Intensive ESL

Grammar/Writing courses help students expand their knowledge of grammatical structures and utilize them in their writing. Students will work on incorporating newly acquired grammar to strengthen and improve their abilities to write sentences, paragraphs, and well-organized essays. Key writing skills appropriate to each level are also introduced, starting with basics in lower-level classes and increasing in complexity in higher levels.

Reading/Writing courses prepare advanced-level students for reading and writing at the university level. Reading focuses on critical analysis of both fiction and non-fiction. Writing at this advanced level focuses on academic-level essays, reactions to readings, and research paper writing.

Reading/Vocabulary courses help students build the reading skills, fluency, and vocabulary necessary for understanding level-appropriate texts. Students will read fiction and non-fiction texts. Learning activities include individual/pair/class readings of the textbook and a novel, vocabulary practice, and class discussions. Reading materials get progressively more challenging in vocabulary and complexity of sentence structures used. In each level, students review the skills and try to apply the strategies in level-appropriate texts.

The purpose of this course is to give advanced-level students many opportunities to practice their spoken English in a natural communication-based environment. Students will learn to use spoken English in a variety of academic and non-academic speaking situations by discussing a variety of interesting and controversial topics. Students will practice various skills to initiate and sustain conversations. Emphasis will be on providing maximum opportunities to produce and practice spoken language as a way of developing skills in spontaneous and impromptu speaking. Methodology includes discussions, role plays, information exchange activities, and impromptu speeches.

This course will help advanced-level students develop their understanding and use of American idioms and two-word verbs. Students will practice many different idioms and learn how to use them effectively in their own daily speech. Students will participate in many types of activities, including discussions, presentations, sentence writing, pair work, and group activities.

Speaking/Listening courses introduce students to listening and speaking skills necessary to communicate at their appropriate level. Skills that were learned the previous quarter are expanded upon each term. Every quarter, more advanced assignments help students reach the goals of improved fluency, pronunciation, listening comprehension, and critical thinking of various listening topics.

Classes meet Monday through Friday between 09:00 and 13:00 (California time) with a minimum of 18 hours of instructor-taught class time per week for full-time students.

We offer four intakes per year. Please visit Program Dates for specific program dates.

Yes, part-time study is available for individuals who are visiting the U.S. primarily for tourism purposes and are looking to engage in English language classes for personal enrichment or leisure. This option is available to those who are not on an F-1 visa.

An F-1 student visa is required for full-time, on-campus study. You may study part-time with a tourist (B-1/B-2) visa or another visa status that allows for part-time study. However, you may not be enrolled in more than 17 hours of classes per week. If you are not sure if your visa status allows for part-time study, please contact an international student advisor at immigrationofficials@ce.uci.edu for more information.

International Programs