PIA offers many programs and courses to help international students learn English, both for university and for everyday life. A program overview is provided below. For more details about each program or course, click on the links.
Intensive English
Intensive English prepares students for university study through a series of classes in grammar, reading, writing, and speaking and listening. Completing this program meets the language proficiency requirement at area colleges and universities–no TOEFL or IELTS testing necessary!
Service Learning and Community Service
Students enrolled in Intensive English can also take Service Learning or Community Service courses. These classes engage students in classroom lessons and volunteer experiences to give students knowledge, skills, support, and connections to use English to make a positive contribution in the real world.
Community English
PIA offers English classes for students who live in the Portland area. Students attend evening classes once a week during ten-week terms. In these classes students work on developing communication skills and building fluency in English.
Group Courses
PIA offers customizable culture and English courses for groups throughout the year. Experience America is a three or four week course offered in the winter and the summer. Additionally, short-term English courses of one to four weeks can be customized to match students’ desired focus areas.
Study Support
PIA provides many student support services, including tutoring, workshops, and conversation partners.
Online Courses
In some cases, PIA offers online courses, or regularly in-person courses may need to move online temporarily. All PIA students need to have a computer, laptop, or tablet with at least 4 gigabytes of memory, a webcam with a microphone, and high-speed internet. For students in the homestay program, WiFi is provided by homestay families. Students should also be comfortable navigating the internet, have experience using videoconferencing software, and be able to type in English. PIA uses Google Classroom, Zoom, and other online software to conduct synchronous classes. Please contact us if you have any questions!