All new IEP students take a placement test when they first arrive at UCA. The test includes sections on listening, grammar, vocabulary, reading comprehension, and writing. Based on the results of the placement test, students are placed in the appropriate level (beginning to high intermediate/advanced proficiency).
IEP students take four core courses in their level and one mandatory vocabulary course. Classes meet for 22 hours per week. Homework and computer language laboratory assignments are given on a regular basis.
IEP Courses:
1205 LEVEL 1 ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING A core IEP course at the beginning level, this course focuses on introducing communication and listening comprehension skills to non-native speakers of English. Class discussion, brief oral presentations, conversation techniques and strategies, and introductory note-taking skills are practiced and developed.
1206 LEVEL 2 ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING A core IEP course at the high-beginning/low-intermediate level, this course focuses on communication and listening comprehension skills for non-native speakers of English at this level. Classroom discussion, brief oral presentations, conversation techniques and strategies, and note-taking skills are practiced and developed.
1207 LEVEL 3 ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING A core IEP course at the intermediate level, this course focuses on communication and listening comprehension skills necessary for non-native speakers of English at this level. Class discussion, oral presentations, conversation techniques and strategies, and note-taking skills are practiced and developed.
1208 LEVEL 4 ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING A core IEP course at the high-intermediate level, this course centers on the English proficiency that is needed in listening and speaking at this level. Development of skills needed for listening to lectures and for note-taking is a focus of the course as well as strategies required in class and small-group discussion. The course also puts emphasis on the planning, organization and techniques used in putting together and delivering oral presentations.
1209 LEVEL 5 ACADEMIC LISTENING AND SPEAKING A core IEP course at the advanced level, this course focuses on the proficiency needed in listening and speaking for the academic setting at the college level. Students develop note-taking techniques and strengthen critical thinking skills that include reconstructing and summarizing main ideas as well as transferring knowledge from lectures to other areas. Additionally, the course emphasizes oral communication skills through an understanding of strategies and knowledge of effective discourse as well as provides direction for students to plan, organize and deliver effective presentations.
1215 LEVEL 1 ACADEMIC R
EADING A core IEP course at the beginning level, this course allows students to begin building academic reading skills. Reading skills addressed include content comprehension, recognition of main ideas, skimming and scanning.
1216 LEVEL 2 ACADEMIC READING A core IEP course at the high-beginning/low-intermediate level, this course continues building academic reading skills. Reading skills addressed include content comprehension, distinguishing between main ideas and specific details, skimming and scanning, previewing, predicting, summarizing, and paraphrasing.
1217 LEVEL 3 ACADEMIC READING A core IEP course at the intermediate level, this course continues building academic reading skills. Reading skills addressed include content comprehension, distinguishing between main ideas and specific details, skimming and scanning, previewing, predicting, summarizing, paraphrasing, and drawing inferences. Students will learn several strategies for more fluent reading and improved test-taking.
1218 LEVEL 4 ACADEMIC READING A core IEP course at the high-intermediate level, this course centers on the English proficiency that is needed in listening and speaking at this level. Development of skills needed for listening to lectures and for note-taking is a focus of the course as well as strategies required in class and small-group discussion. The course also puts emphasis on the planning, organization and techniques used in putting together and delivering oral presentations.
1219 LEVEL 5 ACADEMIC READING A core IEP course at the advanced level, this course fine-tunes academic reading skills in preparation for entering the university. Reading skills addressed include content comprehension, distinguishing between main ideas and specific details, skimming and scanning, previewing, predicting, summarizing, paraphrasing, drawing inferences, and identifying authors' point of view. Students will learn several strategies for reading more fluently and improving test-taking skills.
1225 LEVEL 1 ACADEMIC WRITING A core IEP course at the beginning level, this course introduces students to writing skills at the sentence and paragraph level.
1226 LEVEL 2 ACADEMIC WRITING A core IEP course at the high-beginning/low-intermediate level, this course focuses on writing clear sentences and paragraphs. In addition, students begin learning the basics of revising written work for content and editing for grammatical accuracy.
1227 LEVEL 3 ACADEMIC WRITING A core IEP course at the intermediate level, this course focuses on writing well-developed paragraphs with support. In addition, students will practice revising written work for content and editing for grammatical accuracy.
1228 LEVEL 4 ACADEMIC WRITING A core IEP course at the high-intermediate level, this course focuses on expanding students' writing skills. Students will continue to develop their use of the process method of writing to complete paragraphs and short essays in a variety of different organizational patterns.
1229 LEVEL 5 ACADEMIC WRITING A core IEP course at the advanced level, this course is designed to refine students' writing skills for the various tasks required at the university, including writing paragraphs, summaries, and essays. Students will plan and write essays, revise for improved content, and edit for grammatical correctness.
1235 LEVEL 1 ACADEMIC GRAMMAR A core IEP course at the beginning level, this course introduces students to the basic structures of English grammar focusing on basic verb tenses in English from simple present time through past time.
1236 LEVEL 2 ACADEMIC GRAMMAR A core IEP course at the high-beginning/low-intermediate level, this course continues to focus on basic English grammatical structures needed to communicate in oral and written forms focusing on verb tenses through future time.
1237 LEVEL 3 ACADEMIC GRAMMAR A core IEP course at the intermediate level, this course focuses on English grammatical structures needed to communicate in oral and written forms at this level.
1238 LEVEL 4 ACADEMIC GRAMMAR A core IEP course at the high-intermediate level, this course is designed to refine students' grammar skills. The focus of the grammar study will be on using the structures necessary for clear communication in both oral and written work at this level.
1239 LEVEL 5 ACADEMIC GRA
MMAR A core IEP course at the advanced level, this course focuses on advanced English grammatical structures needed to speak, write, and read at this level preparing the student to enter university classes.
1120 LEVEL 1 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY An IEP course at the beginning level, this course allows students to begin building academic vocabulary skills. Students begin developing vocabulary from the General Service List and are introduced to the Academic Word List.
1121 LEVEL 2 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY An IEP course at the high-beginning/low-intermediate level, this course continues building academic vocabulary skills. Students continue developing vocabulary from the General Service List and begin to focus on the Academic Word List.
1122 LEVEL 3 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY An IEP course at the intermediate level, this course continues building vocabulary skills. Students will continue developing vocabulary from the Academic Word List and the General Service List.
1123 LEVEL 4 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY An IEP course at the high-intermediate level, this course continues to build academic vocabulary knowledge. Students will continue developing vocabulary from the Academic Word List and demonstrate mastery of the General Service List.
1124 LEVEL 5 ACADEMIC VOCABULARY An IEP course at the advanced level, this course fine-tunes academic vocabulary skills in preparation for entering the university. Students will learn several strategies for increasing vocabulary, and they will continue developing vocabulary from the Academic Word List.
1365 TOEFL PREPARATION An IEP elective. Introduces students to the Test of English as a Foreign Language and provides practice with each section of the test: listening comprehension, structure and written expression, and reading comprehension. Practices various question types, test-taking strategies, and relaxation techniques to reduce test anxiety. Pre-requisite: Placement in Level 2 or above, or consent of IEP coordinator. Fall, spring.