ESL Program:: Mission, Goal, Placement, Conditional Admission, Academic English :: Department of Foreign Languages : Eastern Michigan University

ESL Program Information

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ESL Academic English VS Intensive English >>

Mission

The English as a Second Language program (ESL) at EMU prepares international students, scholars and professionals to effectively use English language skills and academic strategies to confidently and successfully participate in academic study in university programs.

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 skills 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.

Admission

EMU Intensive English Admission IEP Information	EMU ESL Conditional Admission	EMU Full Admission (no ESL required)
No TOEFL, IELTS or MELAB score is required. Students will take an ESL Placement test on the EMU campus upon arrival to determine placement in ESL courses.	Undergraduate students with: a TOEFL score of 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 549 (PBT ), 78 (iBT) or lower a MELAB score of 76 or lower an IELTS score of 6.0 or lower a sub-score (if required) below the minimum required by the program	Undergraduate students with: a TOEFL score of 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 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 specific sub-scores.)
Students take only ESL courses. F-1 and J-1 visa students must take 18 credit hours per semester of ESL courses. ESL courses may not be applied to a student’s degree program if the student moves to full EMU admission.	Students take the required ESL courses. F-1 and J-1 visa students must take a minimum of 12 credit hours per semester. ESL credits may be applied to a student’s degree program for graduation, pending advisor’s approval.	Students are not required to take ESL courses, but may choose to take ESL courses. ESL credits may be applied to a student’s degree program for graduation, pending advisor’s approval.
For admission: Contact the ESL Program directly. IEP Application	For admission: Contact the Office of International Admissions and complete a regular EMU application. Admissions Application	For admission: Contact the Office of International Admissions and complete a regular EMU application. Admissions Application

Placement

Intensive English Admission
Students will take a placement test upon arrival on the EMU campus and will be placed according to those results.

ESL Conditional Degree Admission

Students are placed into ESLN courses according to the sub-scores on either the TOEFL, MELAB, or IELTS.
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.
All ESL courses are 3 credit hours each .
Once students are enrolled in ESL courses, they must complete the sequence of ESL courses, or test out of the ESL program completely (by submitting a new TOEFL/IELTS/MELAB score). Once enrolled in ESL courses, students may not submit new sub scores to skip levels or test out of individual skills.

Listening & Speaking	ESL 116	ESL 216	ESL 316	ESL 416	ESL 515	No ESL required in this skill.
TOEFL iBT Listening	7 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 - 16	17 - 21	22 +
TOEFL iBT Speaking	7 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 - 16	17 -21	22 +
IELTS Listening	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5 +
IELTS Speaking	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5 +
TOEFL PBT Listening	42 – 43	44 - 45	46 – 47	48 – 50	50 – 55	56 +
MELAB Listening	53 – 56	57 – 61	62 – 66	67 – 71	72 – 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.
Reading	ESL 114	ESL 214	ESL 314	ESL 414	ESL 515	GR OUT ESL
TOEFL iBT Reading	7 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 - 16	17 - 21	22 +
IELTS Reading	4	4.5	5	5.5	6	6.5 +
TOEFL PBT Reading	42 – 43	44 - 45	46 – 47	48 – 50	50 – 55	56 +
MELAB GCVR	53 – 56	57 – 61	62 – 66	67 – 71	72 – 76	77 +
Writing (UG only)	ESL 112	ESL 212	ESL 312	ESL 412	ESL 512	GR OUT ESL
Grammar	ESL 110	ESL 210	ESL 310	ESLN 410	ESL 410	GR OUT ESL
TOEFL iBT Writing	7 - 9	10 - 11	12 - 13	14 - 16	14 - 18	19 +
IELTS Writing	4	4.5	5	5.5	5.5 - 6.0	6.5**
TWE or TOEFL CBT Essay	1	2	3	4	4 – 5	6**
MELAB Composition	53 – 56	57 – 61	62 – 66	67 – 71	72 – 76	77+**
Note: If there is much difference between reading and writing scores, an average of the two scores may be used to determine reading and writing course placement.

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

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