HELP will be offering our high-quality academic English courses online this Fall for students who are unable to come to Hawaii. Courses can be taken from anywhere in the world!
HELP has taken our excellent face-to-face Academic English skills curriculum and have transformed it for delivery online. We are using all the technological resources available to provide the highest quality online language learning experience available.
Jump to:
Overview
- Online Academic English courses conducted using Zoom & Google Classroom & Drive*
- Full-time courses focus on Academic English skills of reading, writing, grammar and listening and speaking.
- Four (4) proficiency levels to meet students’ needs
- Students will receive detailed grade report, assessment report, and completion certificate.
- HELP courses are non-credit.
*Students are responsible for ensuring they have access to reliable internet and the ability to use the required technological software. Applicants will be required to complete a Zoom training session to test connection capabilities prior to registering for classes.
Schedule
Fall 1 2021 Term Dates: August 23 – October 15, 2021 (8 weeks)
Fall 2 2021 Term Dates: October 25 – December 17, 2021 (8 weeks)
SYNCHRONOUS CLASS SCHEDULE:
| Hawaii Standard Time | Japan/Korea Standard Time | |
| Days | Monday – Thursday | Tuesday – Friday |
| Times | 1:15pm – 5:45pm | 8:15am – 12:45pm |
Tentative schedule expanded
Hawaii Standard Time
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1:15 – 2:15pm | Reading | Reading | Reading | Reading |
| 2:25 – 3:25pm | Grammar | Grammar | Grammar | Grammar |
| 3:35 – 4:35pm | Writing | Writing | Writing | Writing |
| 4:45 – 5:45pm | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking |
Japan and Korea Standard Time
| Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8:15 – 9:15am | Reading | Reading | Reading | Reading |
| 9:25 – 10:25am | Grammar | Grammar | Grammar | Grammar |
| 10:35 – 11:35am | Writing | Writing | Writing | Writing |
| 11:45 – 12:45pm | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking | Listening/Speaking |
Course Descriptions
For the courses offered in Fall Term 2021, students will be assigned to the following three levels. Placement in levels is based on performance on an online placement test, a writing sample, and an individual speaking test.
Students who are not at the 200 level will have the opportunity to choose a specially designed online course to prepare them for 200 level work.
200-level
HELP 231R – Reading Development
In this course, students develop and increase their academic vocabulary and reading strategies as they practice them by reading passages about a variety of topics. There is a review and training on identifying main ideas and details, skimming, and getting meaning from context.
HELP 241W – Writing Development
Students start by reviewing and writing well-formed paragraphs. They then move to composing short essays.
HELP 251G – Grammar
Students look at the form, meaning, and use of grammar structures found in reading. writing, and speaking. Focus is placed on modals and phrasal verbs.
HELP 236LS – Listening & Speaking
This course will help students increase their listening comprehension and speaking fluency in everyday situations by focusing on some essential listening, vocabulary, and pronunciation they will need. They will also practice listening to short lectures and giving their own presentations.
300-level
HELP 331R – Reading Development
Students develop and increase their academic vocabulary and reading strategies as they practice them by reading passages about a variety of topics. There is a review and training on identifying main ideas and details, skimming, and getting meaning from context.
HELP 341W – Writing Development
Students will build their skills in writing and revising for an academic audience. By the end of the course, they will be able to write the standard five-paragraph essay in different rhetorical modes.
HELP 351G – Grammar A to Z
Students look at the form, meaning, and use of grammar structures found in reading. writing, and speaking. Focus is placed on modals and phrasal verbs.
HELP 311LS – Listening & Speaking
This course will develop listening comprehension and speaking fluency by focusing on specific grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation skills as well as note-taking skills.
400-level
HELP 431R – Academic Reading
Students develop and increase their academic vocabulary and reading strategies as they read a variety of articles on a sustained content, i.e. on what academic subject such as psychology, anthropology, or sociology.
HELP 441W – Academic Writing
Through this course, students develop a better understanding of critical reading, the research process, and the conventions of advanced academic writing.
HELP 451G – Advanced Grammar
This course prepares students to communicate more accurately in both writing and speaking.
