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.

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the format for the online SLP program?

  English classes will be dynamic and relevant so that students become more relaxed and confident with using English. The program offers a curriculum of writing, reading, grammar, listening, and speaking.  The focus is very much on communicative skills.   By the end of the program you will find that you are speaking English with more confidence and are feeling comfortable with seeking help and asking questions.  Your studio class will provide an introduction to the creative process and will prepare you for entering the Foundation studio program in the fall. Classes will meet daily for 5 days, and will include both synchronous (instruction at a scheduled time) and asynchronous instruction (instruction which you can access on your own schedule).  3 1/2 days (Sunday through Wednesday Pacific Time) will be devoted to synchronous language study. The studio course will meet for 4 hours on Thursday (Pacific Time) synchronously and 2 hours asynchronously.

• What will be the class meeting times?

  Sunday through Tuesday and Thursday, 6-10PM Pacific Time and Wednesday 6-8PM Pacific Time.

• How do I secure my spot in the Summer Language Program?

  To reserve your spot in the program, please submit your $250 tuition deposit at www.otis.edu/deposit by May 15th. 

• Who do I pay my tuition to?

  Otis College collects all tuition payments for the Summer Language Program. You can pay your bill online at my.otis.edu. Payment must be received by June 8th.

• How do I qualify to start the BFA program in the fall semester?

  Students must earn a grade of “C” or better in both courses in order to continue into Otis College of Art and Design’s BFA program. All students will take a writing placement exam before the start of the fall semester, the results of which will determine placement in either Developmental English 2 or Writing in the Digital Age.

• What happens if I do not pass the program with a grade of C or better?

  You will be recommended to one of the English language training centers that we partner with to continue with your training in the Fall 2021 semester. You can then be considered for transfer to Otis College starting in the Spring 2022 semester, which begins in January.

• Will the program for the fall be online or on campus?

  It is planned for the Fall 2021 semester to be on campus. The College is actively preparing for the re-opening of campus. It is also planned for first-year Foundation students to be able to enroll online if they choose to or cannot get a visa in time.  Students can stay informed of our fall plans by checking the Otis Forward webpage.

• When does the fall semester begin? 

  International Student Orientation will be held on Friday, August 20, 2021, which will be followed by the rest of the Orientation Week activities. See the full schedule at www.otis.edu/o-week. The first day of classes is August 30, 2021.

Please contact the Admissions Office at admissions@otis.edu or +1 310.665.6820 with any questions.