Center for English as a Second Language

  United States

Carbondale

Description: Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), chartered in 1869, is nationally and internationally recognized for its instructional, research, and service programs. Carnegie classified as a Doctoral/Research Extensive University SIUC is one of the most comprehensive public universities in Illinois and is fully accredited through the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. The campus, comprising more than 3,290 acres, has developed a 981 acre portion with woods and a lake as a site for its over 400 academic buildings and residence halls.

SIUC offers English as a Second Language and more than 150 under-graduate majors, specializations and minors; more than 60 Masters and post-baccalaureate Certificates; and more than 25 Doctoral degrees. All degree programs are offered through the Colleges of Agricultural Sciences, Applied Sciences and Arts, Business and Administration, Education and Human Services, Engineering, Liberal Arts (including Humanities and Fine Arts), Mass Communication and Media Arts, and Science, as well as Law and Medicine. In 2002 we awarded 5,858 degrees, including 4,676 Bachelors and 126 Doctoral. The faculty is dedicated to excellence in teaching as well as to the advancement of knowledge through research. Many are well-known nationally and internationally. SIUCs academic year consists of two semesters and an eight week summer term.

Highlights: Center for English as a Second Language
Southern Illinois University Carbondale
Carbondale, Illinois USA

CESL was established in 1964 and has many years of experience teaching English to international students interested in pursuing an education in the US or in improving their language skills for personal or professional reasons. We enjoy a well-established reputation for our excellence in teaching English to internationals. CESL is a member of the University Consortium of Intensive English Programs (UCIEP), an organization that represents the top ESL programs in the United States.

* CESL is open to prospective university students, professionals and others wanting to develop or improve their skills using English as a second language.
* CESL instructors are part of the Department of Linguistics and members of the University faculty. We stay current and are active in research and methodology in the field of ESL and second language acquisition. Our full-time classroom instructors are members of the University's faculty and hold master's degrees or doctorates in Teaching English as a Second Language or related fields. Most have had extensive teaching experience and many speak a second language and have had overseas experience.
* CESL classrooms are located in the Faner Building, adjacent to the Student Center in the center of campus.
* CESL offers six graded intensive courses with 22-25 hours of instruction per week.
* Course placement is determined by performance on the Institutional TOEFL test given to incoming students. CESL offers the following levels:
Levels 1 and 2: General English 1 and 2
Levels 3 and 4: Advanced English 1 and 2
Levels 5 and 6: English for Academic Purposes 1 and 2
Level 7: Graduate Student English (open to students entering graduate programs at SIUC)
* Courses: Within each of the above levels, students take several courses, for example, TOEFL Preparation, Integrated Core Class (Reading, Writing, Speaking, Listening), Grammar, Grammar and Poetry, Projects, Newsletter, Creative Speaking, Writers' Workshop, Oral English, Advanced Communication, Advanced Pronunciation, Business English, Communication Strategies, Advanced Grammar and Editing, Reading for Pleasure, Discussion.
* CESL has three media centers; students have free Internet access and receive webpage instruction as well as computer-assisted language instruction.
* CESL has a foreign student advisor to assist students with problems and with admission into undergraduate or graduate programs on our campus or at another university.
* Students can gain admission into undergraduate programs at SIUC with less than a 520 TOEFL score if they successfully complete Level 6 and score at least 500 or above on the TOEFL although we do occasionally release students who have done well in our program but score less than 500 on TOEFL. Students in Levels 4-6 can also sign up to participate as observers in SIUC classes.
* Graduate Student English (GSE) is a special course for students entering graduate school. Activities include reports, research papers, critical reviews and specialized readings associated with the individual student's major field of study as well as research methodology.
* ITA Training: CESL offers coursework for graduate teaching assistants recommended by their departments to take this specialized course of instruction for prospective teachers in order to improve English communication skills and help students with teaching strategies and techniques.
* Special customized programs for groups.
* Accent Reduction classes offered for international students, staff and faculty.

