International students participating in an Intensive English class at ILI in Washington, DC

Live, Instructor-led In-Person or Online Classes

Study English in Washington, DC with experienced instructors and students from around the world. Our Intensive English Day Program emphasizes active participation and practical communication while building reading, writing, listening, speaking, grammar, and vocabulary skills.

Classes are instructor-led and designed to give students frequent opportunities to interact with their teacher and classmates. Online participation may be available in appropriate classes, but F-1 students must meet applicable in-person study requirements.

12 English levels, plus TOEFL Preparation Course

Monday-Friday, 25 hours per week

ILI offers an intensive English ESL day program at our Washington, D.C. center on Rhode Island Avenue NW. We offer 12 different levels, ranging from beginner to university level, plus an 8-week TOEFL Preparation course.  Each class includes instruction in the following areas: Listening, speaking, grammar, reading, and writing.

Level Description:

These are the beginning levels for students who have not studied English before or who have studied only a small amount of English for a short time. The classes include these things.
  • Basic vocabulary, grammar, and conversation
  • Simple reading and writing (including the alphabet, if needed)
  • Listening practice
  • CD/DVD program
  • Pronunciation
  • Yes/no and information questions
  • Spelling, dictation
These are low-intermediate levels. The students begin working through a grammar book that explains basic English structures. In addition, a reading/writing book builds students’ reading skills through vocabulary and comprehension questions and helps the students learn about simple mechanics and organization for writing sentences and single paragraphs.
These are intermediate levels. The activities in these levels become more advanced. The textbooks have a wider vocabulary and include more complicated structures. Students continue to work on single-paragraph essays and on more complicated listening, speaking, and reading activities.
These are high-intermediate levels. The lessons and skills taught are more academic. Students write three multi-paragraph essays, paying attention to correct paragraph structure, organization, and detail. Students listen to reports about a variety of topics and work on exercises that include listening for details, synthesizing information from listenings and making inferences. In addition, these levels may include debates, role-play, class discussions, student presentations, and other speaking activities.
These are advanced levels. The students work on complex structures in the grammar textbook. The writing assignments include multi-paragraph essays. Students work with more complex topics in listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Students might be asked to prepare an oral presentation or lead a class discussion.
This is the high-advanced level. The class prepares students for an American college or university, a U.S. corporation, or an international organization. As much as possible, the students use authentic English texts: American newspapers, magazines, novels, short stories, poems, essays, radio programs, TV programs, and video presentations. Students do a variety of writing activities. These writing assignments might include a biography, an analysis of something read in class, a resume, a business letter, a practice TOEFL essay, or a response to a student presentation. Students give oral presentations or lead discussion groups. There is extensive vocabulary work. Instructors review points of grammar based on student errors in speaking and writing.
This is the university and professional level. The class focuses on advanced grammar, advanced writing assignments based on the grammar structures, and advanced vocabulary. Students must be at the F level and must receive either a score of 70 on the placement test or the Program Coordinator’s approval to take this course. The complete course is eight weeks, but students can take each four-week section separately.
This is the university and professional level. The class focuses on advanced writing skills based on academic essay structures and advanced speaking/presentation skills. Students must be at the F level and must receive either a score of 70 on the placement test or the Program Coordinator’s approval to take this course. The complete course is eight weeks, but students can take each four-week section separately.

Schedule:

Intensive English classes in Washington, D.C., including the TOEFL Preparation class, meet 5 hours per day, Monday through Friday, from 9:00 am to 2:10 pm, including a 30-minute lunch break.

Start Dates:

ILI has open enrollment. New classes begin officially every 4 weeks, and we recommend beginning on an official start date whenever possible. Students may also enter the program on another Monday. A placement test allows us to place each student at the appropriate level and point in the curriculum.

Our 2026 start dates are January 5, February 2, March 2, March 30, April 27, May 26 (Tuesday), June 22, July 20, August 17, September 14, October 12, November 9, and December 7. We do not have application deadlines; however, we recommend applying 2-3 months before the start date if an F-1 student visa is required.

