English language instruction will introduce U.S. business culture and communication, providing an overview of U.S. business norms, expectations, and key vocabulary. Instruction will also focus on professional language for meetings and negotiations as well as cross-cultural communication and interpersonal skills. Students will have opportunities to practice their reading, writing, and discussion skills.

Participants' proficiency is determined by the ALI's placement exam, CALIOPE. This exam is entirely online. Participants can take it at any time and anywhere in the world. Students must place into level 3 or higher in order to participate in this camp. Learn more about our placement exam on the CALIOPE site.

In the afternoons, students will visit local businesses and organizations in the Kansas City metropolitan region, where they will go on guided tours and speak with business representatives on topics of interest.

List of potential Kansas City business visits:

Hallmark, Burns & McDonnell, American Royal Kansas City, MRIGlobal, AMC Theatres, T-Mobile, Dickinson Financial Corp, American Century Investments, Van Trust Real Estate, Federal Reserve Bank of Kansas City, Baum Capital Partners, Associated Wholesale Grocers, Inc., Bernstein Rein Advertising, Inc., Kansas City Life Insurance, The Commerce Trust Company, McCownGordon Construction, Copaken Brooks, JE Dunn Construction, Evergy, Inc., DataLocker Inc., Generator Studio, Helix Architecture+Design, iBossWell, Inc., ECCO Select, ReeceNichols Real Estate, CBIZ, Inc., Global Prairie

The camp includes one activity per week. The ALI will arrange special activities for participants. Below is a list of possible activities. Specific activities will depend on the time of year, group size, and participant interest. 

• City Market (Farmer's market)
• Fourth of July Celebration at the Worlds of Fun amusement park
• Jazz Performance
• Kansas City Royals Baseball Game
• Outdoor Theater Performance
• Sporting KC or KC Current Soccer Game (Kansas City is home to the 2026 World Cup!)
• WWI Museum and Liberty Memorial
• Ice Skating at Crown Center Ice Terrace
• Nelson Atkins or Kemper Contemporary Art Museum
• Guided Tour of Kansas City's downtown 
• Movie Night at Crown Center
• On-Campus UMKC Sporting Events

Housing

Participants can choose to live in homestays or on-campus dormitories for four-week programs. For short-term stays, a nearby hotel is recommended.

Participants living in a homestay have a private room in an American home, bathrooms can be private or shared. The cost for a homestay is $1000 per month and includes breakfast and dinner. 

UMKC on-campus housing provides private or shared rooms and bathrooms. The cost varies depending on the semester and the type of room. Participants in on-campus housing during the fall/spring semesters are required to purchase a UMKC meal plan.

Hotels in the Country Club Plaza area are a short 7-10 minute drive or 30 minute walk from UMKC Volker Campus. All recommended hotel accomodations feature rooms with either 1 king or 2 queen size beds and a microwave and mini fridge. The cost varies dependent on the season, dates of reservation, and length of stay.

For cost estimates and more details on accomodations, visit More About Housing:

More About Housing

Program Cost (fixed)

Four-week Business English on a J-1 visa:

Four-week Business English on a F-1 visa:

^{1. Includes tuition (based on 3 credit hours) and placement exam (partner institution rate), based on 2024-2025 tuition rates. 2025-2026 tuition rates, not yet published, are subject to change these costs.}

<sup>2. Summer Student Life fee for up to 3.99 credit hours is $200.55, a lower rate than spring/fall student life fee, as of Summer 2024. Summer Int'l Student fees also vary.
3. All students with a J-1 or F-1 visa are required to purchase health insurance through UMKC (https://www.umkc.edu/isao/admitted-students/health-insurance.html). Health insurance is $223 per calendar month.</sup>

Costs not included above (variable)

• Participants will purchase textbooks on their own. Textbook costs can vary based on level placement. Contact the ALI about pre-purchasing textbooks.
• In the summer, participants should budget for approximately $50 per day for meals, if not living in a homestay. Homestay participants can expect to spend approximately $12 per day on lunch. Exact meal costs will vary based on individual choices. For fall/spring participants, contact the ALI for meal plan options and prices. 
• Homestay costs are paid directly to the host. Participants will have the opportunity to communicate directly with their host prior to arrival to agree upon a method of payment. Homestays cost $1000 per month.
• Participants who choose to live in dormitories will be billed by UMKC for housing. Dormitories cost $30.48 per day (fall/spring), and $30.36 per day (summer). Linen packages cost $5 and there is a $25 application fee.