Academic English
Program description
Academic English programs are offered throughout all four terms. This academically rigorous and intensive program is designed to prepare students for entry to university study. This program will help you progress to your academic degrees with the necessary study skills and language proficiency. You will develop skills in listening, speaking, reading, and writing, TOEFL preparation, and academic study skills. This program allows international students to practice developing language skills within a U.S. university environment.
Program aims
To provide international students, whose native language is not English, with the high quality English language instruction and academic skills that will prepare them for academic study at a U.S. university.
To enable students to adapt and adjust to the demands, challenges and expectations of the U.S. higher education system and culture.
Focus
The focus of classes is on developing communicative language ability at all levels. Students have many opportunities to interact with instructors, classmates, OSU students, and people in the community. As you prepare for academic work in a U.S. university, you will practice analyzing, synthesizing, and evaluating information. You will learn to present your ideas effectively in correct written and spoken forms.
Program structure
- Small classes
- Highly trained and experienced instructors
- Structured use of time outside the classroom
- 23 lessons per week of course work covering the core skills of reading, writing, listening and speaking
- Choice of electives.
INTO Oregon State University's Academic English program is highly intensive therefore students are expected to devote at least 20 hours of directed study per week to self study and homework.
In class, you will practice a variety of new and familiar skills to help you read and discuss authentic college-level texts with greater understanding, use library resources more effectively, and write with greater accuracy and power. Writing activities will include reacting to readings, writing essays, and doing a research paper as a final project.
Outcomes
You will achieve the language level required to progress on to either a pathway program or directly to an undergraduate or graduate program.
Students who successfully complete the Academic English program may be admitted to pathways programs or directly to OSU without a TOEFL test score on the recommendation of the English language faculty. This assessment and recommendation is not available to General English students.
Conditional admission to an OSU undergraduate program is possible for students who attain TOEFL scores from 450-523 and have a 3.0 GPA or greater in high school; conditional admission is possible for students applying to OSU graduate programs who have attained a TOEFL score of 500-550 and have a 3.0 GPA or greater over the last two years of undergraduate studies.
Program outcomes
By the end of the Academic English Program, successful students will be prepared to undertake university-level work and:
- Write in a variety of discourse styles including critical reactions, summaries, and research papers with proper use of citations and references as required by professors
- use the Internet and OSU library databases to conduct academic research and retrieve information
- read, understand, and critically evaluate academic texts from a range of disciplines.
- understand and use vocabulary common to academic disciplines
- understand and take useful and accurate notes in academic lectures and presentations
- develop and deliver formal and informal oral presentations in a classroom setting.
- interact comfortably in the U.S. classroom setting with professors and fellow students
- understand U.S. values in an academic setting.