Students receive 20-25 hours of classroom instruction per week in courses that practice reading, composition, vocabulary development, grammar, listening, pronunciation, conversation, and academic study skills. They also take up one week of elective classes in each session.
The Intensive English Program is offered in five levels: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5 (advanced). While students in levels 1, 2, 3, or 4 take two classes in reading/writing and listening/speaking, students in level 5 take two classes in advanced academic skills and advanced language applications.
When students successfully complete each level of study, they receive a certificate of completion.
Skills that students acquire
In the reading/writing class:
- Reading
- Vocabulary
- Grammar
- Composition
- Study skills
- Cultural awareness
In the listening/speaking class:
- Listening
- Pronunciation
- Grammar
- Vocabulary
- Conversation
- Cultural awareness
In the Advanced Academic Skills class (for level 5 students only):
- Writing
- Study of academic content
- Academic seminars
- Guided independent study
In the Advanced Language Applications class (for level 5 students only):
- Speaking
- Exploration of cultural topics
- Organized literature discussion facilitation
- Formal presentations
- Evaluative reports
- Idiom study
Students of Intensive English Program have homework every day that includes reading, writing, listening, and speaking practice. The homework involves regular use of books, newspapers, magazines, radio, television, telephones, libraries, and computers.
Electives week
Each semester, the Intensive English Program offers 1 week of elective (selected) courses. These courses are offered in place of the regular reading/writing and listening/speaking classes for the week and allow students to choose areas of language study for special focus according to their needs.
Examples of past elective courses:
- Business Writing
- Country Music: Johnny and Friends
- Current Events and Newscast
- Debate
- Focus on Film: American Animation
- Getting Around Chicago
- Successful Spelling Strategies and Typing Made Easy
- Writing a Personal Statement