[ELI]

English Language Institute
302 Olin Hall
The University of Akron
Akron, OH 44325-1909
USA

Phone: 330-972-7544
Fax: 330-972-7353
E-Mail: ua-eli@uakron.edu


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Description of Levels and Courses

Schedule of Sessions

Application Procedures

Tuition and Fees

ELI Faculty and Staff

A Message from the Director

Comments from ELI Graduates

Activities

Information about Applying to The University of Akron for Graduate or Undergraduate Studies

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A Personal Welcome From Debra Deane, the Director of the English Language Institute


[The ELI Director]

Dear Parents, Sponsors, and Prospective ELI Students

Thank you for your interest in the English Language Institute (ELI) at The University of Akron.

The faculty and staff at the ELI know that you are searching for the right English program for you or a family member. As you consider programs, please feel free to e-mail us with any questions that you might have about the ELI, The University of Akron, or the city of Akron. We believe that the ELI is a wonderful place to learn English, and we would like the opportunity to answer any questions that you may have.

We also know what an adventure it is to move to a new country and learn a new language. All of us have traveled, studied or worked overseas; some of us have sent our children to other countries for studies or jobs. Our experiences in other countries have been priceless because they opened our eyes to new ideas while helping us see and appreciate what we already have. These experiences made us global citizens and caused us to choose our careers in teaching English to visitors to the United States.

Our experiences in other countries have also taught us the challenges of being separated from family and friends. We've all faced and overcome culture shock, loneliness, and homesickness. Because of this, we work hard to help our students make the adjustment to their new lives in Akron, Ohio.

The ELI: Your "Home Away from Home"

Let me tell you about some of the ways that the ELI helps students adjust to life in Akron, Ohio.

Personal Attention

  • At the ELI, the assistant director, the curriculum coordinator, the secretary, and I know every student by name.

  • All ELI students have a faculty advisor who monitors their progress in English and their adjustment to life in the U.S. The advisors, who also teach in the ELI, meet with their advisees individually during the semester to offer assistance whenever necessary.

  • Each group of students has three or four different teachers who hold regular office hours in order to provide personalized attention whenever needed. At mid-term in the fall and spring, these teachers write individual letters to their students, describing each one's progress in English and encouraging each one to work hard.

  • The ELI maintains an up-to-date list with our students' Akron addresses, phone numbers, and e-mail addresses so that we can be in contact if necessary.

Activities

  • The ELI organizes activities to help our students enjoy their time ouside of class and learn more about the Akron area. Activities include conversation nights, bowling, picnics, trips to local places of interest, concerts, and movie nights.

  • We offer a Conversation Partners Program in the fall and spring to help ELI students meet American students who share their interest in cross-cultural interaction.

  • The AFELI Program (Akron Friends of the ELI) gives our students the opportunity to meet and visit with American families who want to learn about other countries, customs, and cultures.

  • Our students can participate in an International Speakers Bureau, visiting local elementary schools and teaching Ohio young people about their home cultures.

These informal activities help our students learn more about American lifestyle, customs, and people so that they can adjust to the new environment more quickly.

The University of Akron: A User-Friendly Campus

Since the ELI is part of The University of Akron, I'd like to tell you about the University and the ways in which it makes international students feel at home.

  • With 24,000 students, The University of Akron is a large state institution of higher learning. Even though many students attend the University and there are many classroom buildings, the campus itself is small and easy to get around. Most ELI classes are held in buildings close to our offices, so students have a short walk to get to their classrooms.

  • The University has excellent facilities, which ELI students can use free of charge.

    • Bierce Library, the main library on campus, and the newly renovated Science and Technology Library are quiet and comfortable places for ELI students to study.

    • Swimming pools, ball courts, athletic fields, running tracks, and weight rooms give ELI students a chance to stay fit when they are not learning new vocabulary or grammar rules.

    • The new Student Union contains a movie theatre, bowling lanes, student organization offices, a book store, and several restaurants.

  • The University of Akron has a well-trained police force that keeps the campus safe. The 32 full-time members of the department, who meet all state training requirements, patrol the campus around the clock.

  • The University has its own Health Services Center located in the middle of campus. The staff includes registered nurses, nurse practitioners, a health educator, and board certified medical doctors.
The City of Akron: Mid-West Hospitality at Its Best

With a population of 217,000, Akron is a small and quiet city located 48 kilometers (30 miles) south of Cleveland, Ohio. Akron is an 8-hour car trip west of New York City and east of Chicago; it is about 6 hours from Washington, D.C.

Akron is not a famous U.S. city, but it is a wonderful place to live. When I moved here in 1981, I thought I would only stay a few years. The city seemed too small, too quiet, and too boring.

Now, more than twenty years later, I can't imagine leaving! Akron has beautiful parks, excellent shopping, and an abundance of cultural events, from movies and concerts, to a symphony orchestra and ballet company. Akron has its own AA baseball team, University of Akron football and basketball teams, and numerous excellent golf courses.

Akron's greatest asset is its residents, who are warm, friendly and welcoming to visitors from other countries.

For some interesting facts about the city of Akron, see Akron's Fast Facts.

Choose the ELI at The University of Akron


I've tried to show you some of the things that make the ELI, The University of Akron, and the city of Akron special. If you have any questions about our program, the University, or the city, please contact us. We hope to hear from you soon and to see you in Akron in the near future.

[ELI Home] · [EAP Home] · [Description of the Courses] · [Schedule of Sessions] · [Application Procedures] · [Tuition and Fees] · [ELI Faculty and Staff] [A Message from the Director] · [Comments from ELI Graduates] · [Activities] · [Information about Applying to The University of Akron for Graduate or Undergraduate Studies]
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The University of Akron is an Equal Education and Employment Institution.
This page is maintained by mmcnamara@uakron.edu
Last updated: August 31, 2003
Any and all comments are welcome.