UT Tyler Office of Marketing and Communications

UT Tyler Offers Intensive English Institute to Assist International Students, Tyler Community

February 12, 2014

Media Contact:  Hannah Buchanan
Editor/Writer–Strategic Communications & Media Relations
Marketing and Communications
The University of Texas at Tyler
903.539.7196 (cell)

February 12, 2014

The University of Texas at Tyler has created an institute to help its international student population excel in university-level study, Dr. Alisa White, provost and senior vice president for academic affairs, announced.

Housed within the UT Tyler Office of International Programs, the Intensive English Language Institute provides instructional programs critical to UT Tyler’s mission, offering current and future international students, scholars and faculty with high-quality English language training and orientation programs.

“The institute offers seven levels of instruction, from beginning to advanced, focused around a task-based curriculum,” said Dr. Teresa Kennedy, Office of International Programs executive director. “Its programming assists non-native English speakers to improve their language and culture skills as well as prepare for university matriculation.”

Organized into two eight-week sessions each semester, the program includes “Listening & Speaking,” “Grammar & Idioms,” “Reading & Discussion,” “Writing & Editing/Research” and “Support Sessions/Computer Lab.” Optional seminars include a Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) preparation seminar for students who need to become familiar with the Internet-based test format and practice English skills and test strategies; and a pronunciation seminar to help students speak more clearly, focusing on stress, intonation patterns and individual sounds.

The institute also offers opportunities for learning, collaboration and research in language acquisition in conjunction with UT Tyler’s School of Education and Innovation Academy, modeling cutting-edge learning for primary and middle school education.

In addition, specialty seminars such as English for Business, English for Engineering and English for Nursing are currently in development, Kennedy added.

The institute not only offers assistance for UT Tyler international students, but also for the Tyler community. For the second semester, a free community English class meets Monday nights on campus.

For more information, contact Kennedy, 903.565.0120 or tkennedy@uttyler.edu, email ieli@uttyler.edu or visit http://www.uttyler.edu/oip/IELI.php.

One of the 15 campuses of the UT System, UT Tyler features excellence in teaching, research, artistic performance and community service. More than 80 undergraduate and graduate degrees are available at UT Tyler, which has an enrollment of more than 7,500 high-ability students. UT Tyler offers courses at its campuses in Tyler, Longview and Palestine as well as a location in Houston.