The ESL Program develops and assesses college-level academic English language proficiency, and completing the ESL Program gives both undergraduate and graduate students at Andrews the opportunity to meet university English requirements. The ESL Program is offered during Fall semester, Spring semester, and in an six-week Summer semester, which counts as a full semester. ESL classes are offered for credit or for non-credit hours.
Delivery
The courses for the ESL program are available for on campus and online students. Courses are taught in the interactive online synchronous format to students in-person and online simultaneously (see School of Distance Education definitions).
Placement
The CIEP English Placement Test (EPT) is used to place new students into one of four levels in the ESL Program: Beginning, Foundation, Intermediate, and Advanced. The Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), or any other English language proficiency test accepted by Andrews University, is not required for individuals to be placed into one of the four levels; however, if an individual has an English language proficiency score on record, this score may be used in determining level placement, though the EPT score is the primary level placement indicator.
Classes
Each of the four levels has core classes in grammar, reading, writing, listening, and speaking. Additional skill-building classes focus on pronunciation, conversation and discussion, academic presentations, and American culture and values.
CIEP Certificate
The CIEP Certificate is awarded to students who successfully complete the ESL Program, and earning the CIEP Certificate demonstrates completion of university language requirements. To earn the CIEP Certificate, an individual must do all of the following:
- Pass (B- grade or higher) all ESL classes starting at the level in which an individual was initially placed until Advanced is completed (16 credits or non-credit hours per level in Fall, Spring, and Summer semesters)
- Pass the required CIEP Speaking Test, which is given as part of the Advanced Listening & Speaking class
Note: The TOEFL (or any English language proficiency test other than the ESL Exit Exam) is not required to complete the ESL Program.
