Intensive program offers greater comprehension of English for all students

The Intensive English program at Emporia State helps individuals to gain greater comprehension of the English language. The classes provided by the program help individuals to attain better English skills before entering academic classes.

“You don’t have to be an international student to be included in the Intensive English program,” said Teresa Yount, administrative assistant in International Education. “The classes go over the four aspects of the English language including speaking, writing, structure and reading.”

Students are placed in the classes based on their English Proficiency Test score. An undergraduate student must attain a score of 500 and a graduate student must attain a score of 550 on the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) to be enrolled in academic classes.

“I do think that it’s important that the university makes sure that students have enough language proficiency before they enter academic classrooms with other students,” said Christina Knoeber, junior elementary education major. “However, I also think that if the university is going to require that individuals achieve that kind of proficiency score then they should offer classes to help them achieve it. So, it’s really good that there is an Intensive English Program at ESU.”

The program is for anyone looking to attain a better comprehension of the English language, including any ethnic background or language barrier. Although 70-75 students enrolled in classes offered are international, there are individuals from the Emporia community as well.

“I know that oftentimes language barriers play a large role in individuals not attending school, so I think it’s really great that this program is offered to anyone and not just international students,” said Cory Kientz, freshman undecided major. “I personally have family and friends that have gone back to school but have struggled with a language barrier. I think that if they would have enrolled in a program like this it would have helped.”

Anyone with a test score below 500 is then enrolled in the intermediate or advanced English intensive classes. Some of the classes that this includes are communication skills for international students, intermediate writing, advanced reading, intermediate structure and intermediate speaking and understanding.

In terms of tuition, these classes can fall in the thousand dollar range, but most students have made strides in their improvement of the English language. The program also includes activities such as multicultural events, special programs and services and awards ceremonies. This Friday, students will even go on a picnic.

“I think it’s great that they try and do things like have awards ceremonies for those students and create an environment where that student can feel like they will be nurtured,” said Ellen Huscka, freshman math major. “I think that’s really helpful when trying to tackle something as difficult as a new language.