The ELI is the primary academic hub for Multilingual Learners of English (MLE) at the University of Delaware, but we aren’t confined to the limits of our department walls; we serve the international community by partnering with other units to offer a wide range of programs to teachers, students and Delaware locals.
The Intensive English Program (IEP) is the foundation for all of our language programs. The IEP helps adult (17+) language learners of all levels improve their English skills. We also offer conditional admissions programs for students who wish to matriculate into the university at the undergraduate or graduate level, evening classes for au pairs, Amazon employees and locals who work during the day, short-term programs for acculturation and language immersion, and much more!
For teachers, we offer a variety of training opportunities; we welcome Fulbright teachers to the ELI, help administer the master’s program in Teaching English as a Second Language (MATESL), and jointly administer the International Teacher Assistant Training Program (ITA).
Below is a brief overview of our current program offerings and partnerships. How can we serve your needs?
MASTER’S IN TEACHING ENGLISH TO SPEAKERS OF OTHER LANGUAGES (MA TESL)
The English Language Institute administers the School of Education’s master’s degree in Teaching English as a Second Language (MA-TESL). The graduate program is a great example of interdisciplinary collaboration; courses are taught by ELI faculty and colleagues from the School of Education, the Departments of Linguistics and of Languages, Literatures and Cultures, and the ELI.
SWUFE-UD INSTITUTE OF DATA SCIENCE
The ELI continues to collaborate with the Lerner College of Business and Economics and their partner, Southwestern University of Finance and Economics (SWUFE), in Chengdu, China. Students spend their first three years learning on the SWUFE campus and their fourth year here at UD. The ELI is a key player in this partnership; we offer English 110, UD’s first year writing course, and critical reading and writing courses to students while they are still based in China. ELI faculty teach at all hours of the day or night! Some classes start at 5:00 a.m. and others on Sunday evenings at 8:00 p.m. to accommodate students’ demanding schedules on the other side of the world! We also provide course placement for students based on their English proficiency and host a student orientation before each semester to explain the role of English 110 and how it supports a UD degree.
UD offers many Fulbright opportunities, and the ELI is proud to support this initiative; this year, we welcomed 14 teachers from Korea in collaboration with the Fulbright Korea program. We offered the teachers intensive language instruction, a U.S. culture and history course, a methodology course coupled with interactive workshops, a school-based experience in local area schools–including the UD Lab School–and an action research and leadership development component. Additionally, participants engaged in a capstone project to share with colleagues back home and enjoyed cultural excursions to New York City and Washington D.C. Planning for the 2025 cohort is underway, with a full agenda with The College School.
INTERNATIONAL TEACHING ASSISTANT TRAINING PROGRAM (ITA)
The ITA program focuses on language use for instructional purposes, introducing teachers to American classroom culture and basic pedagogy. It is jointly administered by the Office for Graduate and Professional Education and the English Language Institute. Dr. Mary Martin, the Associate Provost for Graduate and Professional Education and the Associate Dean of the Graduate College, works closely with the ELI’s ITA coordinator, Kenneth Hyde, to administer the program. This year, we have had 184 graduate students nominated to the program. Of those, 146 students have completed the program. They come from 37 countries and are enrolled in 36 graduate programs across campus (including all the colleges).
INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAM (IEP)
The Intensive English Program is the heart of the ELI; it is the foundation upon which all other programs are built. The IEP helps general language learners improve their English skills and business professionals learn English for career enhancement. Adults of all ages and language levels are welcome. We offer six levels of instruction and each level takes two months to complete. While IEP students enjoy the ELI’s activities, trips, and course offerings, they are still considered full-fledged University of Delaware students with access to campus-wide events, resources, and facilities. We partner with the COLFUTURO program to provide discounted IEP tuition to students in Colombia and are always looking for new collaboration opportunities.
The Evening Program is a community service-based program whose largest population is Amazon employees, Au Pairs, and general community members. We offer semi-intensive English as a Second Language (ESL) courses on weekday evenings to accommodate students who work during the day. This is a unique facet of the ELI, as it allows us to support Multilingual Learners of English (MLE) who are often older and have already established roots in Delaware.
GRADUATE CONDITIONAL ADMISSION (GRAD CAP)
Our Graduate Conditional Admissions Program (Graduate CAP) is designed for international students aiming to pursue a master’s or doctoral degree but who need to enhance their English proficiency before starting their graduate studies. This program is beneficial to the University of Delaware since we funnel in international students who might not initially have the language proficiency to succeed at such a high academic level.
The Academic Transitions program supports international students who have been conditionally admitted into the University of Delaware but need to meet certain English language level requirements in order to begin undergraduate classes. Students improve their English while earning university credits that will eventually go towards their undergraduate degree. In fact, AT students have the potential to earn nearly all of the credits needed to complete their first year of university!
Accelerate-U Delaware aims to help new international students establish a robust academic, language and cultural foundation during their first semester at UD. The program provides personalized assistance to each student, helping them transition smoothly into college life and set them up for future success. Available in both the fall and spring semesters, A-UD is offered in collaboration with the Office of Undergraduate Admissions.
While the Center for Global Programs and Services (CGPS) offers UD students outbound study abroad opportunities and study abroad exchange, the ELI is the only unit on campus to offer an inbound study abroad and language immersion program. What does that mean? We welcome students from around the world to study abroad at the University of Delaware! Students can stay with host families, improve their English, and acclimate to U.S. culture. We collaborate with CGPS’s International Student & Scholar Services (ISSS) who ensures that students get proper visas, documentation and immigration advising. The ELI is fully responsible for their academic and cultural immersion while studying on campus.
In collaboration with the Center for Global Programs & Services (CGPS), ELI students are partnered with a student in UD’s World Scholars program to be their “host” around campus. This provides a unique opportunity for both students to build cross-cultural friendships while helping the international student acclimate to life at UD and practice speaking English.
If you are interested in partnering in any of these programs or if you have another way to partner, please let us know. We are always seeking new collaborations on campus and around the world! Email Ud-ELI@udel.edu to get started.
Article by Kaitlyn Diehl
August 26, 2024