Classes meet from 8:30 am to 12:30 pm Monday through Friday. Half this time all the students meet together, and half the time the students divide into two groups according to level. Because classes are small (the average class size has been 10 students), students receive close individual attention. Classes emphasize conversational skills. Reading and writing skills are also practiced. Grammar, vocabulary, idioms, and pronunciation lead students towards speaking with greater confidence. Some typical class projects include: discussion of newspaper stories, poems, films, or television and radio broadcasts; discussion of cultural or political issues in the U.S. and in the students' home countries; division of students into teams of two to visit local institutions and report back to class; and theater and language games. In addition to the classes, students meet individually with one of our teachers; these one-hour tutorials give students the opportunity to pursue specific subjects in greater depth. Occasional evening seminars led by guest speakers explore such subjects as: American government, Maine's maritime heritage, and the history of jazz.