International House was founded in 1953 with the aim of providing an innovative approach for learning English and other langauges. The founders, John and Brita Haycraft, were themselves teachers who sought to promote international understanding through language learning and teacher training. Haycraft introduced the first training program for teachers of English as a Foreign Language (EFL), which blended teaching theory and practice. This course, developed at International House, was the forerunner of the Cambridge ESOL Certificate of English Language Teaching to Adults (CELTA).

The International House World Organization is today made up of 150 schools in over 50 countries worldwide. Although these are independent schools, they all share the same philosophy and teaching approach. The aims of International House remain essentially the same as in Haycraft’s day: promoting international understanding through education, providing great environments to learn English and take foreign language classes, and the raising of teacher training standards worldwide.

IH New York is proud to be part of the IH World Organization.