This five-week intensive program is designed for multilingual students entering college who need support in developing academic English proficiency. The program focuses on academic reading, analytical writing, classroom discussion skills, and discipline-specific vocabulary. Students will practice working with college-level texts, constructing evidence-based arguments, summarizing and synthesizing sources, and participating in academic discussions. By the end of the program, students will be better prepared to succeed in first-year college courses that require sustained reading, research-based writing, and critical thinking.
Dates: July 7 to August 10, 2026
Times: Monday through Thursday, 8 am to 5 pm
Location: SCSU
Cost: $750 plus textbook
Students must show appropriate course placement through TOEFL or TrackTest ($56 to test).
Prior to registration, please email a copy of your placement to OWLL@SouthernCT.edu
By the end of this five‑week course, students will be able to:
Academic Reading
- Read and analyze college-level texts (articles, textbook excerpts, essays).
- Identify thesis statements, arguments, and supporting evidence.
- Summarize and synthesize information from multiple sources.
- Apply academic vocabulary and morphological awareness to understand unfamiliar terms.
Academic Writing
- Write organized, multi-paragraph analytical essays.
- Develop a clear thesis and support it with textual evidence.
- Integrate and cite sources appropriately (introduction to MLA/APA basics).
- Revise writing for clarity, coherence, and academic tone.
Academic Speaking & Listening
- Participate effectively in academic discussions and seminars.
- Ask clarification questions and build on others’ ideas.
- Deliver short academic presentations using appropriate vocabulary.
- Take notes during mini-lectures.
Academic Vocabulary & Language Structures
- Use high-frequency academic vocabulary (AWL-based).
- Apply complex sentence structures common in academic writing.
- Demonstrate control of transitions and logical connectors.
- Recognize and produce discipline-neutral academic language.
College Readiness Skills
- Understand expectations of college-level coursework.
- Manage time for reading and writing assignments.
- Use campus academic resources effectively.
- Develop strategies for independent academic learning.
B1 is the intermediate stage of English.
A learner at this level can:
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Understand the main points of clear, standard speech on familiar topics (school, work, hobbies, travel).
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Handle day‑to‑day situations while traveling or living in an English‑speaking environment.
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Produce simple connected text on familiar topics.
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Describe experiences, events, dreams, and ambitions, and briefly give reasons or explanations.
In short:
A B1 learner can communicate in English independently in everyday situations, but still needs support with more complex language, longer texts, or unfamiliar topics.
B2 is the upper‑intermediate stage.
A learner at this level can:
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Understand the main ideas of complex texts, including both concrete and abstract topics.
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Interact with a level of fluency and spontaneity that makes regular conversation with native speakers comfortable and natural.
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Produce clear, detailed text on a wide range of subjects.
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Express opinions and arguments, and support them with explanations and examples.
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Use more precise vocabulary and more accurate grammar, with fewer errors.
In short:
A B2 learner can function well in academic, professional, and social situations, understanding and producing more complex English with confidence.