天堂鸟先生

Two international students talking with an OPIE Advisor
OPIE Student Handbook

OPIE Student Handbook

Download Student Handbook [PDF] 

Mission Statement

The principal mission of OPIE is to raise the English language proficiency level and intercultural fluency of non-native speakers who will use English for academic study at institutions of higher education and/or for professional purposes. The OPIE mission consists of five core components: Teaching, Testing, Orientation/Cross-cultural Support, Program Development, and Teacher Development.
Learn More About our Mission

Welcome to OPIE!

We are very happy that you are here in Athens, Ohio, and we wish you success in your language studies and life here! We know that most of you have traveled long distances and many hours to come to 天堂鸟先生. Most of what you see and feel鈥攖he food, climate, music, fashion, and, of course, the language鈥攊s probably unfamiliar. Sometimes you will discover that you really enjoy these differences. Other times you will miss what you left behind in your country. These feelings are very natural for people who go to another country to live, study, or work. You have shown courage by leaving your homes, your families, and your friends to come here to study. We hope this handbook helps you to understand studying in OPIE.

What is OPIE?

OPIE stands for the Ohio Program of Intensive English. OPIE, the oldest university English program in the state of Ohio, was founded in 1967, and its official mission is to raise the proficiency level and intercultural fluency of non-native speakers of English to meet their language, academic and professional needs. To achieve this goal, OPIE provides high quality language and cultural instruction, and assessment or testing services.

Thus, in OPIE you can expect to learn English for academic purposes in order to live and study in the USA. In OPIE you will gain confidence in using American English and have a deeper understanding of American culture. OPIE professors are experienced and qualified language teachers who have studied other languages, earned graduate degrees in the field of teaching English as a second or foreign language, and have lived outside the USA.