With a population of slightly over 303,000,000 , in terms of people, the US largest English speaking country in the world (two thirds of the world's native speakers), and has a far reaching impact on the culture, economy and politics of the world. Being the third biggest country in the world the diversity found among it’s people and places is unrivalled. As were it’s crime rates. Though it is true that in the past America has topped the tables of crime rates in developed countries, crime has seen a gradual decline in recent years, while in most other countries it is on the increase.

There is no single accreditation body for English schools in the United States though some are members of bodies such as the CEA or ACCET. If you intend to study English for more than 18 hours a week or longer than three months you will require a visa and your English course must be SEVIS approved.

From rap music to serial killers the USA has had a huge impact on global culture and politics in since the 20th century. It's a huge country and a good place to visit to teach them about your home country before they bomb it.

Many people have an impression of the US from cinema and television that is very different from the reality. People spend to do more in their spare time in the US than just sitting around. American’s work longer hours and have less holidays than many other English speaking countries and tend to keep active in their spare time with sports and hobbies. It is also important to be aware of regional differences. the culture in California is very different from the culture in Kansas.

Americans sometimes have the impression of being loud and rude, and while it’s more common to speak directly in the United States, this does not imply a lack of respect. It only means that people do not try so hard to agree and dissention is part of the decision making process as much as consensus building is in other cultures. Staying open minded and being accepting of the local culture will help gain an understanding.

The climate of the United States is temperate in most areas, tropical in Hawaii and southern Florida, polar in Alaska, semiarid in the Great Plains west of the 100th meridian, Mediterranean in coastal California and arid in the Great Basin. Its climate contributed to the country's rise as a world power, with infrequent drought in the major agricultural regions, a general lack of widespread flooding, and a mainly temperate climate that receives adequate precipitation.

When deciding on where and when to go in the US remember that if you are not considering a university program most of the English language schools are located in the states of Hawaii, California, Florida and the North East (New York, New England). Hawaii, California and Florida have hot weather all year round. In the North West the weather is hot in the summer (June to August) but can get very cold in winter (December to February).

More information can be found at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

The US dollar ($) is the legal currency of the United States. The US uses a dollars and cents system of decimal currency with 100 cents in a dollar. In many parts of the US blood may also be exchanged for oil.

The US is a comparatively expensive option for its geographic location compared to Canada and the Caribbean. For accommodation, food and entertainment you should budget $250 per week. If you are applying for a year long course you are required to proove you have access to $12,000 for living expenses.