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Honolulu English Language Academy (HELA)
HELA Information available in the following languages:
Honolulu English Language Academy (HELA)
Honolulu Community College
University of Hawaii
874 Dillingham Boulevard
Honolulu, Hawaii 96817 U.S.A.
Phone: (808) 845-9190
Fax: (808) 847-9829
Email: gfunai@hcc.hawaii.edu
HELA at Honolulu Community College Provides You With:
- Instruction in reading/vocabulary, writing/grammar, and listening/speaking
- Intensive ESL courses for 20+ hours a week for 16 weeks
- Computer-assisted instruction
- Small classes taught by native speaker ESL professionals
- Presentations and demonstrations on general interest topics such as Hawaiian Culture, American politics, and popular culture
- Social interactions with native English speakers
About Honolulu Community College
Honolulu Community College (HCC) is a two-year college that is part of the University of Hawaii system. The main campus is located on Dillingham Boulevard near downtown Honolulu. HCC has been fully accredited since 1970 by the Accrediting Commission for Community and Junior Colleges, Western Association of Schools and Colleges. In addition to a diverse Career and Technical Education program, the College offers a strong Liberal Arts program leading to the two-year Associate of Arts degree with transfer credits to junior class standing at four-year institutions, including University of Hawaii.
HELA Curriculum
Students will complete one or two terms of non-credit instruction in English as a second language. Upon successful completion of one term of study, students will receive Certificates of Participation from Honolulu Community College.
Level I
ESL 1 College Listening/Speaking Skills I
ESL 3 College Reading/Writing Skills I
ELI 5 Lab for HELA
Level II
ESL 11 College Listening/Speaking Skills II
ESL 13 College Reading/Writing Skills II
ELI 5 Lab for HELA
ELI 5: Students spend 10 hours weekly in a directed course of study, which will include using computers and the internet, listening to audiotapes, watching videos/DVDs, going on field trips, discussing in small groups, and engaging in a variety of other acculturation activities.
Fees (Fall 2008 - Spring 2009)
- Fee for one term of study: US$3,692.00
- Fee for two terms of study: US$7,392.00
Admission Requirements
Applicants must meet the following criteria:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Have completed high school
- Have a minimum TOEFL score of 400 (paper-based) or 97 (computer-based)
Application Checklist for HELA
All application materials, including TOEFL scores, must be received by HCC by the application deadline.
| Term | Enrollment Dates | Application Deadlines |
| Fall 2008 | August 25, 2008 - December 11, 2008 | June 15, 2008 |
| Spring 2009 | January 12, 2009 - May 6, 2009 | November 1, 2008 |
- Step 1: Complete System Application Form (2008-2009) [PDF]
- Step 2: Complete the Supplementary Information Form [PDF]
- Step 3: Send US$75.00 non-refundable. Please make check payable to "Honolulu Community College." (US$25.00 is the non-refundable application fee. US$50.00 is the deposit fee, which is applied to your fee for study in HELA, but it is non-refundable if you do not enroll in HELA.)
- Step 4: Submit official high school transcripts
- Step 5: Submit Official Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) scores. Scores must be from a test taken no earlier than 2 years before the date of enrollment
- Step 6: Submit a letter from your bank or sponsor’s bank verifying savings of at least $10,700 for one term of study and at least $21,400 for two terms of study. Letter should be dated no earlier than 6 months before date of enrollment.
- Step 7: Fulfill Health Clearance Requirements.
- Step 8: Mail all application materials to:
Honolulu English Language Academy
C/O Grace Funai, Counselor
Honolulu Community College
874 Dillingham Boulevard
Honolulu, HI. 96817 U.S.A.
** If you are transferring from any U.S. college or university, take Verification of Enrollment Form [PDF] to your current U.S. institution to be filled out and submit it along with a COPY of I-20 from your current U.S. institution.
Health Clearance
International students are required to provide clear and legible documentation, written in English, of all of the items listed below:
- Negative Tuberculosis (TB) Clearance report:
- We strongly encourage that international students obtain a TB test prior to arriving in Hawaii to ensure that you are free of active Tuberculosis. A positive TB test when you arrive in Hawaii could delay your ability to register for classes and jeopardize your F-1 status.
- Once in Hawaii, International students must have a TB Clearance card issued by the State of Hawaii Department of Health’s TB Branch at one of the free TB test locations. Call (808) 832-5738 (recording) or (808) 832-5738 or 832-5731 or visit their TB Branch web site. This clearance must be submitted to the Admissions Office prior to registering for classes.
- Proof of Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) immunity which may be met by providing one of the following:
- Proof of two (2) Measles Mumps Rubella (MMR) shots or combination of 1 Measles and 1 MMR shot OR
- Positive Measles (Rubeola), Mumps, Rubella blood test reports if no shot records are available (Order test through your M.D., request coupon from Health Office for discount) OR
- If born before 1957, no MMR required
Faculty
All instructors have master’s degrees in teaching English as a second language and have extensive teaching experience in colleges in the United States, Asia and Micronesia. They have made presentations at national and international conferences. Some of them have authored and co-authored numerous ESL textbooks.
Muriel Fujii
B.A., University of San Francisco; 5th Year Certificate
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
Kimiko Stever
B.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
Chuck Whitley
B.M.E., Henderson State Teachers College
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa
Gary James
B.S., Ohio State University
M.A., University of Hawaii at Manoa