English Language Institute

The English Language Institute (ELI) is an academic unit in the Language Arts Division at Leeward Community College (CC). The ELI offers high-quality English language instruction to students who wish to improve their English for academic, professional, or personal purposes.

Students learn about U.S. college culture and life in Hawai‘i through classwork and weekly activities while improving their English language skills. The ELI provides 18 hours per week, 16 weeks per semester of non-credit classroom instruction.

The ELI serves as a gateway for students who are English language learners to enter our undergraduate program and continue their studies here at Leeward CC. Students who complete the advanced level in the ELI are eligible to enter the credit program at Leeward CC without further testing.

ELI Mission Statement:

The central mission of the English Language Institute at Leeward Community College is to provide high-quality English as a second language (ESL) instruction and orientation in U.S. culture to international students, professionals and other non-native speakers by means of an intensive English program.

To achieve this mission, the English Language Institute pursues the following goals:

• Improve the English language and study skills of international students in preparation for study at an American college or university, or for personal or professional purposes.
• Provide students with the cultural knowledge and awareness necessary to transition from life and study in their own countries to the U.S.
• Provide student support and administrative services of the highest quality.