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Academic Information and Schedule
The Maryville College ESL program is an intensive program designed for students who want to improve their overall English quickly. All of the classes work towards students becoming more fluent, both orally and in writing communication. Our graduates are well prepared to use English in any setting, including the TOEFL exam or other standard English exams such as the TOEIC, IELTS, etc. We offer small class sizes (average 6-8 students per class) and opportunities to audit college classes or take college classes for credit.
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Class hours |
Instructors |
Core Class |
Levels |
Choice classes |
Grades |
Afternoon classes |
Program length |
Homework |
Sessions |
Class hours:
- 25 hours of classroom instruction per week
- Monday through Friday, 9 am – 3 pm (with one-hour lunch break)
- Core curriculum and Choice class in the morning.
- Focus on Listening & Speaking and Reading & Writing in the afternoon.
Core Class (9 am – 11 am):
- Grammar
- Reading Comprehension
- Writing Skills
- Listening Skills
- Speaking Skills
Look at Course Descriptions
Choice classes (11 am – 12 noon):
- For students in level 5 and above
- TOEFL preparation
- Pronunciation
- English idioms
- American culture
- Business English
- American cinema
- Other choices depending on students’ interest and needs
Afternoon Classes (1pm - 3pm):
- Reading and Writing Class
- Listening and Speaking Class
Homework:
Generally, students will have homework every day. Expect a minimum of two hours per night to be successful in this program.
Instructors:
All of our instructors are native English speakers who have at least master’s degrees in a relevant field or equivalent experience.
Levels of instruction:
New students are tested during their first days here and placed into one of twelve levels ranging from beginner to advanced. In the ESL program, there are up to 6 levels available each session. Levels are adjusted according to student needs. In one session we offer levels 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, and 11. The next session we offer levels 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12. Each level normally takes one five-week session to complete. Our program places students into a group with others close to their own language ability, to help them learn faster and more easily!
Grades and progressing from level to level:
All students are given grades at the end of each session (based on your work in class, your ability, and your attendance). The grading scale for classes is as follows: 90-100 is an A, 80-89 is a B, 70-79 is a C, 60-69 is a D, and below 60 is failing. Every ten weeks (every other session), all students are tested again so that we can ensure students are making adequate progress. At that time, some students may be moved into even higher levels if they show great progress, and some students may be asked to join a lower level if the teachers feel that they would benefit most from reviewing some materials a second time. In order to advance to the next level, a student is expected to have mastered 70% of the material from the current and next lower level, get at least a C average in all classes, and obtain a Michigan Placement Exam score no lower than two levels below the level the student will advance to (with the exception of level 11; students must place into level 11 on the Michigan Exam).
Program length:
You can join our program for just one of our sessions, or for any number of sessions. The three-week January term and summer sessions offer three hours of classroom instruction in the morning and trips and activities in the afternoon.
Sessions 2013-2014:
May 27 - June 28, 2013
July 1 - July 13, 2013
July 15 - Aug. 16, 2013
Aug. 26 - Sept. 27, 2013
Sept. 30 - Nov. 1, 2013 *
Nov. 4 - Dec. 13, 2013 *
January 6 – 24, 2014 (Special J-term 3 Week Session)
January 27 – February 28, 2014
March 3 – April 11, 2014 *
April 14 – May 15, 2014
June 30 – July 11, 2014 (Travel Study Session)
July 14 – August 15, 2014
August 25 – September 26, 2014
September 29 – October 31, 2014 *
November 3 – December 11, 2014 *
In the sessions marked with * there are vacation or holiday dates included. We will help you with travel plans or finding a place to stay in those vacation weeks. For most of the year (except Christmas - New Year’s holidays) residence halls remain open during breaks but do NOT always offer food services.
Academic Calendar for 2013-2014 and 2014-2015 academic years
Credit:
Students who enroll as degree-seeking students at Maryville College will receive 3 Maryville College elective credits for each 5-week session he/she completes successfully in our ESL program.
Minimum Age Requirement
Our program is generally designed for students aged 16 and over. We will admit students under 16 on a case-by-case basis.
Class hours
Core curriculum
Choice classes
Sample schedule
Homework
Instructors
Levels
Grades
Program Length
Sessions