The Intensive English Program at West Virginia University

Established in 1979 and accredited with the AAIEP (American Association of Intensive English Programs) and the UCIEP (Consortium of University and College Intensive English Programs), the Intensive English Program in the Department of World Languages at West Virginia University has become a well-established program for international students needing to improve their English proficiency prior to entering an academic course of study. Students of the IEP are given help for all aspects of their lives in Morgantown, West Virginia. Services include assistance with housing, banking, academic and personal counseling, health care, and legal matters

IEP Student Integration into West Virginia University Population

The study of a second language requires more than classrooms, instructors, and book work. Acquiring a second language includes the study of culture, knowledge of societies, and participation in activities on campus and in nearby communities. Each semester, the IEP schedules a variety of activities to stimulate, educate, and inform students. Those activities range from conversation partners, social gatherings and games days, to field trips and community service events.

IEP students are treated as regular students with all university benefits – their student ID cards enable them to attend sporting events such as basketball, baseball, and football games. They can work out and swim at the Recreation Center. IEP students can attend movies in the Mountainlair, theater productions, concerts, and other recreational activities. Free city bus, WVU bus, and Personal Rapid Transit System (PRT) transportation is available.

Curriculum

The IEP curriculum includes required language skills-based classes, elective study skills classes, and elective integrated skills classes. The language skill-based classes focus on building language proficiency. Examples of classes previously offered include Grammar, Reading, Writing, Vocabulary, and Communication Skills at all levels. The elective study skills classes build towards academic success – examples include: Study Skills, Handwriting/Spelling, Advanced Test Preparation, TOEFL, and Technology. Elective class examples include Integrated Skills, American Culture, Health, Business English, Pronunciation, Music, Poetry/Theater, and Creative Writing. The integrated skills classes mirror university classes, in which students need to focus on both content knowledge and study skills, in addition to developing language skills. The combination of three academic foci (language skills, study skills, and integrated skills) insures that student academic needs are met on all levels.

IEP Faculty

Members of the full-time core faculty at the IEP have all obtained Master’s Degrees in Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages (TESOL) or equivalent. As a teaching school, West Virginia University wants to give every qualified graduate student an opportunity to teach. Graduate Teaching Assistants at the IEP are held to a higher language proficiency standard than are other WVU graduate assistants. In addition, all prospective teaching assistants or associates whose native language is not English are required to take and pass the SPEAK® Test before they can assume teaching responsibilities at the IEP. Similarly, they are also held to a higher speaking proficiency standard and must achieve scores higher than all other Graduate Teaching Assistants at WVU.

During the school year faculty members regularly receive peer review and supervisory observations in order to improve their teaching skills. Teaching evaluation ratings and student comments are given every semester. Continuing professional development is achieved through university workshops and professional conferences scheduled throughout the year.

West Virginia University

WVU is accredited by the Higher Learning Commission of the North Central Association of Colleges and Schools. With 191 degree programs in 15 academic colleges, WVU can help students discover their passion. Our proud tradition of academic excellence attracts some of the nation’s best and brightest students and scholars. WVU ranks nationally for prestigious scholarships (24 Rhodes Scholars, 22 Truman Scholars, 36 Goldwater Scholars). WVU is home to one of the nation’s most storied athletic programs. The successes of WVU’s teams contribute to a sense of pride on campus, in the community, and across the state. The word “Mountaineers” evokes a sense of history, tradition, and championships. Whether it’s the excitement of more than 60,000 fans united in their love for WVU football or a basketball legacy that includes a trip to the Final Four in 2010, there’s nothing like being a Mountaineer.

Morgantown, West Virginia

WVU students also enjoy life as residents of Morgantown, a vibrant college town that has won national acclaim as one of the nation’s most livable small cities. With a year-round schedule of things to do, including concerts and performances from nationally touring acts, film festivals in the grandly restored historic Met Theater, and world-class outdoor activities, this is a great place to live and learn.