University Attributes: Southern Illinois University Carbondale
General Information
* Public coed, Carnegie classification: Doctoral/Research Extensive
* Small town setting
* Enrollment: 21,003
* Undergraduate student-faculty ratio: 17:1
* International students: 5.5%
* Countries Represented: 115
* Admissions Test: TOEFL
    Undergraduate:Paper min. 520   Computer min. 190
      Graduate:Paper min. 550   Computer min. 213
* SAT I: not required for International (unless from a US high school)
* ACT: not required for International (unless from a US high school)
* Undergraduate Application Deadline: Rolling
    Graduate Application Deadline: Contact individual department
* On-campus housing:Available
* Summer housing:Available

Area and Climate
Carbondale is a friendly small city with a population of 27,033. Located in the heartland of the United States in southern Illinois, Carbondale serves as the host and focal point of trade, tourism and education for the region. The large and beautiful rural campus is within driving distance of urban areas such as St. Louis, Missouri (96 miles), Memphis, Tennessee (213 miles), and Chicago, Illinois (329 miles). Within minutes of campus are the Mississippi and Ohio Rivers, and the spectacular 270,000 acre (109,350 hectare) Shawnee National Forest, the Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, and Giant City State Park. The mid-South climate is ideal for SIUC students to enjoy camping, hiking, boating, cycling, and other outdoor activities year-round. Carbondale, which has been rated the best small city in Illinois, supports one large enclosed mall, several mini-malls, theaters and restaurants. Year round bus service throughout the city is available for free to students. The Amtrack passenger train that runs from Chicago to New Orleans stops in Carbondale. Visitors to Carbondale using air transportation may fly to Lambert Field in St. Louis, then either take a smaller service flight to the Marion airport or schedule a pick-up by a transit service that will deliver the passengers to their door in Carbondale.

International Students
As a result of the 55+ year history of serving international students, SIUC has developed an overall campus climate supportive of visitors and students from around the world. International students are exceptionally well served by the International Programs and Services. In Fall 2006, we had 1,149 international students registered for classes in Carbondale, representing 115 countries. Through IPS, you can begin your orientation to the campus before you arrive. Upon arrival, you can participate in Friday afternoon coffee hour with the community, join English in Action, share your culture with local schools, join one of several international student organizations, obtain assistance with INS issues, obtain work referrals, or just stop in to say Hi! We are here to make sure that obstacles do not prevent you from your first priority obtaining a quality education in an outstanding US University. SIUC also offers English Language from beginner to advanced through its Center for English as a Second Language.

Language Assistance/Requirements
All courses are taught in English, therefore, it is important that students are fluent in English prior to enrolling in academic coursework. Fluency can be achieved and documented in different ways. You may take the TOEFL and have your score sent directly to the University (school code 1726), you may test when you arrive in Carbondale, or you may enroll in, and successfully complete English Language training on campus through the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL).

Facilities
Morris Library is one of the largest open stack libraries in the nation, reporting in 2006 holdings of 3,026,125 volumes; 44,083 current serials; 4,588,909 microform units and 313,173 government documents. In addition to the bricks and mortar facility, students may browse the librarys collections on-line.

Students have access to over 600 computers available in 10 open labs throughout the campus, including housing areas. There are an additional 1020 computers available to students through major program labs. Free dial-up to the campus network is available to all students, and those living in many housing facilities may also purchase direct Ethernet access from their room.

The Student Center covers about eight acres of floor space. It houses the University Bookstore, an extensive food service including nine different dining facilities, newly-remodeled bowling alley and billiard room, Student Health Assessment Center and many other student focused resources.

The SIUC Student Recreation Center facilities include an Olympic sized pool, several gyms, aerobics facilities, racquet ball courts, weight rooms, martial arts rooms, a climbing wall, a base camp where students may check out camping equipment, a complete indoor track, saunas, locker rooms and meeting rooms.

Cost in US$: CESL: $1800/$1700 per term

Application Process Involves:

• Other
• Written Application

Center for English as a Second Language, Southern Illinois University Carbondale's Mission Statement: The Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) aims to serve international students enrolled in CESL or in Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC), campus units and the Southern Illinois region. CESL also aims to facilitate relationships for SIUC abroad and market the quality programs available at SIUC. CESL assists international students in acquiring English language proficiency for educational, business or personal purposes. CESL also helps international students acquire a better understanding of their own and the American culture both in and out of the classroom, and maintains an excellent faculty, curriculum and program.

Year Founded: 1964