Where to Study English in Nashville?

Nashville -- one of the United States’ fastest-growing and hippest cities over the past decade -- is drawing an increasing number of international students, business executives, and tourists. Newcomers can improve their English language skills or prepare for a U.S. education by enrolling in one of the city’s ESL (English as a Second Language) programs.

Nashville is best known as the global center of the country music industry. Tourists flock to attractions such as the Grand Ole Opry, historic Ryman Theater, the Country Music Hall of Fame, and the Johnny Cash Museum. Nightlife centers around Honky Tonk Row, a live music district in downtown along Broadway where stars such as Kris Kristofferson and Willie Nelson got their start. The area mixes traditional Nashville favorites such as Tootsie’s Orchid Lounge and Legends Corner; barbeque joints and Nashville hot chicken restaurants; and a host of new mega-entertainment destinations owned by celebrities such as Kid Rock and Miranda Lambert.

However, the self-proclaimed “Music City USA” actually spans a number of musical and artistic genres beyond Americana that range from rap to pop and gospel to classical. The heart of the industry is Music Row (a National Treasure of the National Trust), a network of recording studios, music publishers, and major labels where artists ranging from Dolly Parton to Bob Dylan to Taylor Swift have recorded.

Students who want to enter the music industry can take special classes geared towards the record business at private Belmont University’s School of Music. Meanwhile, the Blair School of Music at Vanderbilt University offers a conservatory-caliber undergraduate education. The city also supports a thriving cultural arts community. The Schermerhorn Symphony Center is home to the Nashville Symphony. The Tennessee Performing Arts Center hosts touring Broadway shows as well as the Nashville Opera, Nashville Ballet, and Nashville Repertory Company. The strong economy, cultural amenities, and moderate weather have helped propel Nashville to popularity among millennials and in the creative economy.

Outdoor recreation and sporting events are also plentiful in the rolling hills of Middle Tennessee. Nashville straddles the Cumberland River, providing waterfront parks and riverboat cruises on the General Jackson. Centennial Park near Vanderbilt University is a 132-acre urban greenspace featuring a full-size replica of the original Parthenon in Greece. Walking trails wind through 1,400 acres of secluded woodlands at Radnor Lake State Park. Nashville also has four professional sports teams (NFL football, NHL hockey, MLS soccer, and MLB minor-league baseball) plus NCAA college sporting events.

The Nashville metropolitan region’s population grew by 19% from 2010 to 2020 as millennials and immigrants flocked to the Volunteer State. The city added 300,000 jobs over that period, boosting employment by 40%. Twelve percent of Nashville’s population is now foreign-born, fueling the creation of ESL programs offered by private educational companies, public universities, and private colleges.

ESL or ESOL (English for Speakers of Other Languages) programs help participants acquire or enhance existing English skills before they start college, enter the workplace, or take up long-term residence in the United States. The scope of ESL programs range from beginner classes to refreshers for those already speak English (with an emphasis on American idioms and pronunciation). Other courses prepare students to pass the TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) exam, which many U.S. education institutions require for admittance. Many schools offer online training that enables foreign students to learn English before arriving.

ESL Offerings at Colleges and Universities

Many public and private colleges and universities in the Nashville metro area also offer ESL classes. Some are geared towards students already enrolled in undergraduate or graduate degree programs, while others are available to non-traditional students.

The best-known institution of higher learning is private Vanderbilt University, sometimes called the “Harvard of the South”. Located in downtown Nashville, Vanderbilt’s English Language Center (https://www.vanderbilt.edu/elc) offers English programs for academics and professsionals; workshops; one-on-one consultations; and such community support programs as general English for spouses and partners.

The region’s largest school is Middle Tennessee State University in Murfreesboro. While the MTSU English department welcomes international students, it has limited English support classes for enrolled students (https://www.mtsu.edu/english/students/ESL.php). However, it does partner with ESL Language Centers to provide on-campus courses for students and the general public (https://www.languageinternational.com/school/els-language-centers-at-middle-tennessee-state-university-nashville-tn-63117). MTSU also offers a Master’s in Education degree in teaching ESL.

Other area colleges and universities with ESL programs include:

Private Firms Provide ESL Programs

There are several private and not-for-profit organizations in the Nashville-Davidson County region that offer ESL classes. Many only offer online classes, but a growing number of programs are reopening for in-person learning.

Private ESL programs include:

  • The Nashville Adult Literacy Council (http://nashvilleliteracy.org/english) provides both English lessons and English tutoring.
  • Belmont International English offers ESL classes in Hillsboro Village (https://www.belmontumc.org/outreach/english-classes) as a community outreach of Belmont United Methodist Church. 
  • The Branch in Antioch (https://www.thebranchofnashville.org/our-programs) is a faith-based organization that provides English Language Learning (ELL) classes on a one-year cycle for the Nashville area’s growing foreign-born population. The school administers a 25-minute English proficiency test before enrollment to guide students to the most appropriate courses for their skill levels.
  • Eikaiwa Nashville (https://www.eikaiwanashville.com) is a school for Japanese speakers that teaches conversational English conversation with an emphasis on American pronunciation.

Other community outreach groups, churches, and public institutions also provide ESL classes, as shown at https://library.nashville.org/pathway/learn-english and https://www.esldirectory.com/esl-program-search/usa/tennessee. These classes -- some of which are free of charge -- provide opportunities for students and other newcomers to Middle Tennessee to obtain and/or further enhance their English language skills.

Other things to consider:

 

We Can Help if You Need Assistance

Please contact our company if you are interested in studying English in Nashville or have questions about the Nashville area.  Using our network of colleges and universities in the United States, we may be able to help you select the right school for your specific educational goals.  Please email Michael at michael@visasupply.com if you have questions or require assistance.