Tuition/Textbooks/Fees:

Washington, DCCurrent Rates
Application Fee$100
Tuition (for 4 weeks all 12 ESL levels + TOEFL Preparation)$820
Books (depending on level)$48-163
Optional:  SEVIS I-901 Fee payment for F-1 visa applicants (paid to SEVP)$350
Housing Placement Fee (non-refundable)$150
Homestay (for 4 weeks, including food)$1125
Private English Tutorial (per hour)$52
Incoming Bank Wire Fee$30

We accept cash, U.S. checks, credit cards, bank wires, PayPal, and Western Union. All prices are subject to change without prior notice. Au pairs: new au pair students may qualify for ILI’s special $550 English promotion. After the initial promotion, eligible additional classes receive a 10% tuition discount. See Au Pair Classes & Education Requirement.

Enrollment:

To enroll in any of our English or Test Preparation Programs, the student needs to complete an application and pay the application fee. The minimum age is 14. The preferred way to apply is through our Online Application. If you need a printable version, please use our Forms & Documents page. Prospective students may also come to our school and apply in person. We do not have a general application deadline. If an F-1 student visa is required, we recommend applying well in advance of the requested start date to allow time for the I-20 and visa process. Homestay is optional and requires a separate Homestay application.

ILI also offers English programs at our Maryland center. Please visit ILI Maryland for current class and enrollment information.

I-20 Form/F-1 Student Visa:

The International Language Institute is authorized, under Federal law, to enroll individuals with F-1 student visas. The International Language Institute, however, does not require students to have student visas. The I-20 form for an F-1 student visa can be issued for students in our Intensive English Day Program, including the TOEFL Preparation course, who are at least 16 years of age, enroll for a minimum of four weeks, and study in person (online study is not allowed for initial F-1 students.) For more information on obtaining an F-1 Student Visa and the requirements for obtaining an I-20 form, please go to our F-1 Visa Information page.

Placement Testing:

All new students are required to take a placement test to determine their starting level Students take this test online. The instructions on how to take our placement test will be emailed once we have received your paid application. F-1 visa students will take this test once they have received the visa. 

Payment Policy:

New students:  Tuition for the first cycle (4 weeks) in the amount of $820 has to be paid entirely before the student is allowed in class. If the student is enrolling for less than 4 weeks, all tuition has to be paid before a student is allowed in class.

Continuing students:  Tuition is due the Monday after the last payment is up. A late fee of $15 is automatically added to any payment not received by Wednesday and increases by $15 for each week late. ILI reserves the right to disallow students in class who have not paid their tuition. Continuing students with unpaid tuition, books, or fees from a previous cycle will not be allowed to re-enroll for a new cycle until such balance is paid in full. Continuing students wishing to pay for less than 1 cycle at a time can choose one of the following payment schedules:

English or TOEFL
Weekly$210
Every 2 Weeks$415
Every 3 Weeks$620

Advancement:

At the end of each four-week cycle, a student may pass to the next level if he/she has a grade average of 70% and an attendance average of 80%. If the student’s grade average is below 70%, he/she will need to repeat the level. If the student’s attendance is below 80%, he/she will need to repeat the level. The student’s grade is determined by averaging five skill areas: an average of the grammar chapter test grades, the final listening assessment, the final speaking assessment, the final reading assessment, and the final writing assessment.

Certificates & Evaluations:

All students who complete their program are awarded a certificate of attendance at the end of their studies upon request. All students are continuously evaluated and an evaluation report is available at the end of their studies. In order to qualify to receive a certificate of attendance or an evaluation from ILI, a student must maintain attendance of at least 80%.

Health Insurance

In the United States, students are responsible for their own medical care costs. Because medical care can be expensive, international students are strongly encouraged to maintain appropriate health insurance during their studies.

Questions?

Please contact our Admissions Office at (202) 362-2505 or ili@ilidc.com.