Center for American English Language & Culture - Services

SERVICES
Assessment | Courses |Student Language Consultants| Tutors | Writing Support | Language Lab | Accent Modification |
International Teaching Assistants

Assessment
CAELC administers the University of Virginia English Language Proficiency Exam at the beginning of each semester and by appointment throughout the year. The exam is used to determine the general adequacy of English language skills for various academic purposes. Any recommendations for further language study are based on the results of the exam. Incoming graduate students for whom English is a second language are required to take the exam. Faculty, research associates, and research fellows for whom English is a second language may also take the exam. In the case of a student, exam results and recommendations are forwarded to the student's advisor and dean as well as to the student.

The University of Virginia English Language Proficiency Exam consists of three components: a grammar and vocabulary test, an essay, and a brief interview. The exam usually requires about two hours. Results and recommendations are available within forty-eight hours.

CAELC also administers the SPEAK Test. Prospective international teaching assistants may take the exam in August, December, or May of each year. Candidates for the SPEAK Test are notified by their home academic department. Scores on the SPEAK Test are used to determine if prospective international teaching assistants require English language training before they begin their teaching assignment at U.Va.

Assessment: Fall Semester 2005
University of Virginia English Language Proficiency Exam - Make-Up Test
Monday August 29, 2005
6:00 - 8:30 pm
Cabell Hall 119

All incoming (new) graduate students whose first language is one other than English are required to take the University of Virginia English Language Proficiency Exam.

SPEAK Test
August 15 and 16, 2005
SPEAK Test scores and corresponding recommendations were made available Friday Aug. 19, 2005. Students should contact their department for this information.

All prospective graduate teaching assistants whose first language is one other than English are required to take the SPEAK Test. A score of at least 55 is required for permission to begin teaching without oral language training.

Courses

Link for Complete Fall 2005 Course Listing
Fall 2005 (Word Doc.)

Undergraduate Course Descriptions
ENWR 107: Academic Writing Studio (multiple sections)
ENWR 107 provides students individualized instruction to supplement first-year writing classes, concentrating on sentence-level stylistic and grammatical issues not covered intensively in ENWR 105, 106, 110, or 210. Students meet once weekly in groups of 5-6, where they will receive group instruction in English grammar and individual help with papers. ENWR 107 is specifically designed for students whose first language is not English, but other students may enroll with the instructor's permission.
Offered Spring and Fall.

ENWR 108 Academic Writing II (Non-Native Speakers)
ENWR 108 is part II of a two-course sequence for non-native speakers of English. This seminar class, which fulfills the first writing requirement, teaches students to identify and implement the conventions and expectations of academic writing and to develop strategies for academic reading. We will briefly review the principles covered in ENWR 105 and will then focus on a variety of methods for organizing essays; developing research strategies; maintaining unity and coherence; using effective vocabulary, sentence structure, and grammar; and editing. In addition to course time (2 hours per week), students will meet individually with the instructor every other week.
Offered Spring

Graduate Course Descriptions
LING 101: Intermediate Writing - ESL
LING 101 is designed for students who need work on controlling English syntax. Students review and practice important structures. Norms of organization and rhetorical expression are introduced. Writing tasks, which complement the work with structures, will be contextualized in the student's field of study. Minimal work is assigned outside of class.
Offered Spring and Fall
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 102: Advanced Writing - ESL (multiple sections)
In LING 102, students focus on organization and rhetorical models of academic English. Sentence structure, grammar, and mechanics are reviewed as needed. Writing tasks, which complement the work with rhetorical models, will be contextualized in the student's field of study. Minimal work is assigned outside of class.
Offered Spring and Fall
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 103: ESL - Academic Writing for Graduate Students
LING 103 is an advanced writing course for graduate students for whom English is a second language. Course topics include reporting research, critical analysis, and argumentation. Structures and vocabulary are addressed as needed. Individual consultations are an important part of the course. Enrollment is by permission of the instructor and is limited to students at or near the dissertation stage.
Offered Spring.

