The ELI's English for Academic Purposes Program (EAP) serves two groups of people: students who are preparing to enroll in a university degree program in the United States and people who desire an intensive approach to language learning.
Students in the EAP program come from all over the world. Many are international students on F-1 student visas; some are U.S. citizens or permanent residents.
The following sections describe the English language program at the ELI. If you have any questions or want more information, you can send e-mail to ua-eli@uakron.edu.
The ELI offers three sessions each year:
To be admitted to the ELI, students must already have some basic knowledge of English. During the Fall and Spring semesters, the ELI can offer classes at four different levels of English ability: Pre-Intermediate (level 1), Intermediate (level 2), High Intermediate (level 3), and Advanced (level 4). Please note that not all of our levels are available every semester.
At the beginning of each semester, new students are given several placement tests which will help us find the best level for them. Students in our Pre-Intermediate level usually need 2 or 3 semesters of ELI courses before they are ready to begin their academic studies. Students in our Advanced level typically need one semester in the ELI to prepare for their university classes.
ELI classes meet for twenty hours each week. Students have classes in grammar/speaking, reading, writing, and listening. In the classes, students develop the reading, vocabulary, writing, listening, grammar, speaking, and study skills that they need for academic purposes. All the classes are taught completely in English.
On average, 12 to 15 students are enrolled in each class. The small size of our classes means that each student can receive individual attention from the instructors.
Students in the ELI come from 25 to 35 different countries in Asia, the Middle East, Latin America, Africa, and Europe.
All ELI instructors have extensive experience in teaching English to students from many different countries. Most have advanced degrees in teaching English as a second language. Members of the ELI faculty have published textbooks and articles in the field of teaching English as a second language and are respected members of state and international professional organizations.
The ELI has its own modern computer laboratory. ELI students use the computer lab during class time and open lab hours for language practice, word processing, e-mail, and Internet activities.
The ELI gives the institutional TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) to its students at the end of each semester. There is no additional cost for this test.
If you want to attend the English Language Institute, you can:
print off the application form and the Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF) from this website.
send for the application forms. To get the forms through the mail, send your name and full address to:
Fill out the application form and the Declaration and Certification of Finances (DCF). Be sure to answer all of the questions on both of these forms.
Obtain an official bank letter certifying that your or your sponsor has enough money to cover your expenses for one semester in the ELI. The bank letter must be in English, and it must be an original document. It must be signed by a bank official. It should show the amount that you or your sponsor has in bank account(s). The amounts can be in your local currency.
Have your sponsor sign the Declaration and Certification of Finances. (If you are sponsoring yourself, you should sign the DCF. The name of the person on the bank letter and the name on the DCF must match.)
Obtain a $50 check or money order in US dollars for the application fee.
Mail the application form, the signed DCF, the official bank letter, a copy of your passport page with your name and the dates of issuance and expiration, and the application fee to the ELI. (See the address above.)
If you are accepted to the ELI and you are coming from overseas, we will mail you an acceptance letter and your SEVIS I-20, the travel document that you need to obtain an F-1 student visa at the American embassy or consulate in your country. If you ask us to pay your SEVIS fee for you, we will include the SEVIS receipt with your I-20.
When you receive your I-20 form, you should apply for an F-1 student visa at the United States Embassy in your country. Please note that the U.S. embassy in each country has its own process for issuing visas. In most cases, you must visit the embassy for an interview in order to get your visa. This can take weeks or months because you have to schedule your appointment.
For details about the visa procedures at the U.S. embassy in your country, go to the US Department of State Embassy website. Find your country on that page and look for the links for non-immigrant visas.
The total expenses listed below show the minimum amounts that you or your sponsor must be able to pay for one session in the ELI.
