ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT
THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD
ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE DEPARTMENT THE UNIVERSITY OF ILLINOIS AT SPRINGFIELD |
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Conversational Partner
Program
Summer Language Program
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Frequently Asked Questions
The ESL Department wants to help make your application and transition to UIS as easy as possible. If you have a question that is not answered here, please email it to us at esl@uis.edu or call us at +1 217-206-8356. 1. What level English classes do you offer? We offer high intermediate to advanced classes. 2. Do I have to have a certain TOEFL score to attend UIS? If you want to enroll at UIS as a degree-seeking student, international undergraduates must have a TOEFL score of 500 PBT (173 CBT, 61 iBT) and graduate students must have a score of at least 550 PBT (213 CBT, 79 iBT). Some graduate programs require a higher minimum score. Please see the specific department you are interested in. If you only want to attend ESL classes, you do not need to have a certain TOEFL score or even need to have taken the TOEFL, but we suggest that you have at least high intermediate proficiency in speaking, reading and writing. 3. Will I get university credit for my ESL classes? Credit varies by class. Our summer program offers credit which for undergraduates is applied to their general education graduation requirements. Graduate students must have ESL classes examined by their department to determine if credit is applied. Workshops, labs and studios do not offer credit. If you have questions about credit of specific classes, please email esl@uis.edu. 4. Do I need a student visa? How do I get one? If you are an international student, you need a student visa. Students must first apply to the university through the Admissions Office. The Admissions Office issues the initial I20s for admitted international students. This is the first step in getting a student visa. The Admissions Office will contact you if they need more information in order to issue the I20. After you receive an acceptance letter and the I20, contact your local U.S. Embassy or Consulate to make an appointment. Be sure to ask them what fees are required and how they can be paid. Also, ask what forms you will need. Bring all appropriate forms to the appointment at the U.S. Embassy. You will then submit your application, passport and supporting documents to the U.S. Embassy or Consulate. It will then be reviewed by consular officers and state officials. This process takes a few weeks, and there is no guarantee of obtaining a visa. You are encouraged to visit www.UnitedStatesVisas.gov for specific policy and procedural information. If you have questions about documentation related to admission at UIS, please contact the Admissions Office. 5. How do I apply to ESL programs or courses? The Admissions Office processes all applications to the university, including admission to ISPEL. The Six Simple Steps:
Then, the UIS admissions staff will review your application and notify you accordingly. Once you are admitted and UIS has all of your necessary paperwork, you will be allowed to register for classes. Finally, you may register for ESL classes. 6. Are there deadlines to apply for ESL classes? To apply to UIS? UIS accepts applications throughout the year. International students are encouraged to apply as soon as possible because of visa issues. We recommend that international students applying from abroad apply no later than: June 1 for fall terms; November 1 for spring terms; and April 1 for summer sessions. Students may apply after these dates, but the Admissions Office cannot guarantee that international students will receive necessary documentation in time. Since applications are handled by the UIS Admissions Office, the ESL department follows their suggestions. Students register for classes according to Registration guidelines. 7. Where and when are ESL classes offered? Classes are offered on our campus in Springfield . Classroom locations will change but can be found on BANNER, the University's online registration system. Classes are offered during the day. Some workshops may be offered in the evenings. There are currently no weekend classes. 8. How many hours a week will I attend class? This depends on your chosen path. ISPEL is the only fixed program the ESL department offers. Students in ISPEL attend 20 hours of class per week and participate in day long cultural excursions on Fridays. The ISPEL program is 6 credits. During the summer this is considered full-time. Students enrolled in ISPEL are not encouraged to take other classes during the summer. During the school year, 12 credit hours is considered full-time. This means between 3 and 4 classes. ESL classes are between 3-4 credits and meet for between 3-4.5 hours per week. Students may take as many ESL classes during a semester as they choose or as they are advised. 9. How are students placed in ESL classes? Students may register for ESL classes on their own or be advised by an advisor or faculty member to enroll. Students who are advised to enroll in ESL classes will arrange an individual meeting with ESL faculty to determine correct placement. Students admitted to ISPEL must take a placement test to determine the appropriate level (intermediate or advanced). Advisors and Faculty members with questions about a student's need for language support should contact Dana Atwell, ESL Coordinator, ddersh1@uis.edu , 217-206-8356. 10. Do I have access to UIS' degree programs and university classes? If you are a degree seeking student, you can enroll in any classes for which you are qualified (meet the prerequisites). If you are a non-degree seeking student you permitted to attend only the classes for which you applied on your initial application. If you would like to attend other classes, please contact the Admissions office. 11. Will I receive a certificate of study for completion of my courses? You will receive credit for your classes rather than a certificate. You may request a transcript from the registrar at the end of the course/program to demonstrate completion of a class or program. 