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The ESL program curriculum was developed
to prepare international students
to study at American universities
and to improve their English for professional purposes. The approach
is rigorous, and academic English is emphasized. Full-time students
are in classes 4-5 hours a day (20-25 hours per week), and they complete
several hours of homework each day.
Four levels of instruction are offered:
High Beginning, Intermediate, High Intermediate and Advanced. A complete level
covers 16 weeks (a regular Xavier semester).
If space is available, students
may enroll for a half term; special situations apply.
Students in all four levels take
required Core
Courses. Core Courses include integrated, content-based instruction in Listening
and Speaking, Grammar, and Reading and Writing. Students can also qualify
for optional, rotating electives. These courses vary each semester,
and may include Oral Fluency, Career English, Pronunciation, and TOEFL
preparation.
Sample Daily Schedule:
| 9:00 am -- 11:00 am |
Core Courses (Grammar, Listening,
Speaking) |
| 11:00 am -- 12:00 pm |
Break |
| 12:00 pm -- 1:40
pm |
Core Courses (Reading, Writing) |
| 1:50 pm --
3:05 pm |
Optional Electives (vary by level
and by semester) |
Please contact us for the exact schedule
being offered each semester.
Summer
2008 3-part workshop: iBT TOEFL Familiarization
Course Descriptions
Placement and Promotion
Students are tested when they arrive,
and are placed in their level(s) according to the results. At the
end of each 16-week term, students are tested again. Promotion to
the next level is based on a combination of three factors: grades, teacher
recommendations, and test score.
Students who
enter the intensive program at the beginning level can expect to study
for 3 to 4 semesters before they are prepared to enroll in university classes.
Academic Credit
ESL Classes above the beginning level
offer some academic credit. Currently, students at the intermediate
level and above can earn up to 5 credit hours per semester. Students
who enroll in a degree program at Xavier University can use these credits
to satisfy the foreign language requirement or use them as elective credits.
Students receive letter grades for their ESL courses; these grades become
a permanent part of their academic record at Xavier University.
Admission to Xavier University
Admission to the ESL program and successful completion of the program
does not constitute admission to any academic program at Xavier. A
separate application must be submitted to apply to any other program at Xavier
University. Please note that grades received in the ESL program are
considered in admissions decisions.
This page is maintained by the Center for
ESL. Last Updated March, 2006.
For questions or comments please email us at
<esl@xu.edu>
or telephone 513 745-2847.
Xavier University Center for ESL,
3800 Victory Parkway, Cincinnati, OH 45207-2511 USA
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