LING 105: ESL - American Pronunciation - ESL
Group and individual instruction in pronunciation for students who have difficulty with the perception and production of the sounds and intonation patterns of American English. Emphasis is on classroom exercises and optional work in the language laboratory. Recommended also for students with problems in general aural comprehension.
Offered Spring and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 106: Advanced Conversation - ESL
Small group conversational practice designed to improve the general oral production and aural comprehension skills of nonnative English speakers. Attention given to idiomatic vocabulary building and American English conversational patterns and strategies.
Offered Spring, Summer, and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 107: Oral Communication for Engineers and Sciences
Students will learn and practice strategies to enhance oral communication with colleagues, classmates, and professional contacts within engineering and the sciences. They will gain skills in conversing with individuals and groups, in group problem solving, and in giving presentations. While pronunciation and listening skills are not the main focus of this course, recommendations for self-study in this area will be given. Vocabulary and structures will be addressed as needed.
Offered Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

ENGR 600: Effective Communication in English
ENGR 600 is reserved for graduate students in the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. GEAS students who score 45 on the SPEAK test or who complete LING 107 are referred to ENGR 600.
Offered Spring and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 108: Special Topics - English for Graduate Students in Economics
LING 108 is designed to help students develop the oral communication skills needed for success in a graduate-level economics program in the US and to introduce students to academic writing.
Offered Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 108S: Special Topics - English for Academic Purposes (EAP)
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) is an intensive language and culture course, designed for nonnative speakers of English who have been admitted to an undergraduate or graduate degree program at the University of Virginia or who are prospective UVa research associates or visiting scholars. Participants fine-tune the language skills required for success in US higher education through exercises in academic writing, academic reading and vocabulary development, listening comprehension and note-taking, classroom discussion strategies, and presentation skills. A pronunciation assessment is conducted with follow-up work assigned as needed. The English for Academic Purposes Program, LING 108S, is one of eight intensive language programs in the Summer Language Institute, which is organized by the University of Virginia's Office of the Summer Session.
Offered Summer. Application required. See www.virginia.edu/provost/caelc/summer.html for more information.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 109: ESL -Advanced Oral Communication
LING 109 is designed for students who need both to practice speaking in academic contexts and to develop their presentation skills. Course activities include discussing academic topics, summarizing texts, paraphrasing, reporting research, and organizing and giving oral presentations. Pronunciation is addressed as needed.
Offered Spring.

LING 110: Accent Modification
Students who have a good command of English syntax and vocabulary, but who are being held back by pronunciation problems will be referred to this course. Enrollment in LING 110 is generally limited to prospective international teaching assistants. Other students may enroll as space allows.
Offered Spring and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 111: Classroom Communication for International Teaching Assistants
LING 111 addresses skills and strategies ITAs need in order to carry out teaching responsibilities for their department, and it helps them learn how to communicate more effectively with American students. Graduate student ITAs successfully complete the course by demonstrating their ability to convey content information from their field to undergraduate students in a comprehensible and appropriate manner. Participants in the course and departmental supervisors receive a detailed report of progress at the end of the semester. This report may contain recommendations for suggested follow-up work for the ITA in consultation with the department or TRC staff.
Offered Spring and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 112: Classroom Communication for International Teaching Assistants II
ITAs referred to LING 112 receive assistance in improving spoken English proficiency and/or teaching skills, as individual needs require. LING 112 may also be recommended for ITAs who have taken part in the screening process and earned a high SPEAK score. LING 112, also a noncredit course, does not meet as a regular class; TRC staff members instead consult individually with the ITAs.
Offered Spring and Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 113: Academic Communications Seminar for Researchers - Oral Skills Component
LING 113 is an advanced oral communication course designed for researchers, fellows, and visiting faculty at the University. Participants learn and practice strategies to enhance oral communication with colleagues and professional contacts. They gain skills in conversing with individuals and groups and in giving presentations. Pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar and structures will be addressed as needed.
Offered Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LING 114: Academic Communications Seminar for Researchers - Writing Skills Component
LING 114 is an advanced writing course for researchers, fellows, and visiting faculty at the University. Participants fine-tune writing skills through analyzing models, writing up research and creating professional correspondence. Course topics include effective argumentation, academic style, coherence, conciseness, and clarity. Strategic use of sentence structure and vocabulary is also covered. Students will receive feedback on each writing assignment and will have access to individual consultation with the instructor during class time and office hours.
Offered Spring.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

