Academic English Program (AEP)

The Academic English Program provides special preparation for students with high-intermediate or advanced English skills who wish to pursue a bachelor’s or master’s degree in the U.S.

Description
  • Three levels: high intermediate through high advanced. All our levels are referenced to the CEFR standards
  • Instruction in all English language skills (speaking, listening, reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation), with a special focus on English skills needed for success in university classes and academic life
  • Optional extra classes (TOEFL Preparation, ILETS Preparation, GRE Preparation, Pronunciation, Professional English, Technical Communication, STEM and more)
  • Extra-intensive program in summer – complete a full level of study in only 8 weeks
  • Academic resources: free tutoring and writing help, libraries, computer laboratories, language learning laboratories, and more
  • Full calendar of student activities and events for daily English practice
Dates & Fees
Class Schedule

Classes are held every day, usually from morning through afternoon.
Students may also enroll in extra optional classes in the late afternoon.
For example, a student’s Academic English Program schedule in Fall and Spring semesters might look like this:

  • Reading, Writing, Grammar, and Vocabulary: Monday, Wednesday, and Friday, 8:00-9:50
  • Speaking and Listening: Tuesday and Thursday, 1:00-2:15
  • Grammar: Tuesday and Thursday, 8:30-9:45
Class Descriptions

Core Courses
Level 4

This course is designed to improve the academic writing skills of upper intermediate English learners by developing and refining the grammar and editing skills necessary to detect and remedy common ESL writing problems. The course will focus on advanced compound sentence structure (use of nor); complex sentences using adverb clauses; avoidance of sentence fragments; correct use of modals; correct formation and usage of simple present, past and future tense; correct formation and usage of present, past and future progressive tenses; correct formation and usage of present, past and future perfect tenses; basic rules for usage of articles and determiners; basic rules for usage of phrasal verbs; and passive voice for simple present, past, and future tenses This course is designed to support academic writing development, and it is a required course for ELI level 4 students.

This course is designed low-advanced English language students to develop academic writing skills. Students in this class will learn to write successful academic papers through outlining ideas, writing first drafts, peer editing and revising. Students write a variety of progressively longer essays with clear topic sentences, appropriate support materials and logical conclusions. Students also will learn about the different styles of academic writing. This course together with ELCA 402 partially fulfills UMBC’s conditional admission requirements.

This course is designed for low-advanced English language students to improve reading comprehension and general language skills. Students will develop advanced comprehension skills, understand figurative language and recognize a writer’s intent. Texts include fiction and non-fiction materials gathered from a wide range of genres and disciplines, emphasizing reading for both information and pleasure. Students are encouraged to participate in discussions and prepare presentations for class. Students participate in class and online discussions, and prepare reading logs and presentations. This course together with ELCA 401 partially fulfills UMBC’s conditional admission requirements.

This course is designed to increase the spoken fluency and listening comprehension of high-intermediate English students, and to introduce them to English appropriate to an academic environment. Students will develop their skills in taking lecture notes, comprehending academic lectures, creating presentations and participating in class discussions. This course partially fulfills UMBC’s conditional admission requirements.

This course is designed for high intermediate level students who are taking other ELI courses and who may have run out of skill focused courses to enroll in. Students will design and complete individual study projects geared to their particular needs. While students will be doing most of the work independently, they are required to meet with an instructor weekly to report on their progress towards their goal. This course will be offered in case any of the ELI scheduled courses do not run due to the lack of enrollment.

Level 5

This course is designed to improve the academic writing skills of low advanced level English learners by developing and refining the grammar and editing skills necessary to detect and remedy common ESL writing problems.  This course will focus on avoidance of run-on sentences; correct formation and usage of lesser-used verb tenses; formation and meaning of conditional sentences; subject relative clauses; object relative clauses; passive voice for all tenses; advanced usage of articles and determiners; choice of prepositions; control verbs, gerunds and infinitives (continued) This course is designed to support academic writing development, and it is a required course for ELI level 5 students.

This course is designed to prepare advanced students to write in English with university-level competence and accuracy. Students further develop their skills in the writing process, academic vocabulary, advanced grammatical structures, presentation and analysis of research topics, and narrative and persuasive writing. Students learn to write for specific audiences and purposes on a wide range of academic and non-academic topics. This course partially fulfills UMBC’s conditional admission requirements. Successful completion of the objectives for this course will qualify students for ENGL 110.

This course is designed to help low advanced English learners develop advanced critical reading skills using a variety of source materials. Readings may include articles, non-fiction writing and data presentations. Students will be able to identify major points and types of support, separate fact from opinion and analyze vocabulary used in the text. Students are encouraged to participate in critical thinking exercises and class discussions. This course, along with our other Level 5 courses, satisfies conditional admission to UMBC. Successful completion of the objectives for this course will qualify students for ENGL 110.

This course is designed to help low advance English learners master the spoken fluency and listening comprehension as appropriate to an academic environment. Students will improve their skills in taking well organized lecture notes, comprehending a variety of listening texts, give presentations for different purposes, and discuss familiar and unfamiliar topics in formal and informal situations. The course includes practice in real UMBC academic settings. This course partially fulfills UMBC’s conditional admission requirements.

This course is designed for advanced level students who are nearing the end of their ELI studies and who may have run out of skill focused courses to enroll in. Students will design and complete individual study projects geared to their particular needs. While students will be doing most of the work independently, they are required to meet with an instructor weekly to report on their progress towards their goal. This course will be offered in case any of the ELI scheduled courses do not run due to the lack of enrollment.

Level 6

This course is designed for students at the high-advanced level. Students develop and refine their own writing projects, while analyzing published materials in their disciplines and improving their understanding of their discipline’s professional expectations and audiences. Texts may be scholarly papers, research proposals, a thesis, or a dissertation. Topics include discipline-specific norms, organization of argument, rhetorical styles, advanced grammatical structures, and strategies and resources for academic and professional writing. Students work individually with the instructor, in groups, and as peer reviewers for each other’s work.

This course is designed for students at the high-advanced level. Students develop and refine their fluency of expression for the classroom, professional conferences, and other academic contexts. Topics include refining pronunciation and intonation, expressing complex and abstract ideas, analyzing lengthy speech, preparing individual and group presentations, interacting with faculty and peers, using academic language, discussing current issues, and developing strategies for challenges in advanced-level communication. Undergraduate students will interact with graduate students also enrolled in the class to present topics to their peers relevant to their intended discipline.

 

Please review this list of our test preparation and special elective courses.