April 28, 2021
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will continue with a hybrid of online and face-to-face instruction and administration through 2021.

The special permission to continue with a hybrid model of teaching, (including both online and in-person instruction) is provided in response to COVID-19, to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff.

TALK English Schools continue to enroll and welcome both transfer and new students into our English and Professional Development Programs.

The next COVID-19 update will be provided in November 2021 and will address plans for 2022.

March 3, 2021
Fort Lauderdale, Florida, USA
5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will continue with a hybrid of online and face-to-face instruction and administration at least until the end of April 2021.

The special permission to continue with a hybrid model of teaching, (including both online and in-person instruction) is provided in response to COVID-19, to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff.

TALK English Schools continue to enroll and welcome both transfer and new students into our English and Professional Development Programs.

Going forward, COVID-19 updates will be provided monthly. The next COVID-19 Update will be provided during the first week of April 2021 and will address plans for May 2021.

December 15, 2020

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will continue with a hybrid of online and face-to-face instruction and administration at least until the end of March 2021.

The special permission to continue with a hybrid model including online instruction has been given in response to COVID-19, to protect the health and welfare of our students, faculty, and staff.

TALK English Schools looks forward to welcoming our new students.

November 1, 2020

Fort Lauderdale, Florida

5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will not reopen schools for face-to-face instruction in 2020. We will continue to provide online instruction for all levels and courses.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC), new viral infections are too high for schools to safely reopen in all the cities where we have schools.

The US Department of Homeland Security requires that we reopen schools January 4th and we plan to do so in a manner that prioritizes the safety and welfare of our students and staff.

September 23, 2020

5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will not reopen schools for face-to-face instruction through the month of October 2020. We will continue to provide online instruction for all levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, new viral infections are increasing and too high for schools to safely reopen in all the cities where we have schools.

We will review and analyze the medical data as it becomes available to make informed and responsible decisions as to when schools can safely reopen. Our priority remains the safety and welfare of our students and staff.

August 24th, 2020
5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will not reopen schools for face-to-face instruction through the month of September. We will continue to provide online instruction for all levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, new viral infections are much too high for schools to safely reopen in all the cities where we have schools.

We will review and analyze the medical data as it becomes available to make informed and responsible decisions as to when schools can safely reopen. Our priority remains the safety and welfare of our students and staff.

July 24th, 2020
5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will not reopen schools for face-to-face instruction through the month of August. We will continue to provide online instruction for all levels.

According to the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) guidelines, new viral infections are much too high for schools to safely reopen in all the cities where we have schools.

We will review and analyze the medical data as it becomes available to make informed and responsible decisions as to when schools can safely reopen. Our priority remains the safety and welfare of our students and staff.

March 27th, 2020
5:00 pm EST

Over the past weeks TALK English Schools was able to help students needing to return home, ensure that students in our care are safe, successfully train about 26 teachers to teach online, launch our online Interactive Distance Learning Program, and continue to operate in full compliance with all local, state and federal government requirements.

Today TALK English Schools completed its first week of online teaching, providing English classes at Levels 1 to 10, Business English and TOEFL Preparation Classes.

At this time, we have no reliable information as to when we will be able to reopen the schools.

March 22nd, 2020
3:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools will begin the Temporary Interactive Distance Learning (TIDL) program tomorrow, Monday March 23rd, at 09:00 EST.

All enrolled students should have received 2 e-mails as follows:
1. The first describing the TIDL program; and
2. The second providing instructions on how to log in to your class.

Please contact your school director immediately if you have not received these 2 e-mail.

For those students who have already contacted your school director in this regard, you will receive your login information before 21:00 EST March 22.

March 17th, 2020
5:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools, Atlanta, Aventura, Fort Lauderdale, Miami and Miami Beach – the physical schools – will be closed from tomorrow, Wednesday, March 18th until at least April 7th, 2020, to comply with the directive issued by State and Local officials.

Virtual classes will begin at all levels on Mon, March 23rd. The classes will be in the format of online interactive distance learning. Please check your e-mails for comprehensive information in this regard.

