Trinity Lutheran College

What Trinity Lutheran College does

The Language Company (TLC) is a family-owned English-as-a-Second-Language (ESL) education business founded in 1983 by the Robati family and headquartered in Edmond, Oklahoma. TLC operates multi-campus ESL programs co-located at U.S. universities, including TLC-Edmond at the University of Central Oklahoma (since 1994), TLC-Dallas/Fort Worth at Texas Wesleyan University (since 2012), and TLC-Kirksville at Truman State University. Its core products are a 9-level Intensive English program, Semi-Intensive and Beginner tracks, Advanced modules, Special Programs (including business, aviation, and agriculture English), and Private One-on-One Lessons, all delivered through the iTeach.world LMS with synchronous online instruction via Zoom or Microsoft Teams (IDL format). TLC monetizes primarily through per-session tuition ($1,310-$1,625 per 4-week session), homestay placement ($875-$1,120), private lessons ($36-$47/hour), and ancillary fees, with tiered discounts for multi-session prepayment, family enrollment, and referrals.

The company is regulated by ACCET accreditation (held continuously since 2000), which is the legal prerequisite for issuing I-20 forms and serving F-1 international students. TLC serves a globally diverse international student base primarily seeking conditional admission to U.S. universities through its University PASS program, which leverages a network of 200+ partner institutions that accept Level 9 completion in lieu of TOEFL scores. Distribution combines direct online enrollment, a global recruitment agent network, co-branded university partnerships, and a homestay family network at 96% reported satisfaction (2023 data). Customer-facing technology is light: no proprietary AI, no native mobile app, and reliance on commodity SaaS for LMS, payments (Flywire), and forms (Wufoo). The company is privately held with no disclosed institutional investors or external funding.

Name

Trinity Lutheran College

Legal name

The Language Company

Website

https://tlc.edu

Company type

Private

Founded year

1983

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

The Language Company (TLC) is a family-owned, ACCET-accredited U.S. ESL school operating campuses at partner universities in Oklahoma, Texas, and Missouri, serving international students seeking English proficiency and university admission through a 9-level curriculum and a 200+ partner institution placement network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Language Education Services

NAICS

Language Schools (611630), Language Schools (61163)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200)

akta.pro primary industry

University/College Language Pathway & Pre-Sessional Programs (EDAIAEAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

University-Affiliated Pathway & Foundation Programs (EDAIAJAA), Academic Language Support (ESL/EFL for School & University) (EDANACAB), Language School Accommodation & Student Services (School-Provided) (EDAIAEAO), Online-to-Offline Hybrid Language Immersion Programs (EDAIAEAK)

Keywords

• English language training
• ESL programs
• University pathway services
• Homestay housing services
• Study abroad programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Everett

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices3 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure, Technology or R&D

Revenue model

1. Tuition - Regular Programs: Per-session tuition for Intensive English, Semi-Intensive English, Beginner English, and Advanced English programs. Billed per 4-week session with discounts for multi-session prepayment (5-20% off for prepaying 2-24+ weeks).
2. Private English Lessons: One-on-one instruction at $36-47 per instructional hour. Custom field-specific lessons at higher rate.
3. Special Programs: Custom seasonal or B2B offerings including Study Vacation Programs and Private Group Classes. Price varies based on students, duration, subject matter, frequency, and contract terms.
4. Housing and Homestay Services: Homestay placement at $875-1,120 per 4 weeks including 21 meals weekly. On-campus housing at $1,060 per 4 weeks.
5. Application and Processing Fees: Non-refundable application fee ($110), Form I-20 processing fee ($50), housing placement fee, and health insurance at $105 per 4 weeks.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Language Company provides accredited English-as-a-Second-Language instruction through intensive, semi-intensive, beginner, and advanced programs delivered on-site at U.S. partner university campuses and online. It supplements classroom instruction with homestay housing, on-campus housing, airport transfers, and a University PASS placement service that routes graduates into 200+ partner colleges.

Product overview

The Language Company (TLC) offers a portfolio of English language learning programs and educational services. The core offerings consist of Intensive English (9-level sequential program for academic preparation), Semi-Intensive English (9 levels plus 6 modules for everyday English), Beginner English (2 modules for true beginners), and Advanced English (6 modules for post-Intensive study). Supplementary programs include Special Programs (customized seasonal or B2B offerings) and Private One-on-One Lessons (standard or custom). Online instruction is delivered through IDL (Interactive Distance Learning) using Zoom or Microsoft Teams. TLC also provides Student Services including University PASS (placement assistance to 200+ partner universities), Homestay Program (accommodation with American families), On-Campus Housing, Airport Transfers, and Study Vacation Programs. The iTeach.world Learning Management System supports all programs.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Kawai Publishing Company Partnership: Educational publishing partnership based in Tokyo, Japan with The Kawaijuku Group

