Academic Information and Schedule

 

The Maryville College ESL program is an intensive program designed for those 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 curriculum
Levels
Choice classes
Grades
Sample schedule
Program length
Homework
Sessions

Class hours:

  • Monday through Friday, 9 am – 3 pm (with one-hour lunch break)
  • 25 hours of classroom instruction per week
  • Core curriculum and Choice class in the morning.
  • Focus on Listening & Speaking and Reading & Writing in the afternoon.

Core curriculum (9 am – 11 am):

  • Grammar
  • Reading
  • Writing
  • Listening
  • Speaking

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

Sample schedule:

 

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 6 levels available each session, so every level is not offered every session. 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 takes about 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 2012:

Jan. 9 - 27

Jan. 30 - Mar. 2

Mar. 5 - Apr. 13

Apr. 16 - May 17

May 28 - Jun. 29

Jul. 2 - Jul. 13: 2 week Travel Program (Explore Tennessee: Smoky Mountains, Nashville, & Memphis)

Jul. 16 - Aug. 17

Aug. 27 - Sept. 28

Oct. 1 - Nov. 2

Nov. 5 - Dec. 13

 

Class hours

Core curriculum

Choice classes

Sample schedule

Homework

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Instructors

Levels

Grades

Program Length

Sessions