Intensive English Program (IEP)

Placeholder course for students admitted into the Intensive English Program (IEP).

IEP Listening and Speaking Level I (IEP 021) focuses on developing basic listening and speaking skills necessary to function in social and academic situations. Students are going to learn how to listen for main ideas and the most important supporting information. The speaking component focuses on developing basic conversation and discussion skills. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results.

IEP Listening and Speaking Level II (IEP 022) builds on students’ basic listening and speaking skills introduced in Level I. Students start identifying and interpreting relationships between ideas in a variety of listening materials. The speaking component focuses on communicating in the classroom and introduces basic presentation skills. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Listening and Speaking Level I (IEP 021).

IEP Listening and Speaking Level III (IEP 023) develops more advanced listening and note taking skills as well as more complex oral skills in presentations, interviewing, and discussions. The goal of the course is to prepare the students to enter into the academic environment of a U.S. university. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Listening and Speaking Level II (IEP 022).

IEP Listening and Speaking Level IV (IEP 024) continues the development of high level academic speaking and listening skills of the advanced students. One goal of the course is to further listening skills as they relate to comprehending and analyzing multiple listening excerpts and applying the material to academic tasks. A variety of speaking skills will be practiced with specific attention to understanding and communicating statistical data, results, trends, techniques, methods and differences of opinion. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of of IEP Listening and Speaking Level III (IEP 023).

IEP Listening and Speaking focuses on the specific needs of the visiting group. Essential listening and speaking skills are introduced, and students work on the necessary functions for social, professional, or academic situations. The goal of this course is to build a solid foundation of listening and speaking skills. Students will be required to apply a variety of Academic Word List vocabulary, sentence structures, and colloquial phrases in real life situational conversations, small group discussions, and/or short presentations. Students will also practice extensive listening and analysis of various audio. This course is utilized for the purpose of visiting groups.

Pronunciation (IEP 026) is designed to raise the students’ awareness of the pronunciation problems affecting everyday communication, and it focuses on the basic building blocks of correct pronunciation. Students will learn and practice the correct pronunciation of consonants and vowels, paying special attention to the difference in meaning caused by changing individual sounds. The course and/or instructor will also focus on the importance of syllables, word stress, and basic intonation patterns. Students will learn how to use a dictionary to look up correct pronunciation. They will also work on monitoring their speech for pronunciation errors. The practice will be conducted on basic words, everyday conversations and speech acts, and short speeches similar to what students are expected to produce at this level of their language development. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results.

Advanced Pronunciation (IEP 028) is an advanced pronunciation course in which students focus on stress, rhythm, and intonation. Consonants and vowels are briefly reviewed, and practice is assigned based on individual needs. Students will practice pronouncing advanced and academic vocabulary, as well as longer and more complex exchanges and passages. In addition to correctly imitating the pronunciation used in various recordings, students will be asked to produce mini-speeches with self analysis and corrections. Students will also give one longer in-class presentation on an academic topic to show their proficiency in the material covered in the course. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of Pronunciation (IEP 026).

IEP Reading and Writing Level I (IEP 041) focuses on the basics of reading and writing in English. The course introduces reading skills of identifying main ideas and supporting details along with strategies for using context clues. The writing component focuses on producing correct sentences and basic paragraphs. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results.

IEP Reading and Writing Level II (IEP 042) expands on the reading and writing skills introduced in level one. In this course, students learn to classify and organize information from the reading as well as identify the tone, purpose, and audience. The writing component focuses on correctly using a variety of sentences, writing more developed paragraphs, as well as longer responses. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Reading and Writing Level I (IEP 041).

IEP Reading and Writing Level III (IEP 043) expands on the core reading and writing concepts developed in Level II. In this level, students will annotate, analyze, and use content from readings in order to write well developed responses. Additionally, students will focus on writing a well-developed essay. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Reading and Writing Level II (IEP 042).

IEP Reading and Writing Level IV (IEP 044) focuses on advanced academic skills in reading and writing. The reading component focuses on analyzing multiple articles for similarities, differences, and strategies used to support the claim in an article. The writing component will culminate in writing a researched APA style essay. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Reading and Writing Level III (IEP 043).

IEP Grammar Level I (IEP 061) acts as the foundation of the grammar series. This level focuses on the basic grammatical structures and verb tenses that students will encounter in written and spoken English. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results.

IEP Grammar Level II (IEP 062) builds upon the skills covered in Level I. In this level, students will practice intermediate grammatical structures and verb tenses they will encounter in written and spoken English. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Grammar Level I (IEP 061).

IEP Grammar Level III (IEP 063) is a continuation of Level II and builds on the previously acquired skill. This level focuses on developing high-intermediate grammar skills in order to communicate accurately in written and spoken English. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of the IEP Grammar Level II (IEP 062).

IEP Grammar Level IV (IEP 064) focuses on effective use of advanced grammar in writing and speaking and understanding complex grammatical structures in academic reading. The grammar points are presented in academic contexts and students practice editing their writing for effective and correct language use as well as practice controlling language accuracy in speaking. Placement in this course is based on placement exam results and/or the successful completion of IEP Grammar Level III (IEP 063).

Introduction to United States Culture (IEP 071) is designed to expose students to values, topics, and historical events that help to understand the way of life in the United States. Students will be able to reflect on the differences between the U.S. and their cultures, and they will have a chance to explore Chicago, as well as observe the concepts covered in class by participating in field trips.

United States Culture (IEP 073) is designed as a continuation of the Introduction to United States Culture (IEP 071) course. This course builds on information and observations from IEP 071, and focuses on making more complex connections between U.S. values and their representation in history, culture, and current events. Students will be able to further explore Chicago, and learn about the diversity present in the city. Field trips will complement the classroom topics.

Academic Preparation for University Success I, IEP 086, is designed to prepare students for university coursework and interactions. Students will be able to demonstrate understanding of academic conventions and expectations and apply goal setting and strategies for success. Through guided study of current topics, students will also develop the ability to synthesize and present information from academic written texts and audio sources.

Academic Preparation for University Success II, IEP 087 is designed to help transition students to graduate/undergraduate university coursework research, writing and presentation. Student will research a topic related to their field or interests and present the findings in written and presentation forms. Students will also engage in critical reading and discussion of a longer text and be able to analyze. evaluate and respond to arguments in speaking and writing.

Independent study and special projects under the direction of English Language Services instructors.