Otis College Summer Language Program (SLP)
June 20 - August 1, 2021
Students who do not meet Otis's BFA level of English proficiency may be accepted for our Summer Language Program, which will provide a strong foundation to start BFA studies at Otis College. If students succeed in the SLP course, they will be able to start the BFA program for the fall semester. In addition to improving language abilities, they will have the opportunity to engage in a studio elective course and connect with other Otis students before the start of the fall semester.
Classes will be held online Sunday-Thursday PDT in the evening, which is Monday-Friday during the daytime for students in Asia.
Important Dates
- Deposit Deadline: May 15, 2021 (submit your deposit here)
- Tuition Due Date: June 8, 2021
- Orientation: June 19, 2021
- Program Dates: June 20 – August 1, 2021
SLP Courses
Students enrolled in the SLP program will take two courses over the summer. A grade of "C" is required in both courses to meet the requirements for BFA admission.
Developmental English I - ENGL 050
Class meeting times: Sunday - Tuesday 6-10pm PT, Wednesday 6-8pm PT
Description: Developmental English I is a for credit, non-degree applicable course designed to support native and non-native speakers of English language in developing the basic Standard English language skills needed for reading, analyzing, writing, and discussing college-level material. The class focuses on organizing ideas into unified and coherent sentences and paragraphs and developing these into a portfolio of drafted, revised, and edited essays. A minimum grade of “C” is required to pass this course and gain BFA admission.
Look, Think, Make: Studio Practice - FNDT 145
Class meeting times: Thursday 6-10pm PT synchronously plus 2 hours of instruction asynchronously
Description: This course investigates beginning themes and concepts for studio making. A great introduction to the Foundation year studios, each week we will explore a new theme presented through lectures, discussion and (asynchronous) inspirational content. The course will include exercises in making, material play, and prompts for thinking and looking. Students will take photographs, videos, make objects from found materials, present research from 'solo' field trips, and collaborate with their classmates. A minimum grade of “C” is required to pass this course and gain BFA admission.
Credits may be applied to the foundation elective FNDT145, and to a major elective upon approval of the major department Chair.
Tuition and Fees for the Summer Language Program
Due by June 8th: Tuition and Activity/Workshop Fees $2,300
*If students plan to come to the United States for the summer, they will need to pay the $75 Student Health Center fee and a $200 health insurance fee.
Please note that Otis College scholarships cannot be applied to the Summer Language Program. If awarded a scholarship, it will be granted once enrolled in the BFA program.
Visa Details
Students will be issued an I-20 from Otis for the summer program if they submit the necessary financial documents. They can take the program fully online from home or take the program from the U.S. online if they receive the F-1 visa. Students entering the U.S. will then receive a new I-20 for the fall semester once passing the program. For the fall semester, students entering the first-year at Otis have the option of receiving an I-20 to apply for an F-1 student visa to attend courses on campus or enroll online if available without applying for a visa. Otis plans to have in person courses for the fall semester.
Faculty Bios
Shari Saidiner has been teaching the English language since 2009. She has taught at UCLA, USC, El Camino College, and Otis College of Art and Design. Prior to teaching, she worked in marketing, art direction and copywriting. Shari combines her experience in marketing with her creativity from advertising to make her English classes dynamic and relevant so that students become more relaxed and confident with using English.
Education: M.A (TESOL) CSUDH, CELTA – University of Cambridge, B.F.A. (Art Direction) Art Center College of Design, B.S (Business-Marketing) University of Southern California.
Liz Nurenberg is a Foundation Faculty teaching Building Form, Form and Space, Creative Practices 1 and 2. MFA, (Studio Art) Claremont Graduate University, Claremont, CA. BFA, (Art and Design) Grand Valley State University, Allendale, MI. 2014 California Community Foundation Fellowship Award: Emerging Artist Grant. 2010 Helen B. Dooley Fellowship, Claremont Graduate University. 2002 Ox-Bow School of Art and Artist Residency Fellowship. Member of Tiger Strikes Asteroid Los Angeles, 2016-Present. She has exhibited her work nationally and internationally at such venues as the Holter Museum (Helena, Montana), Pasadena Armory Center for the Arts (Pasadena, CA), Elephant Art Space (Los Angeles, CA), HilbertRaum Gallery (Berlin, Germany), and the Torrance Art Museum.
Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@otis.edu or +1 310.665.6820 with any questions.