It is imperative that you attend the virtual classes to maintain your attendance records and to comply with the requirements of F-Student Visa status.

March 17th, 2020
2:30 pm EST

This bulletin is for students who are registered to start English studies at TALK San Francisco between March 30th and April 9th, 2020.

Unfortunately, due to COVID-19 and the directive of the local authorities, TALK San Francisco is now temporarily closed until April 7th (but this is date subject to change). For this reason we will not be able to provide you with the proper orientation and levelling test, so you will need to change your study plans.

To follow, are your next steps and options:

For students already in the USA on an F1 visa:
As the school is closed, new students are no longer able to begin their studies. Depending on your start date and when you entered the country, you may or may not be able to continue your stay in the USA. Please contact our TALK Admissions team at admissions@talk.edu to discuss your options as soon as possible.

For students not yet in the USA:
You should immediately postpone your trip and inform TALK Admissions at admissions@talk.edu of your future plans.

Please contact TALK Admissions if you have questions and to discuss your options.

March 16th, 2020
5:30 PM EST

TALK English Schools, San Francisco – the physical school – will be closed from Wed, March 18th, 2020, to at least until April 7th, 2020, to comply with the directive issued by the mayor of San Francisco.

Virtual classes will begin at all levels on Mon, March 23rd. The classes will be in the format of online interactive distance learning. Please check your e-mails for comprehensive information in this regard.

March 16th, 2020
2:00 pm EST

TALK English Schools, Boston – the physical school – will be closed from tomorrow, Tue, March 17th until April 7th, 2020, to comply with the directive issued by the Governor of Massachusetts.

Virtual classes are planned to begin at all levels on Mon, March 23rd. The classes will be in the format of online interactive distance learning. Please check your e-mails for comprehensive information in this regard.

It is imperative that students attend the virtual classes to maintain your attendance records and to comply with the requirements of F-Student Visa status.

March 15th, 2020

TALK English Schools continue to closely monitor the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) and its’ impact on our community, our schools, our students and our staff. This bulletin is to provide students with the most up-to-date information.

A. Decisions Regarding Schools Being Open. Based on current data and information, we have made the following decisions:

1. TALK Schools will remain open for the week March 16th to March 20th. At this stage we have decided NOT to close any of our classes or any of our schools. This decision is subject to immediate change based on new information we may receive. Also, we realize that compromised students, teachers and staff may not show up – see paragraph C below, which may affect our decision to keep one or more schools open;
2.  We intend to provide Temporary On-line Interactive Distance Learning, starting Monday, March 23rd. During the week of Monday March 16th to March 20th TALK English Schools will prepare students for the possibility of school closings and the delivery of online interactive distance learning – see additional details below – see paragraph D2. below.

B. News. We have integrated the following important details and information into our considerations, including:

1. Some public schools and universities have closed (or plan to close) for a period of up to 4 weeks;
2. There have been some, but not large numbers, of patients that have tested positive for the coronavirus in most of the counties in which we have our schools;
3. There have not been statewide emergency orders issued that prevent any of the TALK Schools from operating;
4. TALK has no knowledge of any TALK student or staff member that has tested positive for the coronavirus;
5. USCIS will allow Interactive Distance Learning on a temporary basis in place of face-to-face classes;
6. TALK will allow students that may have been in contact with someone with the coronavirus or who have other compromises associated with the coronavirus (including the need to take care of a child / children whose school has been closed) to take a discretionary absence of up to 2 weeks without adversely affecting their attendance records.

