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Office of International Student and Scholar Services

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ESL PROGRAMS

UNC-Chapel Hill | Outside of UNC-Chapel Hill

English Language Opportunities at UNC-Chapel Hill

English 601
Academic Writing for International Students
Required if students get a low grade on UNC CH English Proficiency Exam which is administered in late August for graduate students  (some grad students are excluded from taking this test)
Offered in the Fall. The course is designed primarily to help new international students improve their academic writing skills, but it also covers grammar, vocabulary, and speaking.  

Grad 810
Communicating in the American Classroom
Grad School offers a course for TA’s and international students and scholars
Preparing International T A Program (PITAP)  -  1 hour credit course
http://www.gradschool.unc.edu/pitap/

Writing and Reading Help
Learning Center
 
The Learning Center helps students with reading skills, learning strategies, test taking and other study skills.   Appointments are required.  Visit the Learning Center website for more information or call 962-3782.    

Writing Center -
The Writing Center is a free tutorial service for members of the university community who want to improve their writing skills. Writing Center tutors address a wide range of writing skills, including topic development, organization, style, usage, word choice, and grammar. With an ESL Specialist on our administrative staff, tutors are trained to address these skills in a way that is sensitive to the needs of ESL writers. The Writing Center also provides a Grammar Hotline, 962-7710, to address questions about usage and wording. The Writing Center does not proofread or edit papers, but we are happy to teach you strategies for proofreading.

During fall and spring semesters the Writing Center is open Monday through Friday, and on Sunday evening. We are also open twenty hours a week during summer sessions. Since the Writing Center schedule fills up quickly, we encourage students to make appointments several days before their assignments are due. You may make an appointment with a tutor at the Writing Center website, <http://www.unc.edu/depts/acadserv/wc.html>
The website also contains writing handouts and a link to our Online Tutor, a place where you can send your essay to a tutor and receive feedback on your writing.

Contact Information: Dr. Kim Abels, Director, Dr. Vicki Behrens, Assistant Director, and Dr. Gigi Taylor, ESL Specialist. Student Academic Services Building, Lower Level, 962-7710.

English Language & American Culture -
The Writing Center at UNC offers free ESL support for graduate and undergraduate students, postdoctoral scholars, and faculty who want to improve their English skills or learn more about American life and university culture. Workshops and writing groups are available for all non-native English speakers at UNC-Chapel Hill. For more information, visit the ELAC website (www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/elac), email elac@unc.edu, or call 962-7710.

Conversation Partners Program
http://oisss.unc.edu/services_programs/conversation.html
This program is for UNC-Chapel Hill foreign students who are recent arrivals to the U.S. Private one-on-one conversation sessions for an hour a week can be arranged to give students a chance to speak English with an American friend from the University or the Chapel Hill community. Conversation partners can answer questions about foreign students' new living situations here in Chapel Hill and can help internationals with their pronunciation and understanding of English.

Students can apply anytime during the Fall and Spring semesters. Applications for Conversation Partners are available at the Office of International Student and Scholar Services or online.

International Women's English Conversation Group
The International Women's English Conversation Group provides an opportunity for the spouses of international students and scholars and all female students and scholars to meet other women from around the world and to meet some American members of the Chapel Hill community. Participants learn about local activities for themselves and their children, and have English conversation lessons at all proficiency levels in a relaxed atmosphere. Babysitting is provided.

UNC-Chapel Hill ESL Tutoring sponsored by the Campus Y - Evening classes held at the Campus Y.   This program is open to students, scholars and the community. Classes are free.  For more information, contact the Campus Y.

English Language Opportunities Outside of UNC-Chapel Hill

Durham Technical Community College offers a wide range of English as a Second Language classes during the day and in the evening in the Chapel Hill area, free of charge. Class schedules are available at International Student and Scholar Services. For more information contact the English as a Second Language Program Director at (919) 686-3357. Class Schedule and other ESL information can be found at http://www.durhamtech.edu/html/current/noncredit/esl.htm.

Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Language Education (CHICLE) CHICLE is a private organization that offers a variety of English classes, scheduled on demand for a fee. When three or more students at the same level can meet at the same time, a group class can be scheduled.
Private classes are also available in beginning, intermediate, and advanced ESL, pronunciation, idiomatic English, Grammar, Accent reduction, TOEFL preparation, business writing, and academic writing. For information describing all programs and application forms, go to www.chi-cle.com
CHICLE, Chapel Hill Institute for Cultural and Language Education
101 East Weaver Street, Carrboro, NC 27510 Ph. 919/933-0398

Tutors
International Student and Scholar Services has a directory which includes a list of private tutors. Also, the Writing Center maintains a "help for hire" board to distinguish it from the services offered to students and scholars at The Writing Center. This electronic board functions as a referral list for those who might seek an editor or proofreader as an appropriate option. This list of private tutors can be viewed at http://www.unc.edu/depts/wcweb/helpforhire/.

Directory of English as a Second Language Programs in Chapel Hill and other Regions of North Carolina
This directory provides information about some ESL Programs in Chapel Hill, Raleigh, Durham, Greensboro, North Carolina. The directory is available at International Student and Scholar Services.