AU’s English as a Second Language Program

The mission of AU’s English as a Second Language Program (ESL), a not for-profit is to equip our students with the language skills necessary to meet their future goals and provide them with a positive cultural experience; thereby equipping them to effectively communicate with people from a wide variety of cultures.

AU’s ESL will accomplish this mission by maintaining a learning environment mutually satisfying to students and staff members, specifically:

• Providing instruction through a variety of skills, content areas and levels;
• Accommodating a wide range of learning and teaching styles;
• Providing services to our students that help them take full advantage of their stay in the United States;
• Granting students and staff members access to decision-makers, to promote effective communication throughout the entire organization.

Incoming students are assessed for English language proficiency as demonstrated by meeting any one of the following:

1. High school transcript that indicates the student places in the top 1/3 rank in class his/her classes after six semesters.
2. AU Academic Proficiency Test, Language Skills: Score of 153 or above.
3. American College Test (ACT), Reading Score of 17 or above, and English Score of 17 or above.
4. Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Verbal Score of 450 or above.
5. General Educational Development (GED) transcript, Reading & Writing Skills: Score of 550 or above.
6. Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Computer-based test: Score of 195. Paper-based test: Score of 525 or above.
7. Evidence of an associate or higher degree from an accredited U.S. college or university.
8. Transcript of U.S. college/university record with at least 30 semester hours of credit with no grade below C.

ESL is designed to prepare students whose first language is other than English to speak and understand the English Language. The curriculum addresses the needs of students who have completed part of their education abroad, and wish to continue their education in the U.S. and still need help with advanced ESL grammar, reading, writing, and speaking. Some students will have completed their post-secondary education in another country and still need help with advanced ESL grammar, reading, writing, and speaking with an emphases on English for a Specific Purpose (ESP). Students focus on learning the necessary vocabulary and English speaking and writing skills necessary to perform successfully in their chosen career path.