ESL PROGRAM CONTENT

ESL Misson >>
ESL Goal >>
ESL Conditional Admission >>
ESL Placement condition >>
ESL Academic English VS Intensive English >>

MISSION

The ESL Program at EMU is an "English for Academic Purposes" program that seeks to empower non-native English speaking students with the language skills and academic strategies necessary to surmount challenges they will encounter in university courses. The ESL Program does this by offering excellent and relevant, learner-centered environments that promote the language acquisition and cultural understanding necessary for full participation in university study.
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GOAL

The goal of the ESL Program is to provide non-native English-speaking students with the resources and opportunities to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skils to a level appropriate for university study and to equip them with the academic strategies necessary for successful study in a language and culture that may differ from their native language and/or culture.

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EMU CONDITIONAL ADMISSION

What does ESL Conditional Admission mean?

Any student whose first language is not English will need to submit a TOEFL, or MELAB, or IELTS official test score to the office of International Admissions with the application. The test score will determine if a student has an ESL conditional admission. If a student does have an ESL conditional admission, that student will have to take ESL classes to improve his/her English proficiency.

EMU Full Admission (no ESL required)

EMU ESL Conditional Admission

Undergraduate students with:

a TOEFL score of 173 (CBT ), 500 (PBT ) 61 (iBT) or higher
a MELAB score of 72 or higher
an IELTS score of 6.0 or higher

Graduate students with:

a TOEFL score of 213 (CBT ), 550 (PBT) 79 (iBT) or higher
a MELAB score of 77 or higher
an IELTS score of 6.5 or higher

(Some graduate programs require higher scores.)

(Some graduate programs require a TWE score.)

Undergraduate students with:

a TOEFL score of 172 (CBT ), 499 (PBT ) 60 (iBT) or lower
a MELAB score of 71 or lower
an IELTS score of 5.5 or lower

Graduate students with:

a TOEFL score of 212 (CBT ), 549 (PBT ) 78 (iBT) or lower
a MELAB score of 76 or lower
an IELTS score of 6.0 or lower
a TWE score (if required) below the minimum required by the program

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ESL PLACEMENT

Students are placed into ESLN courses according to the sub scores on either the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS.
To find your ESL placement:

Look at your test score report
Locate your test and sub-score on the chart below
Look at the ESL class listed in that column
Repeat for each sub-score
You should now have a placement in four classes

Students must continue taking ESL courses each semester in which they are enrolled until they have completed all required ESL courses.
To fulfill language proficiency requirements, undergraduate students must complete the 400 level and graduate students must complete the 500 level.
Students who place into 100, 200, or 300 level courses will take ESL only until they reach either the 400 or 500 level. When students are in the 400 or 500 level, they may take other university courses at the same time as the ESL courses.
All ESL courses are 3 credit hours each (except ESLN 318 - 1 credit hour; and ESLN 512 - 2 credit hours).
For questions about placement click on the FAQ section in this website or contact the ESL office at 734-487-0338.

Listening & Speaking	ESL 116	ESL 216	ESL 316	ESL 416	UG OUT ESL	ESL 515	GR OUT ESL
TOEFL iBT Listening	7 - 8	9 -10	11 - 12	13 - 14	15 +	15 -21	22 +
TOEFL iBT Speaking	8 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 - 16	16 +	17 - 20	21 +
IELTS Listening	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5	6.0 +	6.0	6.5 +
IELTS Speaking	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5	6.0 +	6.0	6.5 +
TOEFL PBT Listening	42 – 43	44 - 45	46 – 47	48 – 50	51 +	50 – 55	56 +
TOEFL CBT Listening	8 - 9	10 - 11	12 – 13	14 – 16	17 +	17 – 21	22 +
MELAB Listening	55 – 58	59 – 60	61 – 64	65 – 68	69 +	69 – 76	77 +
Note : if listening and speaking scores are different, the lowest score will be used for placement as the weaker skill will need improvement. Students placed into ESLN 316 will also take the co-requisite ESLN 318.
Reading	ESL 114	ESL 214	ESL 314	ESL 414	UG OUT ESL	ESL 515	GR OUT ESL
TOEFL iBT Reading	8 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14	15 +	15 - 20	21 +
IELTS Reading	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5	6.0 +	6.0	6.5 +
TOEFL PBT Reading	42 – 43	44 - 45	46 – 47	48 – 50	51 +	50 – 55	56 +
TOEFL CBT Reading	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 – 15	16 – 17	18 +	18 – 21	22 +
MELAB GCVR	55 – 58	59 – 60	61 – 64	65 – 68	69 +	69 – 76	77 +
Writing	ESL 112	ESL 212	ESL 312	ESL 412 (UG only)	UG OUT ESL	ESL 512	GR OUT ESL
Grammar	ESL 110	ESL 210	ESL 310	ESLN 410 (479)	UG OUT ESL	ESL 410 (479)	GR OUT ESL
TOEFL iBT Writing	8	9 -10	11 - 12	13 - 14	15 +	13 - 16	17 +**
IELTS Writing	4.0	4.5	5.0	5.5	6.0 +	5.5 - 6.0	6.5**
TWE or TOEFL CBT Essay	1	2	3	4	5 +	4 – 5	6**
MELAB Composition	53	57	63	67	73 +	67 – 76	77+**
Note: students placed into writing classes will take the co-requisite grammar classes.

* depending on individual Graduate Program requirements. **Placement chart subject to change.

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ENGLISH FOR ACADEMIC PURPOSES vs INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAM

The ESL Program at Eastern Michigan University is an "English for Academic Purposes" program that prepares non-native English speaking students for the Academic study at Eastern Michigan University. If you are comparing ESL at several universities, be sure to check what kind of ESL Program the university offers. The ESL Program at EMU offers many advantages to students.

English for Academic Purposes (EMU)

Intensive English Program

Courses give credit.
Already admitted to the university
No exit testing; no re-taking the TOEFL
Full-time ESL study = 12-15 hours per week
Classes focus on academic English skills
High level ESL students can be enrolled in ESL courses and other university courses at the same time
Undergraduate students may count ESL courses for graduation credit
Students begin their programs sooner so they save time and money, and graduate sooner

Courses do not give credit.
Not always admitted to the university
Exit testing or re-taking the TOEFL likely
Full-time ESL study = 20-22 hours per week
Classes focus on general and academic English skills, and often teach to the TOEFL
Usually cannot take ESL and other university courses at the same time
Undgergraduate students may NOT count ESL courses for graduation credit
Students must complete the intensive English program before starting other courses in the university adding more time till graduation

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