Top 18 Best English Schools in North Carolina

Quick answer, the 18 best English schools in North Carolina are:

1. Papora
2. American Language Academy
3. English Learning Institute
4. Intensive English Program
5. CHICLE Language Institute
6. Borealis Language Academy
7. ELS Language Centers
8. The Language Academy of The Carolinas
9. Wake Forest University
10. English Language Center
11. Elon University
12. Central Piedmont CC
13. Wake Tech
14. GTCC
15. Cape Fear Community College
16. New Arrivals Institute
17. Welcome House Raleigh
18. Country Day School

Northern California is a state full of schools where you can learn English with native-speaking teachers. We know that mastering this language is essential for better job and academic opportunities.

So, to help you choose the best school for you, our experts in Papora evaluated the top options available based on their schedules, methodology, curriculum, facilities, and more. Let's get started!

The 10 Best English Schools in Northern California

A good English school must combine certain elements to help its students speak confidently and fluently. It's extremely important that they offer classes with flexible schedules and unique content.

Traditional methods no longer work. Even when studying simple topics like phrasal verbs, a good teacher should use fun strategies that motivate their students.

1. Papora - Online English School

We're starting with Papora, an English school created by native speakers and education specialists with a clear purpose: to be the ideal tool for overcoming the fear of speaking English.

How does it achieve this? Through fun classes where students can practice and converse with teachers who have years of teaching experience.

All the content is focused on everyday topics, so that after finishing the classes, you can apply your new knowledge in your life and reinforce it.

Benefits of studying with Papora

The method used by Papora guarantees that you can learn without even noticing, thanks to its small class sizes that allow the teacher to adapt to your learning pace.

This perfectly complements the flexible scheduling, as you can schedule classes with various teachers to study whenever and wherever you want with an internet connection.

Classes last approximately 45 minutes, during which you can converse with the teacher and practice your pronunciation and listening comprehension.

Why choose Papora?

By enrolling at Papora, you'll receive unlimited classes per month, a benefit you won't find at any other school in North Carolina. With our help, you can learn English without external pressure.

You'll also receive a certificate to demonstrate your English level anywhere.

Our lessons guarantee that you'll improve every English skill simultaneously, without neglecting grammar. All of this is offered at an affordable cost that won't be a financial burden.

2. American Language Academy

We continue with a school that offers intensive courses to improve students' pronunciation. They accept students of all ages and levels.

Main features

Their curriculum ranges from common topics like telling time in English to more complex grammatical structures. They utilize technology in their classrooms to motivate students.

Programs and Branches

• Address: 2 Centerview Dr, Suite 300, Greensboro, NC 27407, United States.
• Hours: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 336 285 7318 / info@ala.edu
• Programs: Information available at the branch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of American Language Academy

They have a tutoring program, meaning private lessons tailored to their students' goals. The problem with the school is that it only offers annual enrollment and has very limited spaces.

3. English Learning Institute

This institute works with certified native-speaking teachers to guarantee the best service for its students and move away from traditional methods that don't work.

Main features

It offers preparation courses for the official TOEFL and Cambridge exams, as well as special one-hour classes for practicing with other students.

Programs and Branches

• Address: 6320 Quadrangle Drive, Suite 240, Chapel Hill, NC 27517, USA
• Schedule: Varies depending on English level.
• Contact: 919-360-9509 / admissions@usgei.org
• Programs: Information available at the branch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the English Learning Institute

It has comfortable facilities for studying, as well as internet access and a library for practicing the language. However, it should be noted that the schedule is not very flexible, and missed classes are not made up.

4. Intensive English Program

As the name suggests, the school specializes in offering intensive English courses, as well as Spanish, Korean, and Mandarin. In each case, it works exclusively with native-speaking teachers.

Main Features

This language program is run by NC State University, which offers classes to its students and residents of Raleigh. Each course focuses on pronunciation, reading, writing, and other skills.

Plans and Locations

• Address: 2526 Hillsborough Street, Suite 200, Raleigh, NC 27607, USA
• Schedule: Varies depending on the English level.
• Contact: 919-515-4002 / iep@ncsu.edu
• Plans: Information available at the branch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the Intensive English Program

Students say the teachers are very professional and make every class fun. However, since it is not 100% focused on English, it takes a long time for them to open new courses to start studying.

5. CHICLE Language Institute

Here you can choose from small group classes or one-on-one lessons with the teacher. The school aims to provide personalized service to each student.

Main features

They offer classes for children, teenagers, and adults, focusing on everyday topics such as the parts of the house in English, before moving on to more advanced grammar topics.

