ESL Program Courses

The ESL Program offers four instructional levels. Each level is a full-time, eight-week course, with 20 hours of instruction weekly. A second session of study is available at each level, using different instructional materials, if necessary.

Students at the elementary level have a limited but often functional proficiency in English. Elementary level instruction consists of classes in Reading, Writing, Listening & Notetaking, and Speaking. Out-of-class assignments reinforce and extend the material that is intensively practiced during class sessions. Daily assignments can usually be completed in approximately three hours.

Students at the intermediate level are capable of communicating with native speakers in most social situations, but their fluency and control may still be weak in one or more areas. Instruction at this level provides fairly intensive practice with English as it is used for academic purposes and consists of classes in Reading, Writing, Listening & Notetaking, and Speaking. Homework assignments generally require three hours to complete.

High-intermediate students are approaching readiness for academic study but still have some significant weaknesses using their English skills. This level is designed to broaden and deepen students' linguistic foundation (vocabulary and grammar knowledge) as well as to refine their language skills (reading, writing, listening, and speaking) within a communicative academic context. High-intermediate coursework consists of classes in Reading, Writing, Listening & Notetaking, and Speaking. Daily assignments generally require three hours to complete.

Students in the advanced curriculum are nearly ready to begin academic study or participate with confidence in professional settings. Instruction at this level is designed to familiarize students with organizing, paraphrasing, summarizing, and synthesizing academic English in both spoken and written forms. Advanced level students attend classes in Reading, Writing, Listening & Notetaking, and Speaking.