Professional English Program (PE) - Offered at the Fort Lee, NJ campus
This program is intended for general language development and academic communication. It is not designed for career readiness and does not provide vocational or job training.
The purpose of the Professional English Program is to develop students’ advanced, practical English skills across all four areas: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The program also includes focused instruction in grammar and vocabulary.
The curriculum is designed to strengthen high-level English communication through authentic and varied materials. Each course is carefully structured to support non-native adult speakers and to help students:
- Gain confidence in speaking English
- Learn and apply a range of vocabulary and expressions
- Improve fluency to express, discuss, and analyze complex concepts in real-world situations
- Strengthen reading comprehension of authentic texts
- Recognize and use a wide variety of factual text types
DLC offers multiple courses within the Professional English Program. Each course consists of 180 clock hours over 10 weeks.
Course Descriptions
PE800A (Professional English I)
In this course, learners develop fundamental written and spoken communication skills, with a focus on formal English. The course introduces foundational vocabulary and grammar and uses current articles to analyze contemporary issues. It aims to build essential reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills through practical communicative activities, laying a solid foundation for continued language development.
PE800B (Professional English II)
This high-intermediate to advanced-level course enhances learners' ability to communicate effectively in formal contexts while deepening their understanding of advanced English. It develops functional language skills for a wide range of communicative situations across all four language skill areas. The course supports linguistic competence in international contexts and includes targeted activities to refine specific language skills, providing a bridge between basic proficiency and advanced communication.
PE800C (Professional English III)
Focusing on critical language skills, this course develops advanced communication abilities such as discussion, argumentation, and understanding cultural nuances. Using authentic materials, it enriches comprehension of global issues while advancing overall English proficiency. Emphasis is placed on both formal and informal presentations, including prepared and extemporaneous speaking, allowing students to engage with their individual interests and and language learning goals.
PE800D (Professional English IV)
This course is designed for learners seeking advanced-level communication skills. It emphasizes a range of written and spoken forms and explores rhetorical principles essential for effective expression. Assignments focus on developing clear, well-structured writing and presentations in formal contexts, culminating in strong advanced speaking and writing abilities for academic and everyday English communication.
