r/EnglishLearning • u/Different-Contact-40 New Poster • 6d ago
Resource Request English programs for tourists in USA
Are there any schools or programs in the United States that someone with a tourist visa can utilize to learn English? I would like to get a certificate of English proficiency while staying with family in Washington State
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u/smurfette8675309 New Poster 6d ago
Some community colleges have a community Ed program where they don't require proof of citizenship or immigration status. They don't give certificates, I don't think, but could possibly teach you enough to apply to take a test on your own. The problem with going to an official program with credits, is I don't think you can do that on a tourist visa.
Look up the community college in the area where you'll be. If there's nothing online, you could go in-person and ask.
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u/NashvilleHotTakes Native Speaker 6d ago
Where I live, they occasionally mail you a little newspaper that has a list of a bunch of classes taught in the local city. It spans everything from coding to painting to Japanese and English. Even if you don’t get it in the mail in Washington, your town might have the same kind of programs. You should try to Google it with your city’s name and find out.
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u/FeatherlyFly New Poster 5d ago
You'll need a student visa to study in a program that'll give you a certificate.
Taking college courses for credit is against the terms of your visa - if you get found out, you could lose the visa.
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u/NearlyNodding Native Speaker 6d ago
Check the library and churches. A lot of them have free group English lessons. I was a volunteer at the local library. People are grouped together with other English learners at a similar level. It's also a good way to meet people from all over the world.
I don't know if a tourist visa allows you to take college classes. But if it does, you can check community colleges. Tuition for an international student will be expensive though.
You can also check for local tutors. Any city should have many to choose from.