English Language Institute (ELI) Brochure

ELI

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

BECOME A PART OF OUR

COMMUNITY AT W&J DEVELOP ACADEMIC

LITERACY SKILLS

THRIVE

CULTURALLY

E N GL I SH LA NG UA G E IN STITU TE Dana Poole Dana Poole is the Director of the English Language Institute. Dana holds a Master’s in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) from the School for International Training and has taught both in the States and abroad. Dana taught English in China, Korea, Poland and Costa Rica before spending three years as an English Language Fellow in Israel. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate focusing on the experience of international students studying in American higher education.

www.washjeff.edu/eli • dpoole@washjeff.edu

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE

MISSION STATEMENT The mission of the English Language Institute (ELI) at Washington & Jefferson College is to provide state-of-the-art instruction in English language and academic skills necessary for students to be enrolled in an American institution of higher education. Through full integration in campus life, intense study of English and its application in an academic environment, and course content intended to enrich knowledge about American culture, history, and politics, students will develop lifelong language learning skills, learn the expectations of students pursuing a highquality liberal arts education, and participate in an engaged, diverse community.

ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTE The ELI Program provides students with the English language and academic skills to matriculate and be successful at Washington & Jefferson College and other U.S. institutions of higher education.

The ELI curriculum consists of speaking and listening, fundamental English skills and grammar, and English for academic purposes. The ELI program advances student study skills and boosts their test-taking ability.

The ELI also offers students full participation in academic and social life on an American college campus.

ELI students take advantage of a wide range of extracurricular activities on campus and local community events, they go on excursions and are introduced to the rich cultural heritage of western Pennsylvania.

At Washington & Jefferson College, ELI students are a valued part of the campus community.

ELI APPLICATION PROCESS The ELI accepts students at an intermediate to advanced level of English proficiency. Students

must submit evidence of their skill level. TOEFL and IELTS are the preferred tests, though you may contact us about submitting another form of testing such as ELPT. We accept students whose scores range from 32 to 84 on the IBT TOEFL and in bands 4 to 6.5 in the IELTS exam.

Please visit our website to fill out an application.

www.washjeff.edu/english-language-institute

W&J English Language Institute Advantage: • Students have access to all the resources of Washington & Jefferson College, including one-on-one tutoring, small class sizes and individual attention from expert faculty • Experienced faculty and staff focus on the development of language and cultural knowledge

• Students have access to clubs, organizations, intramural teams and many community volunteering opportunities

COURSES OF STUDY

THE ELI PROGRAM IS CURRENTLY OFFERING TWO COURSES OF STUDY

AS A STUDENT AT THE ELI YOU WILL TAKE 4 CORE COURSES AND 2 ELECTIVES EACH SEMESTER. OUR CORE COURSES ARE AS FOLLOWS.

Intensive English Course: Intensive English Courses, offered during the regular academic semester, create an immersion-style English language experience that is standard-based and heavily focused on linguistic skills and cultural knowledge. This course is designed for students who are below the minimum matriculation guidelines for English language proficiency. Students who have satisfactorily completed this course of study will have the skills and proficiency needed to matriculate as regular degree-seeking students. a range of learning skills, including reading, writing, grammar, speaking and quantitative analysis.

International students will be introduced to American culture and the specific norms of North American higher education. Special emphasis will be placed on academic skills required for higher education, including essay writing, research methods and critical analysis.

They participate in intramural sports, join clubs, volunteer and are active in community events.

There are also special programs developed to act as introductions for our students into the Washington & Jefferson community. These include: with grammar in real-life situations. Students examine the structures of English with a focus on usage in both speaking and writing.

Academic Portfolio: This course is designed to delve deeper into the culture, customs and

Ambassadors: Our students participate in a cultural exchange program where they meet regularly with American students.

have coffee, a snack and a chat with other students who are also learning a second language.

members involved in many activities with their American neighbors and roommates.

Communication Skills: This course is designed to expand students’ vocabulary, listening and

Friday Lecture Series: Professors from across the Washington & Jefferson College campus

Reading and Writing: This course engages students in a semester-long project.

Excursions: Washington, D.C., and Niagara Falls are both examples of regular destinations for excursions during the semester. ELI students learn about local attractions and visit them in one-day and weekend-long trips.

Students research, read and summarize texts, and present their research in essays and formal presentations.

Grammar & Communication 10:45 – 12:15 Elective: Vocabulary of American Academia 1:30 – 3:00

Reading and Discussion 9:00 – 10:30 Academic Portfolio 10:45 – 12:15

Wednesday

Communication Skills 9:00 – 10:30 Grammar & Communication 10:45 – 12:15 Elective: Vocabulary of American Academia 1:30 – 3:00

Reading and Discussion 9:00 – 10:30 Academic Portfolio 10:45 – 12:15 Writing for Quantitative and Qualitative research 1:30 – 3:00

Coffee Hours: There are no shortage of participants in this bi-weekly event. The ELI students

expectations of undergraduate academic study. Students learn the routines of college life, such as classroom practices, syllabi and assignments, email and library use. This course introduces students to online course learning platforms, proper academic formatting and the hazards of plagiarism.

speaking skills. Students in this class engage in lively conversation about topics of interest today.

Communication Skills 9:00 – 10:30

Thursday ELI Activities: ELI students are fully engaged in the Washington & Jefferson community.

