Northern Virginia businesses in the areas of cross-cultural communication and business-specific communication. 

Email ACLI@nvcc.edu for more information.

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