The Center for English Language Learning provides English language instruction to prepare non-native speakers for university-level studies, professional endeavors and community engagement. Through our courses, services and extracurricular activities, we:

• Provide our students with a deeper understanding of academic and American culture, both within and outside of the university.
• Assist our students with personal and cultural adjustments.
• Foster support for international initiatives at MU.
• Advocate for international students locally and nationally.

Intensive English Program

This was a big year for the Intensive English Program. The program celebrated its 45th anniversary and was awarded 10-year reaccreditation by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation (CEA). The program was first accredited in 2018 and is now accredited through 2033.

The Intensive English Program provides personalized instruction through small class sizes that allow each student to receive a large amount of individual attention. Students with beginning, intermediate or advanced English proficiency are placed in one of five levels based on the results of a placement test administered at the beginning of each term.

Students receive a minimum of 20 hours of instruction per week in grammar, listening and speaking, reading, and writing. In the higher levels, the program has a strong academic focus; students work on improving reading skills, writing research papers, developing note-taking skills and communicating effectively in a university setting.

• During 2023/24, 38 students from 20 countries made up 53 enrollments. Of these students:
  • 24 planned to go to MU; 4 have been admitted.
  • 14 students came to study English for other reasons.

Special programs

During July 2023, the Center for English Language Learning taught an online English language course for the Universidad Catolica Boliviana in Tarija, Bolivia. The focus of the course was on building the 20 students’ English conversational skills.

Learn more about this ongoing collaboration with the Universidad Catolica Boliviana:

• Article: Estudiantes de Inglés VI de la UCB Tarija reciben certificación por parte de la Universidad de Missouri
• Video: Nuestros estudiantes reciben formación en Inglés Avanzado – Nivel B2 con profesores americanos

Academic Integration @ MU

The Academic Integration @ MU program supports international students who are ready for academic work but simultaneously need additional English language study because they do not meet the minimum TOEFL or IELTS requirements.

The program combines English Language Support Program courses with academic courses specifically chosen to put students in a position to succeed. In 2023/24, 1 of the 3 students enrolled in AIM completed the program. Another student will complete the program in fall 2024.

English Language Support Program

The English Language Support Program serves the University of Missouri by assessing the English proficiency of MU’s undergraduate international students and providing English language courses for undergraduate and graduate international students to help them be successful in their academic studies. ELSP courses are offered in reading, writing and oral communication.

Starting in fall 2023, ELSP courses became credit-bearing courses that factor into a student’s GPA and can help fulfill course requirements toward graduation. With this beneficial change, the courses received new course numbers:

• ELSP 0100 > 3100: Grammar and Composition I
• ELSP 0200 > 3200: Reading and Vocabulary
• ELSP 0300 > 3150: Grammar and Composition II
• ELSP 0400 > 4400: Oral Communication

During 2023/24, 46 students from 20 countries made up 69 enrollments.

Fast facts

Updated 18-NOV-2024