Office of the Registrar
Faculty of Arts (2006/2007)
6.10 English as a Second Language Programs

The English as a Second Language office, affiliated with the Department of English Language and Literature, and under the auspices of the Faculty of Arts, offers year-round programs for adult students wishing to improve their English language skills and learn about Canadian culture. These include:

  1. A five-week intensive English Language Summer School program;

  2. English language preparation for students enrolled in graduate programs such as the Master's in Business Administration and Master's of Engineering;

  3. Tutorials, workshops, and conversation programs for current Memorial University of Newfoundland students in undergraduate and graduate degree programs;

  4. Custom-designed language and culture programs for schools, universities, or businesses. These can be developed on contract and are either for general learning purposes or to suit the needs of specific disciplines or professions; and

  5. Twelve-week non-credit Intensive English Programs which are offered year-round on a semesterized basis.

Information regarding the above services is available from the Director of English as a Second Language programs at Memorial University of Newfoundland. Information regarding the Intensive English Programs is provided below.

A Diploma in teaching English as a Second Language is also offered through the Faculty of Arts. Information regarding that program can be found under the Faculty of Arts in this Calendar.

6.10.1 Intensive English Program

Memorial University of Newfoundland's full-time, non-credit Intensive English Program (IEP) is designed to improve English language skills for academic, professional and personal purposes. Reading, writing, speaking and listening skills are covered, and workshops on culture and social activities promoting integration with the local community also form part of the program.

The IEP is offered at intermediate to advanced levels in each of the Fall, Winter, and Spring terms. The program consists of two required courses: English as a Second Language 011F, Core Intensive English, and English as a Second Language 012F, Speaking, Listening, and Culture. Students admitted to the IEP must normally register for both courses each semester.

Students wishing to complete the Intensive English Program in preparation for admission to Memorial University of Newfoundland as undergraduate degree students may apply for this program at the same time as they apply for admission to undergraduate studies. Subject to General Academic Regulations (Undergraduate), Admission/Readmission to the University (Undergraduate), governing admission for undergraduate studies, and the regulations in place for admission to specific programs, students may be provisionally admitted for studies at an undergraduate level in an upcoming term if they are currently enrolled in the Intensive English Program. The General Academic Regulations (Undergraduate), Admission/Readmission to the University (Undergraduate), governing Admission/Readmission to this University, also contained in this Calendar, should be reviewed carefully by students as well.

Final admission for provisionally admitted students will be subject to successful completion of the Intensive English Program with an acceptable score on the Canadian Academic English Language (CAEL) Assessment. The CAEL Assessment is administered as part of the Intensive English Program at the end of each semester. Students enrolled in the Intensive English Program may be considered for enrolment in the Intensive English Bridge Program under the conditions described as the Admission requirements for that program.

Students at any level in the program may take the CAEL Assessment at the end of the semester. The number of semesters of Intensive English study required to achieve a student's desired level of proficiency will vary according to his or her initial proficiency level and individual progress rate.

6.10.1.1 Admission Requirements

Applicants to the Intensive English Program:

  1. must be at least 18 years old, and

  2. must hold a valid high school diploma, and

  3. should have an elementary level of English proficiency.

Applications for the Intensive English Program must be submitted directly in writing to Director, English as a Second Language Programs, Memorial University of Newfoundland, St. John's, NL, A1B 3X9, Canada.

6.10.1.2 Program Requirements
  1. Full participation is an essential part of the language learning process in this program. For this reason regular attendance is required. No more than 10% of instructional days may be missed without documented reasons that are acceptable to the Director of English as a Second Language programs. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirements may not be permitted to re-enroll in the IEP in the following semester.

  2. Evaluation of students may include, but not be limited to, any or all of the following: projects, assignments, quizzes, oral presentations, and class participation.

6.10.2 Intensive English Bridge Program

The Intensive English Bridge Program (IEBP) is intended for applicants to Memorial University of Newfoundland who have been provisionally admitted as undergraduate students and who are students in the advanced level of the Intensive English Program (IEP). It requires ten to fifteen hours of classroom language instruction in reading, writing, grammar, and listening. The emphasis is on English for Academic Purposes. Students in this program may register for an undergraduate credit course concurrently, in consultation with the Director of English as a Second Language Programs.

6.10.2.1 Admission

Candidates for the Intensive English Bridge Program must have:

  1. been provisionally accepted to undergraduate studies at Memorial University of Newfoundland;

  2. achieved an average of Band 40 in the CAEL with a Writing sub-score of at least 40, a paper-based TOEFL score of 520, a computer-based TOEFL score of 190, an iBT TOEFL score of 68, or an IELTS score of 5.5 with no sub-score less than 5; and

  3. achieved a grade of "C" or better with a satisfactory attendance level (90%) in both ENGS 011F and ENGS 012F if enrolled in the Intensive English program in the previous semester.

A student may be considered as a candidate for the Intensive Bridge Program under the following conditions:

6.10.2.2 Program Requirements
  1. Students admitted to the Intensive English Bridge Program must register for the course English as a Second Language 011F.

  2. Students in this program may normally register for no more than one credit course, chosen in consultation with the director or coordinator of the English as a Second Language Program.

  3. Students may register in the Intensive English Bridge Program for a maximum of two semesters.

  4. Full participation is an essential part of the language learning process in this program. For this reason regular attendance is required. No more than 10% of instructional days may be missed without documented reasons that are acceptable to the Director of English as a Second Language programs. Students who fail to meet the minimum attendance requirements may not be permitted to re-enroll in the IEBP in the following semester.

6.10.3 Course Descriptions

011F

Core Intensive English Program

covers reading through a variety of types of texts, vocabulary development, writing development, and academic listening and note-taking skills. Students will be placed into appropriate sections following a placement test.

012F

Speaking, Listening, and Culture

includes development of speaking and listening abilities through a wide variety of tasks and communicative activities, including discussions, debates, conversation, role-plays, and presentations. Listening activities promote comprehension of rapid conversational English, while discussion topics enrich students' understanding of Canadian culture. Students will be placed into appropriate sections following a placement test.