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Welcome to the Center for ESL

Thank you for visiting our ESL website. We are happy that you are interested in the ESL programs at the University of Kentucky in Lexington, Kentucky. We hope this website will provide you with the information you need and want about the three ESL programs offered by the Center for ESL.

Also, toward the end of our website, you can find some information about the University of Kentucky (UK Campus pics) and about our city Lexington, Kentucky.

THE INTENSIVE ENGLISH PROGRAM

This program is the only program for which an I-20 is issued, so that students may apply for a student visa.

The Intensive English Program in the Center for English as a Second Language (CESL) is designed to improve the English language proficiency of non-native speakers of English. There are 20 hours of instruction per week. The program is intended for three different groups:

1. Students who need to become proficient in English so that they can be accepted into academic programs at the University of Kentucky and other U.S. colleges and universities.
2. Students admitted to degree programs who need to improve their English language skills.
3. Non-students who have other reasons (business, social, personal) for wishing to improve their English.

The Center for ESL offers five 8-week sessions per year with five levels of proficiency. In summer, there is a 4-week session in July, but only new students may enter at this time. Students are tested after their arrival and placed into the appropriate level. Please note that acceptance into the Intensive English Program at the Center for ESL does not guarantee acceptance into degree programs at the University of Kentucky.

Participants from the community and the university are welcome to attend this program. However, participants in certain visa categories may not be eligible to take classes full-time.

The Semi-Intensive ESL Program at the University of Kentucky is designed for participants who are already in the United States in some capacity: visiting faculty, exchange visitors, employees of local companies, post-docs, residents of Lexington and surrounding areas, graduate students or spouses of graduate students and faculty, and others who do not need a student visa.

The program has five hours of instruction per week, usually on Tuesday and Thursday evenings. During the academic year, there are four 6-week sessions. In summer, there are two 4-week sessions. The program is intended to improve the general language skills of non-native speakers of English and will focus on listening, speaking, reading, and grammar. Because of time constraints, the skill of writing is not addressed. Usually, two levels of proficiency are offered: a lower group and an upper group. A placement test is given prior to the first class to determine levels. Non-native speakers of English of all proficiency levels may attend this program.

This program does not have tests or grades. All time is spent on instruction. Participants from the community and the university are welcome to attend this program

SPECIALTY CLASSES

Specialty classes are intended only for advanced students of English as a Second Language, unless otherwise noted. The intent of these classes is not to improve the general level of English (although this usually happens as a happy side effect) but rather to concentrate on special points of language and to fix the problems that participants encounter. In this sense, they are "fix-it" classes. Because of the intensity of these classes, class size is usually kept small ( 8-12 participants ). Classes may be of any length, but are usually 4-6 weeks in duration.

Occasionally, some specialty classes are offered online. In these cases, class size is not limited.
The most commonly taught Specialty Classes are:

• Pronunciation I for Advanced Speakers
• Pronunciation II for Advanced Speakers
• Advanced ESL Grammar I (usually online)
• Advanced ESL Grammar II (usually online)
• Professional Writing (sometimes online)
• Oddities in Advanced Grammar: Prepositions and Articles
• TOEFL Preparation
• American Culture (in preparation)

Not all classes are taught every semester. Please check the schedule for the session you are interested in.

Participants from the community and the university are welcome to attend this program. No tests and grades are given. No placement test is given, but students are assumed to be advanced.

Contact Information

Separate application must be made for ESL and academic programs.

Page last updated on Tuesday June 23 2009 5:30pam