LAW4 706: Graduate Legal Research and Writing
Through analyzing models and individual writing practice, students will learn the style, organization, structure and vocabulary needed to independently perform a number of writing tasks in American Legal English. Writing will take place during class time, and thus minimal work will be assigned outside the classroom. Students will receive feedback from the instructor on each writing assignment and will have access to individual consultation with the instructor during biweekly meetings.
Offered Fall.
Restricted to: Instructor Permission.

Research associates/fellows and visiting faculty may enroll in CAELC courses as space allows. Contact CAELC for more information at 924 3371.

Student Language Consultants

Individuals enrolled in CAELC oral communication classes meet weekly in small groups with a native speaker of English for conversation practice. These meetings provide opportunities for participants to learn about life at U.Va. and in the U.S. For information contact CAELC at 924 3371 or caelc@virginia.edu.

Information and the application for English speakers interested in becoming Language or Classroom Consultants is available at http://trc.virginia.edu/Programs/ITA/ITA.htm.

Writing Support

During the spring and fall semesters, CAELC faculty are available several hours each week to work with nonnative speakers of English in the Writing Center. Appointments can be made by contacting the Writing Center at 924 6678. The Writing Center opens for the semester on Monday Sept. 5, 2005.

Language Lab

CAELC keeps a number of listening and speaking self-study materials on reserve in the Language Lab (221 New Cabell Hall). These materials are available for use in the Language Lab by UVa students. There are four categories of self-study materials: listening comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, and books on tape.

Tutors

CAELC staff will match individuals with tutors based on client needs and the availability of tutors. Assessment must precede work with a tutor. Contact CAELC at 924 3371 or caelc@virginia.edu for more information.

Accent Modification

The Speech-Language-Hearing Center is part of the Human Services Department of the Curry School of Education. It is accredited by the American Speech-Language-Hearing Association for full clinical services in all aspects of speech, language, and hearing. Accent modification training is available on an individual basis and may also be provided for small groups. Fees are reduced for UVa students, faculty, and staff and are adjustable where necessary. Training usually involves 12 weekly sessions with assigned work to be completed independently between sessions. The focus of the training is on the pronunciation of American English speech. This includes individual phoneme production accuracy as well as training on intonation, stress, and rhythm patterns. Candidates for accent modification training have an excellent command of English syntax and vocabulary but speak with an accent that interferes with communication. Individuals interested in accent modification training should first make an appointment for assessment at CAELC, 924 3371.

Fees

Contact for Accent Modification Training:
Dr. Janet Stack
Speech-Language-Hearing Center,
Curry School of Education
434/924 4625 jws8n@virginia.edu

International Teaching Assistants (ITAs)
The ITA program, administered by CAELC, the Teaching Resource Center (TRC), and the Graduate School of Engineering and Applied Science (GEAS), is designed to assist international graduate students who speak a language other than English as their first language and who are prospective teaching assistants for their departments. The spoken English skills of a prospective ITA are evaluated by means of the SPEAK Test. A prospective ITA takes the SPEAK Test when s/he arrives at UVa or when s/he is asked to take the test by his/her department. Based on his/her SPEAK score, a prospective ITA may be advised to complete further language training by enrolling in one of the courses listed above. Final decisions on teaching assignments and financial awards are made by the home academic department and school of a prospective ITA.

Contact CAELC at 924 3371 or caelc@virginia.edu for additional information about testing and language training for prospective international teaching assistants. Details about the SPEAK Test, the Student Language Consultants program, and Classroom Consultants program are available at http://trc.virginia.edu/Programs/ITA/ITA.htm .

Next administration of the SPEAK Test: December, 2005.