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Intensive ESL

Who will benefit from this program?

    • Those who plan to enroll in undergraduate or graduate programs at colleges and universities where English is the language of instruction.
    • Those who plan to prepare for the TOEFL exam
    • Professionals in various occupations who need to improve their English skills for work.
    • Those who need to improve English skills for work, cultural, travel, or any other purpose.

Overview

The intensive ESL program was carefully designed for professionals and students who plan to pursue studies at universities in the United States and other English-speaking countries or undertake independent studies in English. It is designed to satisfy the criteria of the Commission of English Accreditation (CEA). Its content is similar in quality to those of the best ESL programs in the US and is entirely provided online.

The Intensive ESL program is offered in the fall, spring and summer and involves five levels: High basic, Low-intermediate, Intermediate, High intermediate and Low advanced. Each level takes 14 weeks to complete. To accommodate different levels of English competency, a placement test is given at the beginning of the term for each level. Students are placed at the appropriate level based on the placement test score. At the end of this program, students will have acquired all the English skills necessary for work, school, and everyday life.

Each class offered is also available as standalone class on a part-time basis, provided the student satisfies a required level of competency.

 

Program Objectives

The Intensive ESL Program is a comprehensive program that focuses on language skills needed for academic, professional and everyday usage. Each of the five levels builds on the previous one and expands on it by adding more complexity, providing more practice, and enhancing fluency. In each level, a separate class is dedicated for each of the following skills category:

      • Speaking: develop presentation skills and improve fluency and pronunciation through regular practice in a group setting.
      • Writing: acquire a rich vocabulary, learn and experiment with different styles, and improve organization through essays and reports.
      • Listening: Improve comprehension skills by listening to and understanding video and audio programs with variation in complexity, speed, context, and accents.
      • Reading: Improve reading fluency and comprehension and build a rich vocabulary through reading and studying various types of written material.
      • Grammar: Improve grammar skills through well-designed grammar lessons and applying rules in speech and writing.

With the guidance of API teachers, students use various materials for instruction and practice in all essential skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, writing, grammar, and vocabulary. Students learn effectively by

      • Actively participating in class and group discussions
      • Reading, discussing, and writing about current events and other topics of interest to the students
      • Working on group projects with classmates
      • Working on individual projects
      • Learning about U.S. business, academic, and popular culture and customs
      • Preparing and giving oral presentations on topics of interest to the students
      • develop research skills

The Intensive ESL program is organized into five levels of instruction ranging from High elementary through Low advanced. Students are placed in one of the five levels based on their score on the English placement test they take at the beginning of the program. They typically advance from one level to the next after successfully completing one 14-week level.

High Elementary Level

After successfully completing this level, students will be able to:

      • Listen to and understand simple common speech and conversations when they are delivered slowly and articulated clearly
      • Read and understand simple abridged written texts involving basic grammar and vocabulary
      • Conduct a simple discussion on general social topics using basic sentences and everyday vocabulary
      • Write short and simple passages with logical flow of ideas and sentences, connecting ideas from sentence to sentence

Enrollment in this level requires a 25 - 35 TOEFL iBT score.

Low Intermediate Level

After successfully completing this level, students will be able to:

      • Listen to and understand simple conversations, and presentations involving clearly articulated language delivered at slow to moderate speed
      • Conduct conversations and participate in discussions on common topics
      • Narrate simple stories using common vocabulary and basic grammar.
      • Read and understand simple written texts from books or journal articles
      • Write short simple structured texts using paragraph form

Enrollment in this level requires a 35 - 45 TOEFL iBT score.

Intermediate Level

After successfully completing this level, students will be able to:

      • Understand conversations in social settings and academic discussions, presentations involving clearly articulated lagugae delivered at slow to moderate speed
      • Participate in conversations and discussions on general topics
      • Clearly narrate stories related to personal experiences
      • Read and understand adapted written texts containing several paragraphs or pages
      • Write short to medium length simple stories.

Enrollment in this level requires a 45 - 55 TOEFL iBT score.

High Intermediate Level

After successfully completing this level, students will be able to:

      • understand social, professional, and academic conversations, and presentations involving clearly articulated language that is delivered at moderate speed
      • interact in conversations and discussions, explaining personal views, and giving clear, detailed descriptions
      • read and understand simple unadapted texts
      • write short texts on general topics using several logically flowing paragraphs.

Enrollment in this level requires a 55 - 65 TOEFL iBT score.

Low Advanced Level

After successfully completing this level, students will be able to:

      • Understand moderate to complex social, professional, and academic conversations presentations delivered at moderate to normal speed
      • Understand speech delivered on multimedia such as radio and television
      • Participate in conversations and discussions giving detailed descriptions, expressing viewpoints clearly with logical arguments, and explaining facts and complex situations.
      • Read and understand medium length written texts of moderate complexity and a range of styles
      • Write clear and lengthy essays of moderate complexity

Enrollment in this level requires a 65 - 75 TOEFL iBT score.

Class Schedule

 

Writing

Reading

Grammar

Speaking

Listening

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Office Hour

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S: Synchronous: Face-to-face through videoconferencing.

A: Asynchronous: Lectures involve videos and written notes and are available online on the Moodle platform.. They can be studied at any time before the next lecture.

Each session is 1.5 hours long.

Conversation sessions are supplementary sessions designed for additional speaking and listening practice and conducted via videoconferencing by qualified teaching assistants who are advanced undergraduate or graduate American students under the supervision of ESL teachers.

Office hours are designed to provide one-on-one advice and help by the ESL teacher.

All synchronous communications including listening and speaking lectures, conversation sessions, and office hours are scheduled at suitable times by geographical zones, to accommodate students' schedules.

In addition, students will participate in class and group chat rooms on the Moodle platform.

Hardware Requirements: a computer with access to the Internet and sufficient bandwidth, head sets.