12. What kind of social activities are there for UIS students? ISPEL students? There's always something to do at UIS and in Springfield . We are a small city so you do not need to be intimidated to explore or concerned about traffic. We are also a very safe city, so you should feel comfortable on campus and around town. On campus, there are over 50 student organizations with interests ranging from sports to food to religion. Involvement in campus organizations is an important part of your complete educational experience at UIS. Student organizations offer social, service, and professional opportunities for their members within the university and community. Membership can broaden acquaintances, develop leadership ability, build decision-making and problem-solving skills, and complement classroom instruction. See for yourself by clicking here. If you're interested in sports and fitness, you'll be set at UIS. We've got fitness classes, a weight room, and a gym. Also, a brand new recreation center will open this summer! Access to the recreation center is free to all students. Check out what's offered here. In addition to joining student organizations, students can attend weekly lectures from visiting scholars, stroll through the Visual Arts Gallery, check out the latest independent and foreign films, see a production in our Studio Theatre, or be entertained by an off Broadway play or popular musician at the Sangamon Auditorium. Off campus, students can discover the city of Springfield by touring the capital where our state government works, exploring the many President Abraham Lincoln sites, wandering through the famous Dana-Thomas House built by world-renowned architect, Frank Lloyd Wright, and hiking in one of several regional state parks. During the warm months (May through September), there are a variety of art and music festivals, a bi-weekly farmers market, and several theatre productions. Please visit the Springfield Convention & Visitors Bureau for a detailed look. 13. Who will the other students be? We have over 4500 undergraduate and graduate students, of which over 400 are international. Our students come from all over the world, including Korea , Japan , India , Senegal , Turkey , Yemen , Chile and Columbia . The majority of UIS' students come from Illinois . You may choose to live on campus or off campus. Undergraduate students enrolled in the Capital Honors Program must live on campus for the first two years. UIS maintains multi-room apartments, townhouses and dorms. There are furnished and unfurnished apartments. Special accommodations are made for families and married couples so that they live together. Please visit the Housing Office to take a virtual tour and to learn more about your housing options. Please note that on-campus housing space is assigned based on the date that your application and deposit are received. Information regarding off-campus rooms and apartments is kept in the Housing Office. While individual students must arrange their own accommodations with local apartment owners, the Housing Office will try to assist you. Yes. Students may bring their families with them to campus. If you want to live on campus, you should apply to the Housing Office as soon as possible for one of the residences specifically designed for families. Health insurance coverage is mandatory at UIS. Coverage depends on your visa status: F-1 Visa students: International students (12 semester hours - undergraduate; 9 semester hours - graduate) are eligible for UIS student group health insurance and an insurance fee will be assessed at registration. Family coverage, as well as maternity benefit coverage, may be purchased at additional cost. J-1 Visa students: The U.S. information Agency (USIA) requires that all persons in J status have adequate health insurance while in United States . UIS student group health insurance does not meet all USIA requirements and J Visa students are required to purchase individual health coverage policies; information and application forms are available in the Office of International Affairs. Mandatory minimum coverage shall provide: medical benefits of at least $50,000 per accident or illness; repatriation of remains in the amount of $7,500; expenses associated with the medical evacuation of the exchange visitor to his/her home country in the amount of $10,000; and a deductible not to exceed $500 per accident or illness. Regardless of your visa status, UIS requires all students to complete and have signed by your health care provider all required immunization and health records. Upon arrival at UIS, you are required to receive a tuberculosis screening test at the UIS Health Service; this test should not be done in your home country. You will not be allowed to register for any class until you have had the tuberculosis test and other immunizations. For more information on Health Immunizations for International Students and to download the Health Immunization Forms, click here. The Heath Services Office provides health care and health education to all students. Appointments are free and confidential appointment. For more information, click here. Springfield is the fifth largest city in Illinois and the state's capital. We are located between the metropolitan areas of Saint Louis and Chicago . Springfield has its own airport, bus station and train station making it easy to get in and out of the city. Click here to see an interactive map . 18. How can I get to Springfield ? Get around Springfield ? Springfield is easily accessible by plane, train or bus. The Office of International Student Services has up-to-date information on how to get to Springfield from various places in the U.S. Click here to see the options. Once you are in Springfield , there is a bus that has various routes to campus, downtown, and the shopping centers. Many students choose to live on campus. Students are allowed to have cars on campus. Our campus is small and safe enough that you can comfortably walk all around.
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University of Illinois at Springfield, One University Plaza, MS HRB 52, Springfield, IL 62703 Ph: 217-206-8356 Fax: 217-206-6679 Email: esl@uis.edu | Contact |
