In order to succeed in your academic studies, you must be able to read, write, speak, and understand the English language. English as a Second Language (ESL) is a program of study that will help you develop the skills you need to understand class lectures, participate in group discussion, produce original papers, and follow written instruction.

Vincennes University was one of the first two-year colleges in the nation to offer an ESL program. With more than twenty year's experience, we have a proven success of preparing international students for study in the United States.

Program Description

We use the TOEFL and Focal Skills placement tests to establish language proficiency, and the ACT, SAT, and CPTS to determine academic placement. The Vincennes University ESL program offers intensive, focused instruction for 18 hours every week in Listening, Reading, and Writing.

All classes are non-credit.

ESL students are placed in groups of similar English ability. The program consists of three types of classes, each focusing on a particular language skill. Each student takes four hours of instruction Monday to Thursday and two hours on Friday. The focus of these hours will vary according to the skill area in which the student is placed. Videos, newspapers, and personal reading materials provide students with stimulating and realistic learning tools.

Language skills build on each other in a natural way. Listening is a basic skill needed for developing the others; thus, it is taught first. From listening, the student develops speaking skills and then progresses to focus on reading, because the comprehension and discussion of reading materials depends on the student's ability to listen and to speak. Next, drawing from the rich source of reading materials and vocabulary that has been mastered, the student goes on to perfect his or her writing skills. In this way, the student acquires language progressively by building on solidly acquired skills.

Students are tested every four weeks and assigned to a higher module as indicated by their test scores or to the same module if more practice is needed. There are four 8-week sessions per year: two sessions each in the Fall (September - December) and Spring (January - May) semesters. An Institutional TOEFL is offered at the end of every semester.