United States (US)
The United States is a federation of 50 states and the District of Columbia spanning six time zones from the Atlantic to the Pacific, plus Alaska and Hawaii.
Learning the Language in United States
Courses, certifications, funding, and online resources to reach fluency.
English is the de facto language of the United States — there is no official national language at the federal level (though many states have designated English as their official language). Professional English proficiency is essential for most white-collar employment. There is no federal mandated language-integration class for new immigrants, unlike Germany or the Netherlands. However, the naturalisation process requires passing an English reading, writing, and speaking test plus a civics test. Spanish is the de facto second language, spoken by ~42 million US residents. New arrivals with limited English can find free or low-cost English as a Second Language (ESL) classes through public libraries, adult schools, community colleges, and non-profit literacy organisations in almost every US city.
No Federal Integration Course — USCIS English + Civics Test for Naturalization
Applicants for US citizenship via naturalisation (Green Card holders meeting 5-year residence requirement, or 3-year requirement if married to a US citizen). Age 50+ with 20+ years LPR status, or age 55+ with 15+ years LPR status, are exempt from the English test (but still take civics in their native language).
Included in the $760 Form N-400 filing fee (2026). Separate study materials are free at uscis.gov/citizenship. Paid prep courses are optional.
Self-study; most applicants prepare 3–6 months before the interview. Intensive study materials can be completed in weeks.
Must pass English reading (read 1 of 3 sentences aloud), English writing (write 1 of 3 sentences correctly), English speaking (demonstrated throughout the interview), and civics (6 of 10 oral questions drawn from a pool of 100 USCIS civics questions).
Apply for naturalization by filing Form N-400 online at my.uscis.gov. You will be scheduled for biometrics, then an interview at your local USCIS field office. Free civics flashcards, videos, and practice tests are available at uscis.gov/citizenship.
Adult Education ESL (public schools, public libraries, community colleges)
Free or low-cost English as a Second Language classes offered by local school districts (Adult Education programmes), public libraries, community-based organisations, and community colleges. Available in virtually every US city. Funded through a mix of federal WIOA Title II adult education grants, state funds, and local/non-profit support.
Any adult resident, regardless of immigration status in most programmes. Some programmes have residency requirements. US Citizenship and Integration Grant Program funds some citizenship-preparation classes specifically.
Free in most adult school and library-based programmes. Community college non-credit ESL: typically $0–$300/semester. Community college credit-bearing ESL (for academic credit): may require residency documentation and tuition.
Search "[your city] adult education ESL" or "[your city] ESL classes free". Contact your local public library — most offer free English conversation circles. Literacy Volunteers of America and ProLiteracy member programmes offer free 1-on-1 tutoring. Community colleges: search the non-credit/continuing education catalogue.
Language Levels — What Each Means
Can introduce yourself, ask simple questions, order in a restaurant, follow basic signs. Cannot hold a conversation.
Required for: Basic daily navigation. Insufficient for most US employment except some manual labour. Not sufficient for naturalisation.
Can handle simple social situations, describe family, jobs, basic routines. Can communicate in routine retail and service situations.
Required for: Entry-level service jobs where English is not primary. Some naturalisation applicants pass at this level with additional civics study.
Can handle most travel situations, describe experiences, give reasons and opinions, understand the main points of clear standard speech.
Required for: USCIS naturalisation English test comfortably. Most customer-service and administrative jobs. TOEFL 60+ or IELTS 5.5.
Can interact with native speakers with fluency, produce detailed text on wide range of subjects, discuss abstract topics.
Required for: Most professional jobs. University admission: TOEFL 80+ or IELTS 6.5. Medical/nursing licensing typically requires B2–C1.
Can express yourself fluently and spontaneously without much obvious searching for words. Can use language flexibly and effectively for professional, social, and academic purposes.
Required for: Competitive professional roles (consulting, law, senior management). Top-tier university admission: TOEFL 100+ or IELTS 7+. Medical licensing.
Near-native. Can understand virtually everything heard or read. Can summarise and present arguments in coherent form.
Required for: Not typically required formally in the US. Useful for academic/legal/literary professions where nuance matters.
Courses & Community Learning
Community College Non-Credit ESL
$0–$300/semester depending on state and residencyLeveled English classes (beginner through advanced) at local community colleges. Classes typically meet 2–4 times/week in the evening or morning. Well-structured curriculum, professional ESL instructors. Pathways to credit-bearing ESL and certificate programmes.
Public Library English Conversation Circles
FreeFree informal conversation groups at public libraries, usually weekly. Led by librarians or trained volunteers. Great for building confidence speaking. Open to all — no registration required in most libraries.
Literacy Volunteers / ProLiteracy Affiliates
FreeOne-on-one free tutoring by trained volunteers. Flexible scheduling; meets at libraries or community centres. Strong across the US — 1,000+ local affiliates. Ideal for adults with low English literacy.
www.proliteracy.org ↗Catholic Charities / Lutheran Social Services / IRC ESL Programmes
FreeFaith-based and refugee resettlement organisations offering free ESL classes, often paired with citizenship preparation and job readiness. Particularly strong for refugees and asylees.
