2007-09 - Graduate School - The University of Alabama

Graduate Catalog: Section 3.20http://graduate.ua.edu/catalog/13700.htmlreception for international students at the President's Mansion.Professional staff members advise and assist the International Student Association, which represents all internationalstudents and the many nationality organizations on campus. Professional staff work closely with community groupssuch as the Rotary Club of Tuscaloosa, which sponsors the Rotary International Student Center, an on-campusresidence for male students and a gathering place that fosters international friendships; and Tuscaloosa 'sInternational Friends (TIF), which sponsors a friendship family program for international students.International Services may be contacted by telephone at (205) 348-5402, by fax at (205) 348-5406, and by mail atBox 870254, Tuscaloosa, AL 35487-0254, USA. Offices are located in 112-D and 135 B. B. Comer Hall.ENGLISH LANGUAGE INSTITUTEFor the non-native speaker of English, The University of Alabama English Language Institute (ELI), a part of CapstoneInternational, offers two types of year-round English-language programs: the Intensive English Program is designedfor individuals who are seeking intensive English study, while External Programs are designed for groups who desirehighly specialized curricula. In addition, the ELI has two programs for matriculated students at The University ofAlabama: the International Teaching Assistant Program, which trains and evaluates international graduate teachingassistants, and the Academic Support Program, which provides opportunities for undergraduate and graduatestudents who may want or need additional English-language instruction.Intensive English Program and Courses. The ELI Intensive English Program (IEP), which is accredited by theCommission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA), is designed for individuals who need to learn Englishas a second language. The focus of the program is on preparing students for academic success in undergraduate andgraduate study at The University of Alabama.Six levels of study, from beginning to advanced, are available. Each level consists of 20 hours of core classes perweek; additional optional classes are also available for students who want more hours. Each level of study lasts sevento eight weeks and is available six times per year. Sessions begin in August, October, January, March, May, and June.Students may begin their English study in any one of these sessions.Students pursuing graduate study must complete Levels 4, 5, and 6 with a GPA of 3.5 or obtain a TOEFL score of 550(213 computerized). In certain cases, the Graduate School, the ELI, and the student's academic department maytogether grant permission for a student to enroll in one graduate course per semester while completing the ELIprogram of study. The specific course must be approved by the instructor and department prior to enrollment.Students who apply for admission to UA and meet the academic and financial qualifications to enter the Universitybut do not have TOEFL scores available or do not meet the TOEFL score requirement may be given the institutionalversion of the TOEFL examination upon arrival. Students who do not obtain the required minimum score on theinstitutionally administered version of the TOEFL will be required to register for study in the ELI until they meet theTOEFL requirement or satisfactorily complete the ELI program as outlined above.ELI Intensive English Program courses are designed for those who require a concentrated curriculum of study inEnglish:Structure: Levels 1–6. ELI structure courses provide students with the basic grammatical structures they will needto communicate effectively in English in the four language skill areas: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Eachstructure course emphasizes communication—both comprehension (listening and reading) and production (speakingand writing). Structure courses meet five hours per week.Speaking/Listening: Levels 1–6. ELI courses in speaking/listening provide students with the opportunity to improvetheir listening and speaking skills and to gain confidence in using English to communicate orally. Students practiceappropriate conversation management skills, receive instruction on problem areas of pronunciation, and learn usefulvocabulary. These activities are carried on through a variety of classroom exercises that focus on the everydaysituations students are likely to encounter while adjusting to life in the United States. Speaking/listening coursesmeet five hours per week.Reading/Writing: Levels 1–6. The ELI reading/writing curriculum is designed to provide students with skills neededto comprehend written discourse at the college level as well as produce written English in a variety of forms. Readingskills include understanding the main idea of a passage, understanding an author's purpose, distinguishing fact fromopinion, reading quickly, using the resources of a collegiate dictionary, and discussing written discourse in a relativelysophisticated manner. Writing exercises are designed to stimulate self-expression and personal involvement inwriting. With attention to each step of the writing process—thinking, writing, and rewriting—teachers guide studentstoward communicating their ideas with increasing clarity and depth. Reading/Writing courses meet ten hours per