English Language Instruction

Vision

We aspire to be the most respected regional provider of both instruction in academic English language skills and training in academic preparedness.

Mission

The Department of English Language Instruction (ELI) offers intensive, semi-intensive, and modular non-credit courses to prepare undergraduate and graduate students in academic English, critical thinking, and academic readiness skills that they need at University. This is accomplished by qualified faculty using content-based and learner-centered approaches designed to empower learners and to align with courses at AUC. ELI is fully accredited by the Commission for English Language Program Accreditation (CEA).

ELI CEA Accreditation

Message from the Chair

It is my pleasure to welcome you to the Department of English Language Instruction (ELI). 

The Department of English Language Instruction serves undergraduate and graduate students who come to AUC with different strengths, different goals, and varying levels of confidence in English. Over the course of my career here, I have had the opportunity to work with many of them, and I have also been fortunate to work alongside colleagues who are deeply committed to their students and to the work they do. Their dedication continues to impress me. 

What I find most rewarding about this work is watching students grow more confident over time. It is not always a dramatic shift. Sometimes it appears in a particularly strong piece of writing. Sometimes it is a student who finally feels comfortable contributing to a class discussion. Sometimes it is simply the moment a student realizes that they belong here and can succeed in an academic environment where English is the language of instruction.

Some people see English language instruction as a requirement to complete before moving on to other courses. My experience has been very different. The skills students develop in our classes stay with them long after the semester ends. Whether they go on to study engineering, business, political science, the sciences, or the arts, they continue to rely on their ability to read critically, communicate clearly, and express their ideas effectively. We work to help students strengthen their English, develop their critical thinking skills, and become more confident members of the AUC community. In that sense, ELI is not simply a starting point; it is a foundation that supports everything students go on to do at the university.

I feel privileged to lead ELI, one of the three departments in the Academy of Liberal Arts. We play an important role in the educational experience of our students, and I am proud to work alongside faculty and staff who bring genuine commitment, expertise, and care to what they do every day.

Thank you for visiting our website.

Chair, Department of English Language Instruction