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American English Institute

Our History

StudentsIn the summer of 1972, the English Language and American Studies Program began at Fresno State for fifteen Japanese students from the International Language Services in Japan. Five years later, this program became the American English Institute (AEI) under the direction of Graham Thurgood from the Department of Linguistics. Over the years, over 6,500 students from nearly seventy-five countries have received quality English language instruction at the AEI.