Tuition, Fees, and Estimated Expenses | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| EXPENSES | FALL (15 weeks) | SPRING (15 weeks) | SUMMER (8 weeks) |
| TUITION (instruction, activities, academic advising, student ID card, and use of all University of Akron facilities.) | $4,800 | $4,800 | $2,880 |
| MATERIALS FEE (course handouts and computer lab fee) | $ 50 | $ 50 | $ 40 |
| LIVING EXPENSES (estimate; apartment rent and food) | $2,250 | $2,250 | $1,460 |
| HEALTH INSURANCE (estimate; subject to change) | $ 428 for Fall only | $ 676 for Spring and Summer only | $ 288 for Summer only |
| TEXTBOOKS/SUPPLIES (estimate) | $ 200 | $ 200 | $ 200 |
| PERSONAL EXPENSES (estimate; clothing, entertainment, etc.) | $ 750 | $ 750 | $ 400 |
| TOTAL ESTIMATED EXPENSES | $8,478 | $8,726 | $5,268 |
The ELI organizes many different cultural, social, educational, and athletic
activities for students. These activities give students the chance to
practice English, to become familiar with the Akron area, to learn about American
culture, and to relax.
During the Fall and Spring semesters, the ELI offers its Conversation Partners Program. Through this program, an ELI student meets with an American student from The University of Akron once a week to share one hour of informal conversation in English. The purpose of the program is two-fold: 1) to give ELI students the chance to practice their English outside of class and to get more of an "inside view" of American life; 2) to give the American partner the opportunity to learn about other countries and cultures and to get a new perspective on their own culture.
American students who are proficient enough in a second language to carry on a conversation with a native speaker may sign up for a "conversation exchange." In the Conversation Exchange Program, students meet twice a week: once for an hour of conversation in English, once for an hour of conversation in the ELI student's native language.
The purpose of the Akron Friends of the English Language Institute (AFELI) Program is to provide opportunities for cross-cultural exchange between ELI students and residents of the Akron community. AFELI participants host ELI students for one or two activities (e.g., dinner in their home, a picnic, a hike in an area park) during the semester. During the activity, the AFELI participants can enjoy learning about different cultures while the ELI students are welcomed to the Akron community and can practice speaking English.
In addition to CPP and AFELI, the ELI organizes activities and trips every semester. These include social gatherings, as well as excursions to parks, museums, theaters, and areas of special interest. We also encourage students to take advantage of the many social, athletic, and educational activities available in the Akron area and on the University campus.
Here is a sample of some of the activities we plan:
Students at the ELI can use University facilities and services. These facilities include:
ELI students usually live off campus in houses, apartments, or private residence halls near The University of Akron. Some students choose to live with American students, others live with friends from their countries, and others prefer to live alone.
Students who wish to live farther from campus can drive to the university or use public transportation.
During the Summer session, students can live in student dormitories on campus. During the Fall and Spring semesters, there are usually no rooms available in these dormitories.
Whatever type of housing students are looking for, the ELI can help them find a comfortable place to live when they arrive in Akron.
ELI students also have different options when it comes to food. Some enroll in one of three meal plans offered in the campus dining hall, even if they live off campus. Many students prefer to prepare their meals at home or to eat in one of the fast food restaurants on or near the campus.
The University of Akron is located in Akron, Ohio, an industrial city with a regional population of 217,000. Akron became famous as the "Rubber City" because of the concentration of large rubber manufacturers originally located here such as Goodyear, Firestone, Goodrich, and General Tire. The city is now rapidly becoming a world leader in polymer research.
Akron is only 50 kilometers from Cleveland, one of the largest and most culturally diverse cities in the United States. You can also enjoy the open land and parks in the Akron area where you can go swimming, horseback riding, hiking, camping or picnicking. The Akron area has many inexpensive public golf courses and free public tennis courts. In the winter, you can go skiing, sledding, or ice skating. There are many restaurants, theaters, cinemas, and shopping centers within walking distance of the University or accessible by public transportation.
It is easy to travel to Akron. There are two nearby airports with limousine service to the city's downtown area. You can easily come to Akron by car. Many important highways pass through or near Akron, so it is easy to travel to or from New York, Chicago, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Washington, D.C., and many other cities.
The University of Akron
Students who wish to enroll in an academic program after they finish the ELI can usually find what they are looking for right on our campus. For information about applying to an undergraduate degree program at this University, see International Student Admissions. For information about applying to a graduate degree program, see Graduate School International Admissions.
For details about The University of Akron's English language requirements, please read Applying to The University of Akron for Graduate or Undergraduate Studies.
If you have any questions about the ELI program, the application process, or The University of Akron, please contact us at ua-eli@uakron.edu. We look forward to hearing from you soon!