Products and services

• Intensive English A 9-level sequential English language program preparing academically bound students for successful university study in English-speaking institutions, covering listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar.
• Semi-Intensive English A program with nine sequential levels followed by six non-sequential modules designed to improve English proficiency and communication skills for personal or professional reasons, focusing on listening, speaking, and grammar.
• Beginner English A two non-sequential module program for true-beginner learners of English, providing foundational linguistic skills and American classroom norms necessary for success in other TLC programs.
• Advanced English A program of six non-sequential modules for students who have completed Level 9 of the Intensive English Program, focusing on advanced English refinement and research skills for American higher education.
• Special Programs Highly customized, seasonal, or business-to-business offerings providing fully customized instruction in group settings, including test preparation, business English, and specialized areas such as aviation and agriculture.
• Private One-on-One Lessons One-on-one English instruction with dedicated teachers, available in standard (regular program subjects) or custom (field-specific, professionally-oriented) formats, priced at $36–$47 per instructional hour.
• IDL (Interactive Distance Learning) Online Online courses delivered live over Zoom or Microsoft Teams where coursework and interaction occur online, with live teacher instruction available from home.
• University PASS University placement and advisement service that helps TLC students gain admission to partner colleges and universities without TOEFL scores upon completing Level 9 or higher.
• Homestay Program Student accommodation with American host families, including transportation to/from school and 21 meals per week, priced at $875–$1,120 per 4 weeks.
• On-Campus Student Housing Student housing located on university campuses with access to campus facilities including library, cafeteria, and gym, priced at $1,060 per 4 weeks.
• Study Vacation Programs Short-term English programs combining 3–5 instructional hours daily with cultural activities, offered at Dallas/Fort Worth and Edmond locations through TLC agents, starting at $406.25/week.

Quantifiable outcome

• 95% of students recommend TLC to family and friends (2023 data)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers7 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration6 records

Feature2 records

Partnerships

Five partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Texas Wesleyan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2012TLC-Dallas/Fort Worth campus located at Texas Wesleyan University since 2012. Students have access to university facilities and can transition to degree programs. Texas Wesleyan offers 30+ undergraduate and 18 graduate degree programs.
• University of Central OklahomacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 1994TLC-Edmond campus partnered with University of Central Oklahoma since 1994. UCO offers 110 bachelor's and 70+ graduate programs. TLC Edmond is located at UCO's Transformative Learning Quadrangle.
• Truman State UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLC-Kirksville location at Truman State University, Ezra C. Grim Hall. Students can transition to university degree programs upon completing ESL requirements.
• Kawai Publishing CompanyminorGTM or Marketing PartnerTLC partnered with Kawai Publishing Company in Tokyo, Japan, a subsidiary of The Kawaijuku Group. Kawai offers educational programs and publications for all ages in Japan and abroad.
• 200+ University PartnerscoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTLC has a network of 200+ partner institutions that accept students who complete level 9 or higher for admissions without TOEFL scores. Partners include Texas Wesleyan, University of Central Oklahoma, and Truman State.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• EC English Language Centres: EC runs ESL programs for international students with university pathway services and homestay offerings. Direct overlap in academically-bound ESL segment and channel mix (agents, direct applications).
• Rennert International: Rennert operates ESL programs in the US with pathway partnerships and homestay placements. Targets the same international student segment seeking university preparation as TLC.
• ILSC Education Group: ILSC provides ESL programs and teacher training with multi-level curricula and homestay services. Comparable program structure (multi-level intensive English, settlement services) and customer base to TLC.
• ELS Educational Services: ELS is the largest US-based ESL provider with intensive English programs and pathway partnerships at US universities. TLC competes head-to-head for the same academically-bound international student segment and university conditional admission pathways.
• ALCC American Language: ALCC American Language Communication Center offers intensive English and pathway programs to US universities. Closely comparable in scale and operating model to TLC's regional campuses.
• Embassy English (now EC/CEC): Embassy English historically operated US ESL campuses serving academically-bound international students. Comparable product suite and target customer to TLC, now part of EC.
• Manhattan Language: Manhattan Language provides ESL programs for international students in the US, including private lessons and university preparation. Overlaps with TLC on product breadth (Intensive, Semi-Intensive, private) and customer mix.
• Kaplan International Languages: Kaplan operates US-based intensive English programs with university pathway partnerships and a global agent network. Comparable in product mix (Intensive English, accommodation, university placement) and target customer to TLC.

Broad incumbents

• EF Education First: EF is a global education incumbent offering ESL study abroad, degree programs, and cultural exchanges. Overlaps with TLC in US-bound ESL but operates at vastly greater scale and breadth across geographies.

Others

• GoOverseas / StudyUSA: GoOverseas and StudyUSA are lead-generation and discovery platforms aggregating ESL programs. TLC appears in their listings (Chinese, Arabic, Spanish, Japanese versions), making them indirect channel partners rather than direct competitors.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/TheLanguageCoVideos
• Facebookfacebook.com/41673922889
• Instagraminstagram.com/thelanguagecompany
• Xx.com/TrinityLuthColl

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Trinity Lutheran College