Plans and Branches

• Address: 105 Conner Drive, Suite 2200, Chapel Hill, NC 27514, United States.
• Hours: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 919 933 0398 / chicle@chicle.com
• Plans: Information available at branches.

Advantages and Disadvantages of CHICLE Language Institute

Their personalized class program has received positive reviews, as it adapts to each student's goals. The problem is that they have limited spaces and facilities lacking technology to motivate learning.

6. Borealis Language Academy

Now we move on to a school that teaches English and Spanish through group classes or private tutoring. They have a special Business English program to help their students get better job opportunities.

Main features

During classes, students participate in activities such as role-playing, sentence completion, and repeating common English phrases to reinforce their knowledge. 

Plans and Branches

• Address: 6801 South Blvd Ste B, Charlotte, NC 28217, United States
• Hours: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 704 281 1656 / info@borealislanguage.com
• Plans: Information available at branches.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Borealis Language Academy

It offers a good variety of schedules, although it doesn't compare to online schools like Papora. However, it should be noted that it has received complaints about having larger class sizes than advertised on its website.

7. ELS Language Centers

This is one of the most popular English language schools in Los Angeles and North Carolina. They offer courses designed to help students master the language in a professional setting.

Key Features

They offer group and personalized classes tailored to students' goals, with a strong emphasis on improving communication and pronunciation.

Plans and Branches

• Address: Gateway Center, 901 W Trade St #500, Charlotte, NC 28202, United States.
• Hours: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 704-527-4172.
• Plans: Information available at the branch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of ELS Language Centers

In addition to its Business English courses, it also helps students obtain scholarships at various universities. It should be noted that it has poor customer service, and many users have missed the start of courses due to a lack of information.

8. The Language Academy of the Carolinas

The school offers classes in Portuguese, German, French, Mandarin, Italian, Spanish, and, of course, English. All these courses are available only to young adults and adults.

Key Features

Its lessons are primarily based on cultural themes, so students can learn more about the United States while learning English.

Plans and Branches

• Address: 8022 Providence Rd STE 500 - 166 Charlotte, NC 28277, United States.
• Schedules: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 704 548 0048 / info@carolinalanguage.com
• Plans: Information available at branches.

Advantages and Disadvantages of The Language Academy of The Carolinas

The school aims for an immersive learning environment, so they organize activities outside the classroom. Their main drawback is their scheduling and flexibility, as the school is not 100% focused on English. 

9. Wake Forest University

Wake Forest University offers an English as a Second Language program for immigrants, whether they are university students or not. They offer intensive courses in writing, reading, pronunciation, and listening comprehension.

Key Features

Their teachers are native speakers and certified to teach. They use audiovisual content to motivate their students and address topics of interest to each specific group.

Programs and Campuses

• Address: 1834 Wake Forest Rd, Winston-Salem, NC 27109, United States.
• Schedule: Depends on English level.
• Contact: 336 758 5383 / english@wfu.edu
• Programs: Information available at the campus.

Advantages and Disadvantages of Wake Forest University

They tend to adapt their content to provide personalized service in each course, but many users mention that they only work with beginners, so the English program doesn't allow students to reach even an intermediate level of English.

10. English Language Center: UNCW

This is a language program offered by UNCW in Wilmington. Classes are offered on topics such as sports in English and the use of verbs like "make" and "do."

Main Features

Their cultural program uses engaging content about English-speaking countries and daily life. They organize activities outside the classroom so students can practice each lesson.

Programs and Branches

• Address: 601 S. College Road, Wilmington, NC 28403, USA
• Schedule: Varies depending on English level.
• Contact: 910-962-3000 / contact@uncw.edu
• Programs: Information available at the branch.

Advantages and Disadvantages of the English Language Center

The school employs teachers of various nationalities so that students hear diverse pronunciations. However, it should be noted that they tend to work with large groups and have annual enrollment periods.

Other English schools you might consider

Now we want to briefly tell you about other schools you can check out if you'd like more options for learning English in North Carolina.

Why do we recommend studying English online with Papora?

If we evaluate each option, we realize that Papora is the only one that offers a complete service in every sense. The online school gives you the flexibility you need to master the language at your own pace and without pressure.

With access to unlimited classes per month, you can study from anywhere with an internet connection. The classes are taught by experienced teachers who can adapt the content to your needs and abilities.

Our content is tailored to everyday life, and our methodology is designed to create new neural pathways that help you retain knowledge longer. You'll achieve your goals while having fun.

Even if you're a beginner and don't know anything about English verb tenses, we guarantee that with our 45-minute sessions and over 300 lessons in the self-guided course, you'll be able to speak confidently and fluently.

Frequently Asked Questions about English Schools in North Carolina