Ohio University

The Ohio Program of Intensive English (OPIE) is an English program affiliated with Ohio University that has provided English education to international students from around the world since 1967. The OPIE program is located on the first floor of the recently renovated Linguistics building and strives to create an efficient learning environment for language study. The Linguistics building that houses OPIE is at the center of the Ohio University campus, with convenient access to the dormitories and the library. OPIE follows the Ohio University schedule under the quarter system (four terms per year) and offers an intensive English program of 10 weeks per term. Students take 20 hours of classes per week. In addition to a general English program aimed at comprehensive improvement in reading, writing, speaking and listening, OPIE offers required or elective classes such as computer, academic reading and audiovisual room classes. OPIE also offers a Conversation Partner program that gives students opportunities to use English and learn natural English. With a conversation partner, students can not only chat comfortably but also take part in various events together and learn natural spoken English. OPIE's intensive English classes are divided into four levels from beginner to advanced according to difficulty, and at the start of each term a test is given to assess students' abilities and place them in the appropriate class. Classes run from Monday to Friday, and on Wednesdays audiovisual room classes, counseling with instructors, special projects and more take place. To make classes more effective, OPIE strives to keep class sizes as small as possible; the average class has about 11 students, and class sizes range from 10 to 12.

Ohio, in the northeastern United States, borders Lake Erie, one of the Great Lakes. Ohio has a continental climate and is known for large temperature swings. Athens City, where Ohio University is located, lies in the hilly Appalachian foothills, with a river flowing through scenic countryside. Cornfields stretch across Ohio, and national forests and state parks surround Ohio University, with five state parks near the university, making the natural scenery beautiful.