126 NW Canal Street  Suite 100  Seattle WA 98107       
Phone 206.325.4109  info@sealang.org
“I have learned so much in only one quarter
and am really excited to continue studying.”
EnglishNext standard session begins
May 19

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Program in:
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FAQ

How many students are in each class and where are they from?
Do I need a visa to study at SLA?
If I come to study at SLA, where will I live when I'm in Seattle?
How will I get to SLA?
What's the weather like in Seattle?
Severe Weather Policy

ESL Students and Instructor share a smile.

How many students are in each class and where are they from?
The minimum number of students in a class is 4 and the maximum is 12. Students from all over the world study at SLA, including Argentina, Austria, Belgium, Bhutan, Brazil, Czech Republic, China, Colombia, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, France, Germany, India, Israel, Italy, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Mongolia, Norway, Panama, Peru, Russia, Senegal, Spain, Switzerland, Taiwan, Thailand, Tibet, Qatar, Ukraine and Venezuela.

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Do I need a visa to study at SLA?
Provided studying is not the main reason for their trip, students already in Seattle on tourist visas can study at SLA. Students from the countries on this list who wish to study for less than 3 months can study on a visa waiver. (In both cases, sight-seeing, vacationing or visiting family, etc. should be the focus of their time spent in the United States.)

For students who need a visa in order to enter the United States, SLA is able to issue a form I-20 which they can take to an American Embassy or Consulate in order to obtain an F-1 Student Visa. These students must apply to study for a minimum of one month and will be charged a $50.00 I-20 processing fee by SLA and a $100 SEVIS fee by Homeland Security. Please read this letter for details.

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If I come to study at SLA, where will I live when I'm in Seattle?
Students have several housing options available. ABODE Homestay offers host families and shared housing.The average price to share a house or apartment is $500 to $600 per month, and students wishing to rent their own apartment should expect to pay between $600 (studio) and $1000 (one-bedroom apartment) per month. SLA is located in the Fremont neighborhood of Seattle; other close neighborhoods are Ballard, Greenlake, Queen Anne, Wallingford and the University District.

ESL Instructors

Students looking for housing may find the following resources helpful:
Craig's List - non-profit website
The Stranger - free weekly newspaper
The Seattle Weekly - free weekly newspaper
The Seattle Times - daily newspaper
The Seattle Post-Intelligencer - daily newspaper

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ESL student in classroom

How will I get to SLA?
Most students will need to take the bus to get to SLA. The Metro bus numbers that run through our neighborhood include the 26, 28, 31 and 74. Some students will need to take two or more buses to reach SLA.

The cost to ride the bus depends on the time of day you're traveling. On weekdays, between 6:00 and 9:00 in the morning and 3:00 and 6:00 in the evening the fare is $1.50 for travel within Seattle; at all other times the fare is $1.25. On weekends and holidays, an “All Day Pass” is available for $2.50, allowing the passenger unlimited trips on the date of purchase.

For more information on bus fares, please consult the Metro website. For help planning your bus trip, please consult the ELP Administrator, or use the Online Trip Planner provided by Metro.

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ESL students on fieldtrip What's the weather like in Seattle?
Located between Lake Washington and Puget Sound, less than 3 hours from the Pacific Ocean, Seattle is green year-round and has a climate similar to Paris and London. Winter is mild and rainy with temperatures ranging from 2° to 8° C (36° to 46° F), while summer is warm and sunny with temperatures ranging from 16° to 24° C (55° to 85° F). Popular outdoor activities include hiking, rock climbing, bicycling, skiing, snowboarding, jogging, camping, kayaking and sailing.

Severe Weather Policy
To find out about possible cancellations due to severe weather, call the SLA main number (206-325-4109) after 7:30 am on the day of your class for a voice-mail announcement.

Classes may be cancelled should weather conditions make travel to and from SLA difficult, unsafe or impossible. No make-up classes will be scheduled for the Standard Intensive class. However, for the evening classes there will be a maximum of two make-ups, on either the fifth or ninth Saturday of the quarter at 9:45am or 11:30am.

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