Ohio University - Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE)
History
OPIE is the Ohio Program of Intensive English, located on the historic campus of Ohio University in Athens, Ohio. OPIE began offering classes in 1967 and is one of the leading English language programs in the U.S. and the oldest university English language program in Ohio.
Founded in 1804, Ohio University is one of America’s oldest public universities and has a long tradition of providing outstanding education. Over 21,000 students, including over 1,800 international students, attend Ohio University.
English Study
Over the past five decades, 8,000+ students from all over the world have come to our program to improve their English, prepare for academic study, and learn U.S. culture. Our graduates have acquired the language, study, and cross-cultural skills that have helped them navigate their academic and professional lives.
OPIE classes are small and teachers pay special attention to student needs. Participation and the practical use of spoken and written English are emphasized. OPIE consists of three full-time and two part-time levels of intensive English.
In addition to classes, OPIE offers opportunities to:
- meet with a conversation partner and attend conversation hours.
- get personalized one-on-one tutoring in OPIE’s pronunciation and writing labs.
- attend cultural and social events on campus and in the community.
English classes meet Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday, with Wednesday reserved for individual lab work, teacher conferences, and special projects or activities. OPIE instructors are experienced and qualified language teachers who have studied other languages and have lived outside the USA. Please note: OPIE’s summer term is 12 weeks (instead of 14); due to the shortened time period, OPIE classes are held daily and lab and socio-cultural offerings may be more limited than in Fall and Spring terms.
Conditional Admission
Ohio University offers English conditional admission to all of its 250 bachelor’s programs and many of its 188 master’s and 58 doctoral programs. Ohio University prides itself on academic programs, including Business, Engineering, and Communications. The Center for World University Rankings ranks OHIO in the top 2.2 percent of the world’s 22,000 higher education institutions for its quality of education.
Ohio University has a student-to-faculty ratio of 19:1. According to recent data, OPIE students who enter academic study generally do as well or better than their American peers. (The Fall 2014 mean cumulative GPA for OPIE students studying academically was 3.1.)
Facilities
Facilities at OPIE and Ohio University are excellent. All classrooms are wired to the Internet and have projectors and document readers. Computer labs, mobile lab technology, and course management systems are also available to students on a daily basis.
Your student ID gives you access to all campus facilities, including Alden Library, containing over three million print and electronic volumes, and the Ping and Aquatic Centers, premier recreational facilities.
Location
Located among beautiful green, wooded hills, Athens, Ohio, is a welcoming community of about 24,000 people and provides a peaceful, safe environment for students. Athens, Ohio is centrally located, a short plane ride or day’s drive to Washington D.C., Chicago, and New York City.
A lower cost of living provides a high quality of life for students. Finally, the region offers a moderate climate with four distinct seasons.
Services
With adequate advanced notice, OPIE and Ohio University can assist with airport pick-ups at the closest airport, Port Columbus International Airport (CMH), as well as arranging on-campus housing, meal plans, and health insurance.
Upon arrival, students will be oriented to campus and will receive support from campus offices such as International Student and Faculty Services (ISFS), the Office of Residential Housing, Campus Care, and the Allen Student Help Center. OPIE also provides support in the form of student advising; all OPIE students are assigned an advisor who is always available to help with questions and problems.