Intensive English Language Program

If you are an international student looking to improve your English skills in order to succeed in American schools and workplaces, you have come to the right place. Welcome to IELP!

Claflin University provides a twelve-month, research-based Intensive English Language Program (IELP) for students whose native languages are not English. The goal of this program is to enable students to improve their English language proficiency rapidly and effectively, so that they can move on to study one of Claflin’s 36 academic majors, and to help them adjust to American classroom cultures and university environments.

Curriculum and Program Structure

The IELP uses a three-semester course sequence: each Fall and Spring semester has two seven-week terms, while summer semester has one seven-week term.

Program Structure

We offer six levels of language instruction through the Intensive English Language Program. Each level includes 24-28 hours of intensive coursework per week. Levels 1 through 4 (low/high beginner and low/high intermediate) focus on developing students’ English language proficiency, while Levels 5 and 6 (low/high advanced) focus on preparing them for further academic study. Placement tests will determine which level a student starts in, and students who successfully complete one level will graduate to the next one the following semester. Spring semester starts during the second week of January, Summer semester begins during the second week of June, and Fall semester starts the third week of August.

IELP Curriculum

We offer six levels of language instruction, each with six core courses: Pronunciation, Listening, Speaking, Grammar, Reading, and Writing. Elective courses include American Culture, English Conversation Practice, TOEFL Preparation, and One-on-One English Tutoring. Weekly field trips, including shopping trips, enhance students’ practice English skills and knowledge of US cultures. Based on extensive research on English proficiency development among second language learners and global trends in English education, the IELP utilizes different teaching models, techniques, and approaches in order to give students a deeply satisfying English learning experience.

Sample Courses

• Core: Pronunciation, Listening, Speaking, Grammar, Reading, and Writing
• Elective: American Culture, English Conversation Practice, and One-on-One Tutoring

The English Conversation Partners Program

The English Conversation Partners (ECP) program is a supplement to the IELP, giving you more opportunities to practice what you learn in class. Specifically, the ECP program matches you, as an IELP student, to an American student from Claflin’s Department of English and Foreign Languages. Your American partner will share his or her own culture and experiences with you, and in turn, you will teach them about your home country and culture.

Program Costs