Your Path to Confident Speaking: NUMA's Intensive 20

Posted on July 29, 2025

Are you ready to unlock a world of new possibilities by mastering a new language? Whether it's English or French, NUMA Institute’s Intensive 20 Program is designed to help you speak with confidence, understand everything around you, and even start thinking in your new language!

What is the Intensive 20 Program?

The Intensive 20 program at NUMA Institute is a special course for people who are serious about learning a language quickly and effectively. It’s like a fast-track journey to fluency! This program perfectly combines two powerful ways of learning: Speak 15 group classes and personalized Private Lessons.

1. Speak 15: Mastering Group Communication (15 lessons with peers)In the "Speak 15" part of the program, you'll learn with other students in a small class, with a maximum of six students. This small size is key because it gives you many more chances to speak and get feedback. The course runs Monday to Friday, from 10 AM to 12:45 PM.

NUMA uses an "active language production" approach in Speak 15. This means you won't just listen or memorize. Instead, you'll actively use English or French through fun activities like debates, discussions, and games. This helps you use the language in real-time.

The curriculum balances three important areas:

• Fluency (30%): This is about speaking smoothly and without hesitation.
• Accuracy (30%): This focuses on using correct grammar and vocabulary.
• Connection (40%): This teaches you how to communicate meaningfully and appropriately in different situations.

This group setting helps you feel comfortable speaking with others and prepares you for real-life conversations.

2. Private Lessons: Your Personalized Path to Fluency (5 lessons with a NUMA-trained instructor)The "Private Lessons" part of the Intensive 20 program gives you dedicated one-on-one time with an expert NUMA-trained teacher. This is truly your fastest path to fluency because the lessons are 100% personalized. Your instructor will create a learning plan made just for your specific needs and interests. Whether you need to improve your language for business, travel, or everyday chats, these lessons are designed for you.

Each private lesson lasts 45 minutes, and you can schedule them to fit your busy life. With your teacher's full attention, you get instant feedback, corrections, and clear explanations that match how you learn best. You can deep dive into any topic, from specific work vocabulary to general conversation. This focused help means you can reach your personal, school, or work goals much faster.

The Intensive 20 program is open to all levels of learners, from beginners to advanced. Beginners have specific start dates, while pre-intermediate students and above can begin any Monday. You can choose to focus on English, French, or even learn bilingually!

Why Choose an Intensive Program? Does it Really Work?

You might be wondering, "Is learning a language so intensely really better?" The answer is often yes! Research shows that intensive language programs can be very effective.

Think about it this way: when you're fully surrounded by something, you learn it faster. Intensive programs create this kind of "surrounded" environment for language. Here's why studies show they work:

1. Faster Learning and Better Progress: When you spend many hours each day focused on English or French, your brain works harder and adapts more quickly. Instead of learning a little bit over a long time, you learn a lot in a shorter time. Studies, like one by Alshumaimeri (2013), found that students in intensive English courses improved their language skills significantly after just a few months. Another study by Abouzeid (2018) showed that intensive programs helped students greatly improve their vocabulary knowledge[^1][^2]. This is because consistent and daily exposure helps you remember new words and grammar rules faster.
2. Deeper Immersion and Real-Life Practice: In an intensive program, you're constantly using your new language. This isn't just about memorizing words; it’s about thinking and using the language in real situations. This helps you move from just knowing grammar rules to actually using them without thinking. For example, a study discussing the benefits of intensive courses points out that daily classes and activities provide consistent exposure, which speeds up learning[^3]. When you're always speaking, listening, reading, and writing in your target language, it becomes a natural part of your day.
3. Increased Motivation and Confidence: Being in an intensive program means you see progress quickly. This quick progress can make you feel more motivated and confident to keep learning and speaking. When you feel good about your learning, you're more likely to push yourself further. Research has shown that intensive English courses can have a significant positive effect on students' motivation towards learning the English language (Alshumaimeri, 2013)[^2]. The continuous interaction with teachers and classmates also helps build your confidence in speaking.
4. Comprehensive Skill Development: Intensive programs don't just focus on one part of a language. They work on all your skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. This complete approach ensures that you develop all the tools you need to use your new language effectively in different situations. You learn how to speak accurately, understand conversations, read texts, and write clearly.
5. Better Retention and Long-Term Memory: When you learn intensely, your brain works harder to make connections and store information. This "deep processing" helps you remember things for a longer time. While some might think shorter, spread-out lessons are better for memory, some research suggests that for complex skills like language, an "intensive burst" followed by regular practice can be very effective (Young, 2023)[^4].

Your Journey to Fluency Starts Here

The NUMA Institute's Intensive 20 program is designed to give you the best chance to succeed. With expert teachers, a mix of small group "Speak 15" lessons, and personalized "Private Lessons," you’ll be well on your way to speaking English or French with confidence.

If you are a determined learner who wants to achieve fluency and use your new language naturally in different settings, then the Intensive 20 program is a fantastic choice. It’s an investment in your future, helping you open doors to new opportunities, whether for study, work, or just connecting with people from all over the world.

Ready to dive in? Discover how the NUMA Institute's Intensive 20 program can transform your language learning journey!

References:
[^1]: Abouzeid, E. (2018). The Effect of an Intensive English Program on the Vocabulary Size of Lebanese English Foreign Learners. International Journal of English Linguistics, 8(4), 184-192. Available at: https://ccsenet.org/journal/index.php/ijel/article/view/0/36850

[^2]: Alshumaimeri, Y. A. (2013). The Effect of an Intensive English Language Program on First Year University Students' Motivation. Arab World English Journal, 4(1), 162-173. Available at: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/EJ1275233.pdf

[^3]: International Language Institute of Massachusetts. (n.d.). How Effective is an Intensive English Language Program? Retrieved from https://ili.edu/news/how-effective-is-an-intensive-english-language-program/

[^4]: Young, S. (2023, February 7). Learning, Fast and Slow: Do Intensive Learning Projects Work Better Than Slow Ones? Scott H Young. Retrieved from https://www.scotthyoung.com/blog/2023/02/07/learning-fast-or-slow/