YMCA / YWCA International ESL
Low cost, often sliding scaleCommunity-centre-based ESL classes in many cities. Also offers citizenship preparation, job skills, and social integration support.
Private Language Schools (Kaplan, EF, ELS Language Centers)
$1,500–$4,000/month for intensive programmes; lower for part-timeIntensive English programmes for F-1 student visa holders and fee-paying learners. Structured full-time courses at multiple levels. Required for some F-1 pathway students.
Meetup / Conversation Exchange Platforms
FreeFree language exchange meetups in most US cities. Find English-speakers who want to learn your language and exchange conversation practice.
www.meetup.com ↗Official Certifications
| Certificate | Provider | Levels | When Needed | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| TOEFL iBT | ETS (Educational Testing Service) | Score 0–120 (roughly equivalent to CEFR B1–C2) | University admission (most common — required by most US universities for international applicants). Some employers. Some professional licensing (medical, nursing boards). | $245 US test; $185–$300 internationally |
| IELTS Academic | British Council / IDP / Cambridge | Band 0–9 (roughly CEFR A1–C2) | University admission (increasingly accepted as alternative to TOEFL). US immigration English test in some cases. Professional licensing for medical and nursing boards. | $245–$255 |
| Duolingo English Test (DET) | Duolingo | Score 10–160 (maps to CEFR A1–C2) | Accepted by 5,500+ universities as TOEFL/IELTS alternative. Cheaper, online, faster results. Accepted for some visa categories. | $65 |
| Cambridge English Qualifications (B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency) | Cambridge Assessment English | B2 First (FCE), C1 Advanced (CAE), C2 Proficiency (CPE) — CEFR | Accepted by many universities and employers as proof of English. Lifetime validity (unlike TOEFL/IELTS which expire after 2 years). Popular with long-term professional credentialing. | $220–$280 |
| TOEIC | ETS | Score 10–990 across Listening/Reading | Primarily used by employers for workplace English assessment. Common in Asia-Pacific for employer-required English testing. Less common in US university admissions. | $90–$150 |
Online Resources
Duolingo English
FreePopular free app for English learning. Gamified lessons, suitable for beginners and intermediate. Also offers the Duolingo English Test (DET) for academic/visa purposes.
www.duolingo.com ↗BBC Learning English
FreeWorld-class free British English learning resources — news-based lessons, grammar, pronunciation, workplace English. Useful for intermediate and advanced learners.
www.bbc.co.uk/learningenglish ↗Voice of America Learning English
FreeUS government-funded free English learning site. News stories read at slower pace with transcripts. American English pronunciation and vocabulary.
learningenglish.voanews.com ↗EngVid (YouTube)
FreeFree YouTube channel with thousands of English lessons from professional ESL teachers. Organised by level and topic.
www.engvid.com ↗Coursera / edX English Courses
FreeUniversity-level English courses including "English for Career Development", "Academic English", "Business English". Free to audit; fees for certificates.
www.coursera.org ↗Cambridge English Online
FreeFree practice tests, learning materials, and preparation resources for Cambridge English exams (B1 Preliminary, B2 First, C1 Advanced, C2 Proficiency).
www.cambridgeenglish.org ↗ESL Podcasts (ESL Pod, All Ears English, Luke's English Podcast)
FreeAudio-based English learning podcasts for intermediate to advanced learners. Excellent for commute listening and building comprehension.
USA Learns
FreeFree comprehensive English learning website for adult immigrants. Designed specifically for new Americans with interactive lessons.
www.usalearns.org ↗Funding Your Language Courses
Federal Pell Grants can fund community college ESL if credit-bearing (up to $7,395/year in 2026 for eligible low-income students). WIOA Title II funds adult education including ESL. WIOA Title I training vouchers can fund job-related English training for eligible displaced workers. Veterans can use GI Bill for ESL programmes. Public libraries and literacy non-profits offer free ESL. No personal income tax deduction for general ESL expenses; employer-paid ESL may be tax-free up to $5,250/year under educational assistance programmes (IRC 127).
Practical Tips
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Watch US news (CNN, NPR, local news) with subtitles to build vocabulary and cultural knowledge simultaneously
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Join Toastmasters — international public speaking club with 1000s of US chapters, $100/year, excellent for building professional English confidence
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Attend library English Conversation Circles — free, weekly, welcoming environment with other learners
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Use language exchange apps (Tandem, HelloTalk) to practise with native English speakers worldwide
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Watch US TV with English subtitles, not translated subtitles — builds listening + reading comprehension
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Volunteer at English-speaking organisations (food bank, Habitat, church) to practise daily conversation
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Listen to English podcasts during commutes — NPR, This American Life, The Daily, Planet Money are excellent for intermediate+
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Read children's books and young adult novels as a stepping stone to adult fiction
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Switch your phone and apps to English — forces daily exposure in manageable contexts
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Practise US-specific vocabulary: sidewalk (not pavement), apartment (not flat), elevator (not lift), trash (not rubbish), pharmacy/drugstore (not chemist)
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Learn US tipping and service-industry phrases: "to go", "for here", "can I get", "hold the X", "no problem"
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Note that Americans are generally patient with non-native speakers — do not be afraid to ask for clarification
Language Learning
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