Grammar and Usage: This is not your typical grammar class! In this class students engage

Monday

Writing for Quantitative and Qualitative research 1:30 – 3:00

International Summer Course: Participants in the International Summer Course will develop

ACADEMICS

Sample Schedule: Fall Courses (18 Hours + Friday Elective)

Tuesday

• Attention is paid to help students make the most of their experience inside and outside of the classroom • We offer specialized lectures by Washington & Jefferson faculty in the fields our students are interested in studying

ELI COURSE SCHEDULE:

Dormitory Life: ELI students live on campus in dormitories and become valued community

come to meet our students and engage them in academic discussion.

Friday

Panel Discussion, Guest Speakers and Special Topics 9:00 – 12:15 No Afternoon Classes – Excursions to local and regional attractions

your journey begins here

EXPERIENCE ONE OF AMERICA’S OLDEST AND MOST DISTINGUISHED FOUR-YEAR COLLEGES FOR THE LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES. WASHINGTON & JEFFERSON COLLEGE HAS SPENT MORE THAN TWO CENTURIES EDUCATING THOUSANDS OF STUDENTS WHO HAVE BECOME LEADERS IN EVERY PROFESSIONAL FIELD.

washington & jefferson college

W&J OFFERS A PICTURESQUE CAMPUS WHERE HISTORIC BUILDINGS AND STATE-OF-THE-ART FACILITIES MEET. A RESIDENTIAL COLLEGE SETTING IN A SMALL TOWN THAT UNITES STUDENTS’ ACADEMIC AND SOCIAL LIVES. A SMALL STUDENT BODY THAT ALLOWS STUDENTS, FACULTY AND STAFF TO FORM A STRONG SENSE OF COMMUNITY. A RIGOROUS LIBERAL ARTS CURRICULUM, WHERE

Washington & Jefferson College is nestled among the rolling hills of western Pennsylvania in the city of Washington,

STUDENTS DEEPEN THEIR UNDERSTANDING OF THE WORLD AROUND THEM BY COMBINING STUDIES

a community of more than 15,000 people, 50 kilometers/30 miles southwest of Pittsburgh. W&J’s campus is only a 30-minute drive from the Pittsburgh International Airport, which is within a 90-minute flight of 70 percent of North America’s population.

Few cities of any size match Pittsburgh’s offerings in the performing and visual arts, world-class museums, and variety of restaurants.

Students easily can travel to Pittsburgh on the Pipeline—a shuttle running directly from campus into downtown Pittsburgh.

Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania, and the 13th largest in the United States.

IN DIFFERENT DISCIPLINES.

At a recent G-20 Summit, President Obama described Pittsburgh as “a world-class city” that serves as a model for turning the page to a 21st-century economy. While the city is historically known for its steel industry, today its economy is largely based on health care, education, technology, robotics and financial services. Pittsburgh was named the “most livable city” in the United States

by Rand McNally (2007), Forbes (2010) and The Economist (2011) and the 29th-most-livable city worldwide by The Economist.

academics

campus life

THE LIBERAL ARTS & SCIENCES: AN AMERICAN TRADITION

Most people think about attending a college or university to gain preparation in a specific career field.

A liberal arts education prepares the student for more than a career.

At W&J, all courses are taught by inspiring and devoted faculty members who hold a doctorate or the highest degree in their fields. With a student-to-faculty ratio of 11:1 and an average class size of 15, W&J helps you build close relationships with your professors and engage in the kind of learning that comes from real dialogue.

W&J professors are recognized experts in their fields. Faculty members who teach at liberal arts colleges make a deliberate choice to focus on teaching undergraduate students, which means your education is their top priority. Students who choose to study at liberal arts colleges do so because they value a close relationship with their professors and because they want to take an active role in their own learning. W&J faculty members won’t just be your professors; they’ll be your mentors, advising you on selecting classes, providing information about careers and graduate programs, and challenging you to achieve more.

HLA HPONE (JACK) MYINT ’16 Political Science Major Burma Growing up in the Southeast Asian country of Burma, Hla Hpone Myint ’16—known to his classmates as “Jack”—always dreamed of attending college in the U.S., calling the country a “symbol for human rights and democracy.”

“This experience has inspired me to stay focused on my decision to return to my country as a politician,” said Myint, who plans on attending graduate school or law school after W&J. “Burma is entering a new era of democracy and change but, the truth is, there is still a lot of work to be done. Because I have been given this opportunity to study in a model country, I feel it is my responsibility as a citizen to bring my experience back to Burma.”

At W&J, we believe there’s more to the American college experience than going to class and studying.

Finding the college that is the perfect fit for you is about combining your goals for the future with your current passions and interests.

{ EMBRACE }

{ E XPERIENCE }

{ TRANSFORM }

THE COMPETITION

THE MOMENT

YOUR PASSIONS

Do you play a sport or are you a die hard fan who loves to attend sporting events? W&J offers 25 NCAA Division III teams in almost every sport imaginable. Whether you are looking to compete at a collegiate level or just want to stay active with sports —W&J is the perfect place to find balance between academics and athletics.

Outside of the classroom, our students fill their days by taking advantage of the countless extra-curricular opportunities that W&J has to offer.

We believe that there’s more to college life than academics.

It’s about making connections with people and setting the groundwork for your future.

W&J puts valuable resources at your fingertips so that you can get the most out of your education.

Our students are very active and creative with their use of time.

There are more than 80 clubs and organizations to choose from—making whatever you are passionate about easily accessible and possible to explore further.

facilities

activities

25 sports or cheer on the team

enjoy our state of the art fitness center

play one of more than

live in our comfortable, conveniently located residence halls

get involved with your surrounding community

dine on traditional american cuisine

choose from more than

80 clubs and organizations