Academic English for the Liberal Arts

Our Mission

Academic English for the Liberal Arts (ENGL 0210) is an integrated language skills and content course which prepares pre-freshman students at AUC for success in courses taken simultaneously, as well as subsequently in the freshman program. The course provides opportunities for students to develop the necessary communication and critical thinking skills, learning strategies, and attitudes that are essential to success. Students in ENGL 0210 gain knowledge of the liberal arts, learn to take responsibility for their own academic progress, work both independently and collaboratively with their peers, and appreciate individual and cultural differences in a student-centered learning community. 

Program Goals

ENGL 0210 is designed to enable students to:

Comprehend, analyze and evaluate authentic texts from a freshman-level course (reading).

Demonstrate understanding of information presented orally by faculty and peers in lectures and discussions (listening).

Communicate ideas in writing, following academic conventions (writing).

Demonstrate university-level speaking skills (speaking).

Use university resources effectively and ethically (academic literacy).

Demonstrate understanding of academic culture and requirements (acculturation).

Monitor and assess their own understanding of course material, use of strategies and ability to transfer learning and strategies from one setting to another (metacognition).

Placement Procedures

For new students (direct entrants), placement in English 0210 is determined by their scores on the Internet-based Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL-iBT) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS). For students coming from the Intensive English Program (IEP), placement in English 0210 is determined by their scores on the IEP exams. Students exiting English 0210 are placed in RHET 1010.    

Students taking English 0210 may enroll in no more than two academic courses with a maximum of seven course credits.

Methodology

Throughout the program, teaching strategies aim to nurture independence of thought, learning autonomy, creativity, critical thinking and self-evaluation. Teaching is basically student-centered, encouraging class participation, as well as pair and group interaction.

Details of Hours

English 0210 classes meet four days a week for three contact hours, along with additional set times for individual conferences with teachers. Students are required to attend these meetings.

Attendance in English 0210 is very important. A student who, for any reason, misses more than 12 days of class in any one semester, may not be allowed to sit for the English 0210 final exam.

If a student exceeds the allowed number of absences from classes in English 0210 for legitimate, justifiable reasons and has still been able to keep up with class assignments and not fall behind the rest of the class, the student is eligible to appeal the F absence grade by following the appeal procedure.

All students who are enrolled in English 0210 must satisfactorily complete the coursework within a time period that does not exceed two full semesters and a summer session.

On the first day of English 0210 classes, students should check their names on Banner Self-Service.  If they do not find their names, they should go to room P067, located in the ELI department, plaza level.

The Center for Student Well-Being has a staff of trained people available to help students with various types of problems. Students may go there and inquire about the different services that are available.    
     
For more information about the program, Loading...

Attendance Procedures

Attendance in English 0210 is very important. A student who, for any reason, misses more than 12 days of class in any one semester, may not be allowed to sit for the English 0210 final exam.

If a student exceeds the allowed number of absences from classes in English 0210 for legitimate, justifiable reasons and has still been able to keep up with class assignments and not fall behind the rest of the class, the student is eligible to appeal the F absence grade by following the appeal procedure.

All students who are enrolled in English 0210 must satisfactorily complete the coursework within a time period that does not exceed two full semesters and a summer session.

On the first day of English 0210 classes, students should check their names on Banner Self-Service. If they do not find their names, they should go to room P067, located in The English Language Instruction (ELI) department, plaza level.

Student Appeal Procedures

If a student exceeded the allowed number of absences from classes in the ENGL 0210 for legitimate, justifiable reasons and has still been able to keep up with class assignments and not fall behind the rest of the class, the following procedure will be implemented for the student to appeal receiving an F for absence:

1. Within three working days, the student must submit a written petition to the ENGL 0210 director explaining the reasons for excessive absences and enclosing any supporting documents
2. The student should ask his/her teacher(s) to submit a confidential written letter of assessment of the student's case to the ENGL 0210 director
3. The student must continue attending class and set it as a priority not to miss any more classes

If, in the judgment of the ENGL 0210 director, the student's case has merit, it will be referred to the ENGL 0210 Appeal Review Committee, which will meet as soon as possible to review the petition submitted by the student, along with the supporting documents and the teacher's written statements, and take action on the case. The Committee will consist of the ENGL 0210 Director, three ENGL 0210 teachers, and one student.

Note: The student's own teacher(s) will not be members of this committee

The ENGL 0210 Appeal Review Committee may decide,

1. In unsubstantiated cases to, deny the appeal
2. In well substantiated cases or in exceptional cases, to recommend that the student be allowed to continue in the ENGL 0210

Student Conduct

ELI students are expected to read and abide by the AUC Code of Student Conduct.

Academic Integrity

ELI students are expected to adhere to the AUC Code of Academic Ethics. More information on the types of violations can be found here.

