The schedule of ESL courses for the current semester can be found by logging in to Student Information System (SIS) and searching under Subject: ESL. Please note: These courses are only for graduate-level students who have matriculated into the University or other University affiliates. If you are a member of the local community interested in ESL courses, please visit this link.
ESL = English as a Second Language
Designed for students who need to 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.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
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.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
This course, for students whose first languages are not English, focuses on building oral and aural skills to successfully navigate interactions in the university and larger community. Instruction includes small group conversational practice as well as idiomatic vocabulary building and English pronunciation and discourse strategies.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
Students will learn and practice strategies to enhance oral communication with colleagues, classmates, and professional contacts. 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.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
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, particularly in a poster presentation. Pronunciation is addressed as needed.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
Students in this course work on oral presentation skills, teaching strategies and cross-cultural communication to enhance their effectiveness in the American classroom and job market. Short practice teaching sessions videotaped in front of undergraduate volunteer “students” provide regular opportunities for feedback and self-reflection on teaching.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
Assistance is given in improving spoken English proficiency and/or teaching skills, as individual needs require. Does not meet as a regular class; Teaching Consultants work individually with referred ITAs.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.
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. Available in a one-on-one format 2 hours/week or small group 2 hours/week plus one hour/week of structured practice for six weeks.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
*Program Fee of $750.00.
Please fill out this form if you are interested in enrolling in this course.
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. Available in a one-on-one format, 2 hours/week for six weeks.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
*Program fee of $750.00.
Please fill out this form if you are interested in enrolling in this course.
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 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. Application required. See EAP page for more details.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
*Program Fee - See our EAP page for more details.
Offered Summer Session.
Oral communication course designed for researchers, fellows, and visiting faculty at the University as a continuation of the skills developed in ESL 913 and ESL 914, in which participants practice language negotiation strategies, gain skills in conversing with individuals and groups, and augment ability to give presentations. Available in a one-on-one format 2 hours/week or small group 2 hours/week plus one hour/week of structured practice for six weeks.
Restricted to Instructor Permission.
*Program fee of $750.00.
Please fill out this form if you are interested in enrolling in this course.
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 is generally limited to prospective international teaching assistants. Other students may enroll as space allows.
Restricted to instructor Permission.
Offered Spring and Fall Semesters.