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 At
ICLS each student is an important client. Since we believe that language
learning is a way of life, we work with students in setting up a
schedule that fits into their busy lives and varied budgets. We believe
that:
Language teaching and learning is based on the premise that language is
a system of sounds by which people communicate.
Our job as teachers is to get students inside the target language to the
extent that they can speak and understand it with a native speaker, on
the native speaker’s terms.
There is no magic formula or miracle method in learning a language;
there are sound methodologies for second language acquisition and
excellent teachers who make it all happen.
ICLS emphasizes the mastery of the sounds and structure of the target
language, both in speaking and listening. The principle activity in the
classroom is oral practice, which is a continuous exchange between
student and teacher. At ICLS, we call this method Induced Discourse.
Our experience has borne out the notion that a student needs to actually
speak the target language from the very beginning. New elements of the
language are systematically introduced, with the result that the student
learns something new by using them to communicate. Mistakes are
corrected and old elements are recycled and combined with new ones.
There is constant attention to the development of native-like sounds and
an understanding of the nuances of a language as it is spoken by native
speakers. The student is immersed in the language: he/she is given
plenty of models to emulate and the help needed to internalize them.
The ICLS management team is comprised of individuals who come from
within the organization, it is not an entity imposed upon it from the
outside. All of them are trained teachers who speak languages other than
English and have lived and worked abroad. We believe that is why we have
been so successful in fostering the best possible relationship with our
students and our teaching staff.
The ICLS teaching staff of over 250 individuals is a group of
highly-trained and experienced native speakers who have chosen teaching
as their profession. Our teachers are our greatest assets; many of them
have taught at ICLS for over 10 years.
Our job as educators is to help students in defining their language
learning goals and to set out realistic expectations with which they can
work. At ICLS we will discuss your language needs before you start your
training; we will give you an idea of how long it will take you to reach
your goals, based on the difficulty of the language and the number of
hours you have to devote to instruction.
ICLS is conveniently located in the heart of Washington, just steps away
from the White House and within walking distance of the McPherson Square
and Farragut North subway stations. Our custom-designed facility
includes 37 tutorial and group classrooms, student and faculty lounges,
a conference room and administrative offices. Our 15-seat language
laboratory includes audio and video tapes and computers.
ICLS invites individuals and organizations needing foreign language
instruction to call or visit our Center to discuss specific language
goals. ICLS can tailor instruction to small groups or individuals and
can arrange for training to be held off-site at client offices. Whether
training is conducted for 500 hours or 30 hours, the ICLS mission is the
same: excellence in language training!
The
foreign language program is tailored to meet the language objectives of
each student. Class hours are fifty minutes in length and can be arranged
to suit individual schedules. We suggest a minimum of two class hours for
each session and recommend a personal interview with the school to conduct
a needs assessment.
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