Curriculum

Academic Program

The Intensive English Program (IEP) offers six levels of intensive English language instruction:

• Beginning
• High Beginning*
• Intermediate
• High Intermediate
• Advanced
• Advanced Plus

Each level of instruction is designed to be completed in one semester and consists of courses in four core skill areas as well as content–based courses that have been designed to meet student needs. Students at each level of instruction, except for Advanced Plus, are required to take courses in Speaking & Listening; Reading; Writing; and, Grammar as well as two to three content courses. Content-based courses include, for example, courses in American Culture, Conversation, and Pronunciation. Students at the Advanced Plus level take four courses designed to introduce them to academic work in American universities, including English for Academic Purposes; English in the Sciences; Business English; and, Literature Written in English. In addition to their coursework, students at any level may also elect to take a non–credit TOEFL Preparation and Practice course for an additional fee. All courses incorporate modern technologies that assist in language learning and students have opportunities to work in a dedicated computer lab for ESL students.

A student must successfully complete one level in order to advance to the next level. Advancement is accomplished by fulfilling all course requirements (e.g., attendance, active in-class participation, completion of graded assignments, and scores on quizzes and tests) and earning a sufficient score on final achievement test(s) at the end of the semester. In order for a course to count towards advancement to the next instructional level, a student must receive a letter grade of C or higher. Students who successfully complete their coursework but do not receive a sufficient score on the final achievement test(s) OR students who receive a sufficient score on the final achievement test but do not successfully complete their coursework may be required to repeat one or more courses.

For each course taken, students receive a letter grade determined by the standard scale:

A = Excellent (90-100%)
B = Good (80-90%)
C = Average (70-79%)
D = Poor (60-69%)
F = Failure (0-59%)

Depending on their course schedule, IEP students receive between 12-18 hours of UM credit for the successful completion of courses.

English Placement Test

Upon arrival all students will complete one or more language placement tests that will assess English proficiency. Results from these assessments will determine a student’s placement in the most appropriate level of instruction.

Length of Program

The IEP follows the same academic calendar as The University of Mississippi. Fall (August to December) and Spring (January to May) semesters include 15 weeks of instruction. Summer I (June) and Summer II (July) sessions each provide 4 weeks of instruction.

Classes begin on the same day as the first day of regular academic classes for the University. Final exams are held during the University's finals week at the end of the semester. The schedule of classes is determined after registration and depends on the number of students enrolled.

Course Descriptions

Speaking & Listening (3 hours/week)
Courses in this area provide students with opportunities to improve their communicative competence in English and gain confidence about using their speaking and listening skills. Students learn vocabulary, practice appropriate conversation management, and receive pronunciation instruction.

Reading (3 hours/week)
Courses in this area provide students with skills and practice necessary to develop reading skills in English that eventually will allow them to function successfully in US university courses where extensive academic reading is required. Students learn new vocabulary and develop strategies for reading texts in multiple disciplines.

Writing (3 hours/week)
Courses in this area provide students with the skills and practice necessary to write in a variety of different genres in different contexts, including but not limited to academic contexts. Students are guided through thinking, drafting, and revising their own ideas by working through this writing process with their instructors and peers.

Grammar (3 hours/week)
In these courses, students learn the grammatical structures necessary so that they can speak, read, and write with both fluency and accuracy.

Content–based Courses (6-9 hours/week)
Students take between two and three content courses each semester. The schedule of courses offered is determined by student need. Courses that may be offered include but are not limited to: Topics in American Culture, Conversation, and Pronunciation.

TOEFL Preparation and Practice (3 hours/week)
Students at any level may take the non–credit course, TOEFL Preparation and Practice, for an additional fee. The course offers students test strategies and practice opportunities for the TOEFL ibt exam.

Faculty

All IEP courses are taught by faculty who hold a master’s degree in TESL, a related academic field, or who are pursuing the M.A. degree in TESL at the University of Mississippi and have completed 18 hours of graduate–level TESL coursework. All are dedicated and caring professionals who provide individualized attention to our students.