HELP 411LS – Listening & Speaking
Student will develop the skills of listening to lectures or presentations, taking notes effectively, and communicating with other students in group discussions.
Eligibility
To be a HELP student, you must:
- Be 17 years old or older
- Be a high school graduate
- Be at any level of English from beginning to advanced
Additionally for online-only courses, you must:
- Have adequate technology including a laptop or desktop computer
- Have reliable internet and wifi
- Be able to use Zoom videoconferencing software (free)
- Be able to use Google Drive and associated applications (access will be given upon acceptance)
Application Process
Fall 1 2021 Term Application Deadline: August 6, 2021
1. Submit Application
A. Fill out and submit HELP Online Course Application Form (PDF)
Email to eslhelp@hawaii.edu
Include a copy of a government-issued ID (example: passport, drivers license).
New students will not be issued a Form I-20 for online courses.
B. Pay application fee
The $125 application fee should be submitted with your application form and can be paid by credit card (Visa/Mastercard) or check.
ONLINE PAYMENT METHODS:
- International Payments – Bank wire transfers, credit cards, e-wallets, and more:
- All international payments are accepted via Flywire.
- Go to: HELP Flywire Portal and follow the steps to initiate and make payment via Flywire to University of Hawaii – Hawaii English Language Program (HELP)
- Credit Cards (USD$) – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or JCB
IN-PERSON/BY MAIL:
- Credit Cards (USD$) – Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or JCB
- Credit card payments can be made in-person at the HELP Front Office during business hours.
- For credit card payment by fax or mail, complete Credit Card Authorization form (PDF) and send to HELP.
- Checks – All checks are to be made out to the University of Hawaii
- Money Order – To be made payable to the University of Hawaii
- Wire Transfer – Please contact us for information.
If you have any questions about payment, please contact us.
2. Take HELP Online Placement Test
You will be sent links to take your online placement tests. Please complete them as soon as possible.
Your placement test results will be used to place you into one of HELP’s 4 levels.
4. Pay tuition
You will be sent an invoice and information about payment methods and deadlines.
5. Prepare for pre-term orientation & classes
Online orientation details will be emailed to you.
Fall 2021 Tuition & Fees
Application fee: $125
The application fee is a ONE-TIME fee. This fee covers your application processing, online class training, email account activation and set up, and placement testing. This fee is due with your application and is NON-REFUNDABLE.
Tuition & fees: $2700 per 8-week term
Tuition & fees cover your class fees for full-time classes for 8-weeks. If you wish to take both Fall terms, you would pay for two 8-week terms. The payment also covers the online materials used in your classes.
Cancellation & Refund policy
HELP’s Fall 2021 terms and class offerings are subject to change. Classes without a minimum of 5 students enrolled may be collapsed or cancelled at the discretion of HELP administration.
- The application fee is non-refundable.
- 100% of tuition is refundable until August 13, 2021 at 5pm HST. Students who wish to withdraw from classes must do so in writing.
- 50% of tuition is are refundable until August 25, 2021 at 5pm HST. Students who wish to withdraw from classes must do so in writing. Thereafter, there will be no refund on the tuition for that session.
- Classes must have a minimum enrollment of 5 students. Classes that do not meet the minimum may be collapsed or cancelled at the discretion of HELP administration.
- Students whose classes are cancelled will receive a 100% refund on tuition & fees.
- For students arriving late or students entering class in the middle of the term, the refund policy is in effect from the first day of the term, not from their first day of attendance.
- If a student is dismissed from school for any reason, NO refund will be given for the term in session.
- Students understand that if they register through study agents, they may have signed contracts with these agents that include cancellation penalties, no-refund policies, or home-country-refunds-only conditions. In all cases regarding agent-sent students, HELP will confirm the conditions of agent-student contracts with study agents before issuing any refunds.
- Refunds are issued within 60 days of the receipt of the request.
Contact us
Questions about our Fall 2021 Online courses? Contact us today!
Email: eslhelp@hawaii.edu
You can also request a phone or video conference session with a HELP staff member if you would like to speak to someone. Assistance is also available in Japanese and Korean languages.