Grievance and Appeal Process for Student Concerns

The ENGL 0210 student grievance process is as follows:

1. If you have a classroom or course-related concern, you should first discuss it with the teacher of that course
2. If you and the teacher cannot resolve the problem, you may bring the matter up with the ENGL 0210 program director
3. In case you think that neither the teacher nor the director has addressed your concern, then you may submit a formal, written complaint to the chair of the ELI department
4. In case of a formal, written complaint, the teacher of the course in question has the opportunity to submit a written response within five working days to the ELI department chair
5. The chair may, at his or her discretion, dismiss a complaint that, in his or her judgment, is lacking in merit
6. The ELI department chair, together with the program director, will take appropriate steps to resolve the problem and will respond to you and the teacher in writing
7. A record of your complaint, the teacher’s response and the resolution will be kept in the department’s files
8. For more information, see the AUC Grievance and Appeal Process for Student Concerns

Appeal Process and Resolution of Student Challenge to Grade

If a student requests that his grade on a secure assessment task be re-checked, the policy is as follows:

1. The student asks his/her teacher to re-check his/her grade
2. The teacher expresses the student’s concern to the assessment specialist (ENGL 0210 program director) and requests to re-check the student’s answer sheet with the assessment specialist (ENGL 0210 program director) to ensure that the grade is accurate
3. The outcome of the process is either a confirmation that the grade is accurate or a change of grade
4. This should be done within two days after the results of the assessment task have been announced
5. The teacher reports back to the student in detail why he or she earned this grade or why there was a change of grade
6. If the student still cannot accept the grade, he or she goes to the assessment specialist (ENGL 0210 program director), accompanied by his or her teacher, to have his or her grade explained to him or her again

Evaluation

ENGL 0210 is a Pass/Fail course. Whether a student passes or not depends on their final score, which is based on a number of exams and assignments. The following table provides the content and weighting of ENGL 0210 assessments.

Program Structure

The course is divided into two modules and the modules are divided into rounds. Reading selections are culled from a different discipline every round, and language development is reinforced by activities based on themes from that particular discipline. At the end of each module, the students are given a formal test that forms part of their overall assessment.

ENGL 0210 Proficiency Scale

Grades on Banner Self-Service

On Banner Self-Service, you will receive one of the following grades: P (Pass), IP (In Progress), or F (Fail).

What does a P grade mean?

A P (Pass) grade is given when students have demonstrated achievement of the ENGL 0210 learning outcomes through their scores on course assessments; these students progress to RHET 1010.

What does an IP grade mean?

An IP (In Progress) grade indicates an Incomplete and is given only under exceptional circumstances, such as when a student has a documented illness that prevents him or her from completing the course requirements. Students in such situations have a specific period of time in which to complete the course requirements. A form is submitted to the registrar indicating the timeline for completion of course requirements. Failure to complete course requirements within the specified time will result in an F grade in the course.

What does a F grade mean?

An F (Fail) grade means that a student has not met the requirements to proceed to the next level. Students are allowed a maximum of two semesters and a summer (or three semesters if no summer session is offered) to pass the course.

How am I placed in ENGL 0210?

If you are a new student, placement in ENGL 0210 is determined by your score on the IELTS or TOEFL-iBT. If you are coming from the IEP, placement in ENGL 0210 is determined by your score on the IEP exit exam.

Is ENGL 0210 offered in the summer?

It is offered in the summer only to the students who fail ENGL 0210 in the spring semester.

What happens if I do poorly on an assessment task?

Remember that the final grade is cumulative, so you are accumulating grades throughout the course. Therefore, if you do not do well on one test, you still stand the chance of achieving on the other tests, provided that you exert more effort and improve your performance.

What are the CALL Labs?

CALL stands for Computer Assisted Language Learning. The CALL labs are computer labs for you and other ELI students to use. They are located on the ground and first floors in the HUSS building.

When can I use the CALL Labs?

You can use the labs every day from 1:00 to 2:00 (Assembly Hour) and Open Access hours. You can also use them when no classes are scheduled.

Which of the ENGL 0210 skills is the most important?

All skills are integrated. Therefore, you have to maintain a profile that indicates that you are demonstrating adequate proficiency in all the skills.

Am I counted absent if I go to class late?

Yes, you are counted absent for a half-day if you come to class more than 5 minutes late, and absent for a full day if you come to class more than 30 minutes late. This policy also applies to class breaks and student/teacher conferences.

Are medical excuses and absences due to engagement in sports activities included in the 10-day absence policy?

If you are not present in class, you are counted absent, whether you have an excuse or not. This applies also to going to the clinic, or leaving for some other reason, after attendance has been taken. Therefore, it is wise to save your absences for real emergencies that might seriously prevent you from attending class.

Do my absences affect my Student Involvement grade? ​​​​​​​

Yes, your student involvement grade is 10 percent of your total grade, and your class attendance is part of that grade. Also, you miss a lot when you are not in class and excessive absences will affect your grade.

What happens when I pass ENGL 0210?

Upon successfully completing the requirements of ENGL 0210 and passing the course, you will be placed in RHET 1010.