The intensive English as a second language program at Southern is designed for international students who wish to improve their proficiency in English at one of the premier public universities in the northeastern United States. The course of study consists of 16-week sessions that meet 20 hours per week during Fall and Spring semesters, and one 10-week sessions that meet 32 hours per week during the Summer semester.

ELPP instruction is provided by native or near-native-speaking TESOL-certified instructors and focuses on the development of oral and written academic skills, applied English grammar, and college preparation.

Upon admission, the students will be expected to arrive on Southern’ s campus in accordance with the schedule of Summer, Fall, and Spring sessions of academic semesters.  The students then will meet with the ELPP Coordinator to review the course and activity schedule for the program; conditions for acceptance into the University program of the student’s choice; and the expectations for proficiency attainment.

The program will consist of ten- or sixteen-week sessions of intensive English training, with a focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing in both academic and conversational English.  Each weekday of the session will involve five one-hour intensive courses of English language study. Upon successful completion of the program, TOEFL/IELTS requirements for admission into SCSU degree programs may be waived. SCSU will also cover the cost of the TOEFL test for students who wish to take it for the purposes of applying to other institutions after completion of the ELPP.

For more information, please contact: esl@southernct.edu 

Learning Outcomes

1. Upon completion of the course of study, students will demonstrate Advanced Low proficiency [2] on the following English skills: Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing.
2. Students may obtain a proficiency level in English equivalent to that needed to achieve a minimum score of 525 undergraduate/550 graduate (71/79) on TOEFL upon completion of the ELPP. Students who do not achieve a minimum TOEFL score of 525 undergraduate/550 graduate (71/79) will be encouraged to enroll in an additional ELPP session to further improve their English language proficiency.
3. Throughout the course of study students will develop the skills necessary for college success in the United States.

For more information, please contact: esl@southernct.edu

Important Deadlines

If you would like to make an application after the above deadlines have passed, please contact: esl@southernct.edu.

ELPP Program Schedule

Download Schedule (pdf)