PROGRAM OVERVIEW
Admission
Housing
Transportation
Program Details
Schedule
Charges and costs
Center for English as a Second Language
Note: This page is no longer being updated and may not be accurate. For updated costs, schedule, etc. go to http://www.siu.edu/~cesl/overview.html. We are sorry for the inconvenience.
The Center for English as a Second Language
(CESL) is a unit of the Department
of Linguistics on the campus of Southern
Illinois University at Carbondale and is staffed by members of the
University faculty. The intensive English language program at CESL is open
to prospective University students, professional people, and others who
want to learn English as a second language.
The advantages of studying English at CESL are many. In addition to intensive English instruction, CESL students profit from the central location of CESL on the campus of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. SIUC is a large, comprehensive, coeducational university with over 21,000 students. CESL is housed in Faner Hall, which lies only a few steps from Morris Library and the Student Center.
As a part of Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, CESL is authorized under federal law to enroll non-immigrant alien students. Admission is open to individuals who are willing to apply themselves to the demanding language-learning program, who have attained the age of eighteen or completed secondary schooling, and who have adequate resources to cover their expenses (CESL charges and living expenses) for the entire period of study at CESL. Applicants are required to complete all items on the application form (request forms by e-mailing cesl@siu.edu, sending a letter to the address listed at the bottom of this page, or downloading them from the application sites and submitting an official transcript of their secondary school and/or college grades. The financial statement of the application form must be completed and signed by the person responsible for the student's expenses. The completed form should be sent with the $35 application charge (check, draft, or money order made payable to Southern Illinois University at Carbondale) to the Director, CESL, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, Carbondale, Illinois 62901-4518, USA.
Upon arrival, students will be assisted
in making arrangements for living accommodations. Most students prefer
to live in dormitories near campus. The approximate cost of room and board
in dormitories is indicated under charges and costs. Two popular choices are
University Hall and Ambassador Hall.
Carbondale is 100 miles (160 km) south
of St. Louis, Missouri
and is easily accessible from the St. Louis International Airport and from
Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. There are train and bus services from Chicago,
as well as bus and a private van service from St. Louis to Carbondale.
Terms of Study
There are four 8-week terms during the
regular academic school year, August 15 through May 15, and two 6-week
CESL terms in summer, May 16 through August 14. The terms begin in August,
October, January, March, May, and July, making a total of six enrollment
periods for the year.
Intensive English
There are six graded intensive courses
which meet from eighteen to twenty-four hours per week. Instruction in
English grammar, pronunciation, conversation, reading, and writing is offered
from beginning through advanced levels of study. CESL also offers customized
programs for special groups.
Courses for Graduate Students and
Graduate Teaching Assistants
Graduate students who complete or
place out of the highest intensive level may enroll in a course specifically
designed for their needs which meets two hours per day. Activities involving
oral reports, research papers, critical reviews, and specialized readings
associated with the individual student's major field of study are planned.
Language Media Center
Students are assigned work in the Language
Media Center to improve their skills in English. All Language Media
Center activities are teacher-monitored. The Language Media Center is also
available for individual use 12 hours per day.
Computer Instruction
Computer-assisted instruction is available
to students in the Language Media Center and in the Computer
Writing Lab at all levels of study. Instruction in all language skills
and word processing is included.
Study Skills
Students learn about the library,
research paper writing, note taking and many other skills useful for university
study.
Observing Academic Classes
Students in levels 4, 5 and 6 may sign
up to participate as observers in any regular University class of their
choice.
TOEFL Preparation
Special training is available each term
for students who wish to improve their test-taking skills.
Placement and Testing
Initial Course placement into the six-level
program is determined by performance on the INSTITUTIONAL TOEFL test. The
INSTITUTIONAL TOEFL test is also administered to all students in levels
4, 5 and 6 at the end of each session. A combination of class grades, teacher
recommendations and INSTITUTIONAL TOEFL scores are used to determine student
movement through the curriculum.
Length of Study
The number of CESL terms normally required
of students placed in level 1 (General English) is five or six; for students
placed in level 2 (Advanced English 1), four or five; for students placed
in level 3 (Advanced English 2), three or four; for students placed in
level 4 (English for Academic Purposes 1), two or three, and for students
placed in level 5 (English for Academic Purposes 2), one or two. Graduate
students may wish to study an additional term in the course for graduate
students.
Academic Counseling
Students are aided in making arrangements
for further academic study in the U.S. by the student adviser.
Orientation
The student adviser plans orientation programs
for each CESL term explaining the opportunities available in Carbondale
and Southern Illinois University at Carbondale. Organized extracurricular
activities at SIUC, picnics, and parties are a regular part of life at
CESL.
Certificates
A Certificate of Attendance is awarded
to students who complete a course of study. Transcripts of performance
are mailed directly to an institution upon the request of the student.
Unofficial student copies are also available.
English Proficiency Examination
Students who successfully complete the
advanced level of study and pass the proficiency exam will be certified
as having sufficient command of English for study in an American college
or university.
Customized Programs for Special Groups
Custom-designed English language training
programs for business people and other professionals can be arranged. Three
programs provide the appropriate English studies for the specific interests
and needs of the participants. Any number of participants, length of study
and interest area can be accommodated.
CESL Schedule
(see note at top)
Tel. (618) 453-2265
Send correspondence to:
Director
Center for English as a Second Language
Mailcode 4518
Southern Illinois University at Carbondale
Carbondale, IL 62901-4518
E-mail: cesl@siu.edu
To get a response from a CESL teacher about your classes, or any other question, Ask a Teacher.