C. Compromised Students, Teachers and Staff. Students who are compromised and believe that attending classes at school presents too great a risk to themselves, their families or the community, are eligible for special consideration, as follows:

1. Temporary Notified Absence. Students, teachers and staff may take a temporary Notified Absence (and not come to school) for a period of up to 2 weeks. This discretionary absence is not considered vacation and will not adversely affect your attendance records. Students wishing to take this temporary Notified Absence must provide written notification to the School Director and provide the dates of absence.
   Note: The attendance records WILL be adversely affected for students who DO NOT provide notice for Notified Absence and do not attend classes.
2. Vacation. Students who are eligible for vacation, may take their vacation at this time. In this case, students will not pay for their classes (as described in the TALK Vacation Policy);
3.  Termination or Withdrawal. Students may terminate their studies and return to their home country and request a refund. In this case, TALK will process the refund (as described in the TALK Refund Policy);
4.  Other Options. There may be other options that we are not aware of and are not listed above. These will be considered on a case-by-case basis.

D. Health & Safety. Our priority continues to be the health and safety of our students, staff and members of the community. As the situation with COVID-19 evolves, our administrative task force meets daily to assess our processes and protocols in light of information from the World Health Organization, Centers for Disease Control, and the State Departments of Health.

1. Protecting Our Campuses

a) Students (and staff) should stay home if they are not well and/or feel their health has been compromised by the coronavirus. Students are eligible for a Temporary Notified Absence and should notify the School Director of their condition – see C1. above;
b) Increased sanitation of high-touch areas;
c) Student and staff education of best virus protection and safety protocols.

2. Preparing for Temporary Interactive Distance Learning

Our Educational Design and Technology teams are in the final stages of the development of an interactive distance learning plan. We expect this plan to be ready for deployment by Monday, March 23rd. The purpose of this Temporary Interactive Distance Learning is to reduce social contact, maintain learning progress and ensure F-Student Visa compliance.

a) TALK will attempt to collect accurate e-mail addresses from all students during the week of March 16th.
b) Also, during the week of March 16th, school staff will help students’ set-up online accounts based upon Student ID Numbers and accurate e-mail addresses, for online interactive distance learning;
c) It is important that these accounts are set-up properly because attendance will be associated with Student ID numbers recorded in the attendance reports of the online software.

3. Rumors and Inaccurate Information

We recognize that students have concerns during this time of uncertainty – and it is precisely at times like this that rumors can take root and inaccurate information can be spread. We ask that you please refrain from listening to or spreading inaccurate information, as this only creates more stress and even panic among our student population.

E. Communication

TALK English Schools will continue to send frequent emails with updates to all students. Also, please check https://www.talk.edu/covid19-updates for the facts. Notifications should be sent to your
School Director as follows:

School                      School Director                E-mail address

Atlanta                        Shani Bastiany                       Shani.bastiany@talk.edu

Aventura                    Ana van Gilst                          ana.vangilst@talk.edu

Boston                        Nicole Barone-Williams       nicole.barone@talk.edu

Fort Lauderdale       Barbara Halwa                       Barbara.Halwa@talk.edu

Miami                         Carola Segnini                       carola.segnini@talk.edu

Miami Beach             Carola Segnini                       carola.segnini@talk.edu

San Francisco            Kristen Miller                       kristen.miller@talk.edu

We are committed to keeping students informed and ensuring your health and safety. We will communicate new and accurate information as it becomes available.

March 13th, 2020

Protecting Our Campuses

• Students should stay home if they are not well. Students will be able to join interactive distance learning classes through a portal and will be marked present for F-Student Visa attendance purposes;
• Increased sanitation of high-touch areas;
• Student education of best safety protocols.

Preparing for Interactive Distance Learning

Rumors and Inaccurate Information

Frequent Communication

March 10th, 2020

• We will waive our course change fees;
• For those students with accommodations or other services including airport transfers and insurance purchased through TALK, we will work with our providers on a case-by-case basis but cannot guarantee that the fees will be diminished or waived if postponement is made less than 30 days of arrival.

• Additional sanitation options for students and have increased the cleaning and disinfecting rates at all TALK location;
• We have asked students to report to us if they are feeling sick and/or showing symptoms, in which case we help arrange for medical testing and isolate the student;
• We have instructed students who are feeling sick and/or showing symptoms of being sick, not to come to school and instead email their School Director concerning their absence.  In this case we will help arrange for medical testing for the student.