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The Hartnell English Institute is an intensive program designed to prepare students to use English effectively in their academic work and everyday life. Formal language classes are presented in a friendly, personal setting which allows students to integrate grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, speaking, listening comprehension, and research skills in relation to a central theme. The unifying theme could be American Culture, Film and Television, Heroes, or other subjects. By using a comprehensive approach to learning English, students feel like they are in a regular American classroom situation.

Hartnell English Institute, an English as a Second Language (ESL) program welcomes all non native English speaker.

At this institute,
You will....

... Have a class size that will be small with 12 students or less.

... Have many opportunities to speak with Americans.

... Become a confident English speaker through a specialized pronunciation program which not only teaches you how to produce all sounds in English, but also teaches you how to read and spell.

... Be able to use your English in the real world with fieldtrips to interesting places.

... Understand American culture, customs and holidays.



Hartnell English Institute classes are learner-centered, multi-sensory courses. Instruction is in English only. HEI content concentrates on reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Grammar is reinforced through all of these activities. Materials include textbooks, worksheets, videos, role-plays, songs, vocabulary, and journals. We use a variety of techniques to help students master the English language.



Yes! The best way to improve your TOEFL score is through intensive English classes like the Hartnell English Institute. The Hartnell English Institute also devotes time every week to test-taking skills. The intensive Hartnell English Institute program requires you to spend one hour per daydoing homework outside the classroom. This helps you to improve your English skills very quickly. The conversation you practice in class every day is one of the most effective ways to improve your listening skills for the TOEFL exam.



Yes! Field trips are an integral part of Hartnell English Institute courses. During field trips you will practice English by speaking and listening to many different American people. We encourage you to ask questions and concentrate on your listening skills.

You may take a field trip to such well-known places as the Monterey Bay Aquarium, Carmel Mission, The National Steinbeck Center, or the California Rodeo. You may also visit places near the college such as a coffee house, the police station, the planetarium, or a newspaper office. The schedule of field trips changes with each course and the destinations are too numerous to mention them all.

Some field trips are held outside of class hours. Field trips may give you up to an extra hour of English instruction per week with no extra fees.

All instructors at the Hartnell English Institute are professionally trained to teach English as a Second Language. They have had experience teaching at the college/university setting. Instructors work as a team to create an innovative approach to assist students in making a a smooth transition into academic life in the United States.

A special curriculum can be designed for tourists, companies, or international business people to meet the objectives of the group.


Students accepted to the Hartnell English Institute receive conditional acceptance to Hartnell College. Hartnell College requires a TOEFL score of 460 (paper-based), 140 (computer-based), 48 (internet-based), or better for international student admission to the academic program.