About

English in Action—The English-Speaking Union—is a non-profit educational charity that employs the English language to foster global understanding and good will through educational opportunities and cultural exchange programs.  Founded in 1920 and headquartered in New York City, the ESU is a national organization with more than 50 branches nationwide and affiliated with a network of more than 60 ESUs around the world.

English in Action educational programs focus on teacher enrichment, immigrant support, scholarships and youth speaking programs. Each year, our programs serve more than 60,000 teachers, students, volunteers and immigrants around the US.

English in Action is supported by the ESU’s unrestricted endowment, corporate and foundation grants and through the generosity of individual donors and members.  Members benefit from the personal relationships, cultural programs and international exposure gained by participating in our activities and events.

English in Action programs include:

English in Action Conversations pair English language learners with trained volunteers to improve their English fluency through a one-on-one cultural exchange.

Andrew Romay New Immigrant Center (ARNIC) improves the lives of recent immigrants through education and cultural programs and integration into American society.

Luard Morse Scholarships sends students from historically Black colleges to study for a semester at a British university of their choosing.
Middle School Debate builds research, critical thinking, and public speaking skills through debate tournaments.

National Shakespeare Competition develops high school students' analytical and communication skills through performing Shakespeare at the school, community and national levels.

Secondary School Exchange sends high school graduates to British boarding schools for a gap year abroad.

TLab provides teachers and lifelong learners educational enrichment programs at Oxford, the University of Edinburgh and Shakespeare’s Globe.