The Intensive English Program is sponsored by the Department of English. Our curriculum is designed to improve the English language competency of speakers of other languages for educational, business, social, or other purposes. Our classes introduce students to U.S. and academic culture and to formal and informal English language skills. CESL has the authority to issue the Form I-20 for English language study.

 

Please see Application Procedures. You must be at least 16 years old.

Instruction

We offer five proficiency levels. Once a year, usually during the Spring II Session, a Level 6 is formed. Listening/speaking, reading, writing and grammar are taught at all levels. TOEFL preparation is given in the upper levels. Conversational English for American social situations, field trips, and optional extracurricular activities provide an orientation to American culture. For more information, see Curriculum.

 

All instructors in the Center for ESL are trained in TEFL / TESL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language / Teaching English as a Second Language) and have graduate degrees.

 

 

Students are tested before their first day of classes to determine their Level of study. Placement in Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (or 6) is by examination. The next term's placement depends on progress, grades, TOEFL score, and teachers' recommendations.

 

 

The University of Kentucky offers conditional admission to students who apply for admission and who meet the academic requirements of the university but have not satisfied the English proficiency requirement. The English proficiency requirement may be satisfied by completion of the CESL. Conditionally admitted students must enroll in the CESL for both 8-week sessions of each academic semester until the English language proficiency requirement has been satisfied. Continuous enrollment is not required for conditionally admitted students who enter the CESL and demonstrate English language proficiency in the October or March sessions.

 

 

CESL gives its recommendation to students who successfully complete Level 5 (or 6). Almost all students will study a minimum of two terms (8 weeks each) to pass Level 5 (or 6) and earn the recommendation.

The University of Kentucky currently accepts our recommendation for entrance to undergraduate programs. For undergraduate information, please see http://www.uky.edu/Admissions

The Graduate School currently accepts our letter of recommendation for entrance to the Graduate School. Individual graduate programs may have additional requirements. For Graduate School information, see http://www.gradschool.uky.edu.

Bluegrass Community and Technical College (BCTC) also accepts our recommendation for admission. For information about BCTC, see www.bluegrass.kctcs.edu

There are many requirements for admission to an academic degree program at the University of Kentucky. English language proficiency is only one requirement. Therefore, Admission to the "Center for English" does not guarantee admission to the "University of Kentucky".

 

 

If you need to prepare for the TOEFL, our curriculum emphasizes the necessary language skills. TOEFL preparation is a regular part of the curriculum. The Institutional TOEFL is given at the end of every ESL session to students in the Intensive English Program at UK. Please check with the CESL office for dates and times.

 

 

This is required for all CESL students in F-1 student status. See Health Insurance.