Intensive English Program
This course series helps international students meet their personal, academic, and professional goals through intensive English language study. Our exceptional professors and state-of-the-art technology ensure a superior program of instruction.
Program description
The Intensive English Program is a multi-level academic preparation course designed to help international students make the transition to American academic life.
The program offers five levels of study based upon students’ proficiency levels:
- Beginner
- High Beginner
- Intermediate
- High Intermediate
- Advanced
Each tier can be completed in one semester. Students are placed into levels upon admission based upon their scores on standardized tests, many of which can be taken online.
Many of our students go on to study at a college or university in the United States at the undergraduate or graduate level. The Intensive English Program features an option for conditional admission to Virginia Tech’s distinctive undergraduate programs. Many students preparing for AdvantageVT begin their studies in the Intensive English Program.
Our program provides classroom instruction in all language skill areas: Listening, Speaking, Reading, Writing and Pronunciation. We will also teach academic study skills to help students be successful at an American college or university, including test-taking and note-taking skills, critical reading and writing and research and library skills.
The Intensive English Program (IEP) consists of two integrated core courses at each proficiency level. Together, these courses develop the English language skills students need for academic success in U.S. colleges and universities.
Grammar, Listening & Speaking (GLS) develops students' ability to communicate confidently and accurately in English. Students build grammatical accuracy while improving listening comprehension, pronunciation, vocabulary, speaking fluency, presentations, discussions, and academic communication skills. As students progress through the program, they move from simple everyday conversations to participating in academic discussions, debates, presentations, and lecture-based communication.
Reading & Writing (RW) develops students' ability to understand, analyze, and communicate through written English. Students strengthen reading comprehension, vocabulary, critical thinking, paragraph and essay writing, summarizing, paraphrasing, and research skills. As students progress through the program, they advance from reading short texts and writing simple paragraphs to analyzing college-level readings and producing research-based academic writing using appropriate citation conventions.
The Intensive English Program is accredited by CEA. We follow CEA standards and non-compliance can be reported to CEA.
