VIU’s English as a Second Language (ESL) program is an intensive four-level program that prepares students for successful study at American colleges and universities. The
program focuses on developing and perfecting English proficiency and on TOEFL preparation. We offer a variety a courses that can satisfy a diverse student body. Our students learn the skills necessary to become confident
writers, fluent speakers, effective listeners, strong readers, and successful TOEFL takers. In addition to the traditional language classes and TOEFL preparation, we offer courses in business English, academic
vocabulary, and various aspects of American culture. Our classrooms are state-of-the-art, and we are proud of our fantastic team of ESL instructors who bring their experience, creativity, and enthusiasm to our classrooms
day after day.
Students who come to VIU to learn English have an opportunity to meet people from over 50 different countries. Whether in the classroom, on a field trip to one of Washington, DC’s many museums, or while sampling
international cuisine during one of our potluck parties, our students talk to and become lifelong friends with classmates from every corner of the world.
Our tuition rates are very affordable, and we are located just a metro ride away from the nation’s capital city.
ESL
ESL classes are offered at four levels of difficulty; it takes one semester to complete one level.
· Elementary (level 1)
· Intermediate (level 2)
· Advanced (level 3)
· High Advanced (level 4)
At the high-advanced (4th) level, students can choose one of the two concentrations: either College Preparation or Culture/Conversation. Having successfully completed level 4, students may choose to register for a
combination of undergraduate English courses and ESL classes.
PLACEMENT TEST
All new students must take our placement test to determine which level of ESL instruction is the best fit for them. All placement tests are given before the start of the new semester. Placement tests take about three
hours and consist of three parts:
· Essay (45 minutes)
· 60-question computer test (2 hours)
· Interview (15-20 minutes)
SCHEDULE
Classes meet in the morning and early afternoon, Monday through Thursday. Full-time students take 20 hours of ESL classes per week. All international students on an F1 visa must be full-time. Classes are offered during
the fall and spring semesters (15 weeks each) and during the summer (10 weeks)
COURSES
Full-time students take four core courses listed below plus two elective courses.
· Levels 1-3: Grammar, Pronunciation, Listening/Speaking, Reading/Writing
· Level 4 (College Prep): Listening/Speaking, Reading/Writing, College Prep Skills, TOEFL Prep
· Level 4 (Culture/Conversation): Listening, Conversation, Reading, American Culture
· Topics for elective courses change every semester and may include vocabulary, American culture, news, business English, etc.
TOEFL PREPARATION AT VIU
VIU offers an intensive program that prepares students for the TOEFL iBT, an internet-based test of English as a foreign language required to enter most of North American institutions of higher education.
TOEFL iBT is difficult because it tests much more than just language skills. It is not enough to be fluent in English to achieve a high TOEFL score because this test is designed to measure how well students are able to
communicate ideas in an academic setting and how well they are prepared for academic course work and campus life. To pass TOEFL successfully, one must be able to analyze and synthesize information from multiple sources,
write summaries and essays, take efficient notes, and apply time-management and test-taking strategies.
Our intensive ESL program at VIU is a college- preparatory program that focuses on linguistic and academic skills necessary for college and TOEFL success, such as:
· Advanced language profiency
· An extensive academic vocabulary
· Confident command of the conventions and structure of North American academic writing
· Efficient note taking skills
· A good understanding of the structure of American higher education institutions
· Familiarity with current cultural issues
· Strong time-management and test-taking skills
PROGRAM PLACEMENT
TOEFL preparation is an important and integral part of our ESL (English as a Second Language) program. The purpose of this intensive program is to prepare students for academic work. The college-preparatory level of the
program includes courses specifically targeted at giving students extensive practice with TOEFL-format assignments. Full-time students enrolled in classes at the college-preparatory level take four core courses listed on
the next page as well as two elective courses.
Please note that all new students are required to take our placement test. Students interested specifically in the highest (college-preparatory) level of instruction must pass the placement test with a score that
qualifies them for studies at this level. Students whose placement test scores are not high enough can register for our ESL classes at the appropriate level. ESL classes at all levels help students develop the skills
necessary for the successful completion of the TOEFL examination.
TOEFL PREP COURSES
ESL 400: TOEFL PREP (focuses on test-taking and time-management strategies and extensive practice with all types of TOEFL iBT questions)
ESL 401: COLLEGE PREP SKILLS (focuses on developing effective note-taking techniques and study skills, writing research papers, and delivering formal presentations on academic subjects. Students also study the structure
and expectations of American institutions of higher education.)
ESL 462: COLLEGE PREP SPEAKING AND LISTENING (prepares students for the demands of college-level academic listening and speaking tasks such as comprehending and analyzing academic discourse, participating appropriately
in small group discussions, presenting oral summaries, and giving short structured presentations on academic topics. Incorporates an accent- reduction component.)
ESL 482: COLLEGE PREP READING AND WRITING (focuses on the structure and conventions of North American academic written discourse)
ELECTIVE COURSES
We offer a variety of elective courses that appear to a broad range of interests. Course selections vary from semester to semester. For students interested in TOEFL preparation, we especially recommend ESL 395:
VOCABULARY II, a course that focuses on academic vocabulary and idiomatic expressions
Enrollment enquiries may be directed to filmo@filmo.com.