The ELI is an independent unit of the College of Literature, Science, and the Arts which provides language, academic, and intercultural support to members of the University of Michigan community. The core of the ELI’s offerings consists of a full range of credit-bearing English for Academic Purposes courses for international graduate students. We also offer a comprehensive program of language and pedagogy courses for prospective and current graduate student instructors (GSIs), ESL/EFL teacher education courses for undergraduates, and full-time summer intensive programs for students who have been accepted into degree programs at the University of Michigan or other US institutions of higher education.
Other ELI support services include writing and speaking clinics in which international graduate students and GSIs can receive one-on-one language and academic support; courses for visiting scholars, researchers, faculty, staff, and post-docs; and a volunteer Conversation Circles program which provides international students with practice speaking English in an informal setting and domestic U-M students with opportunities to learn about other cultures.
English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Courses for Graduate Students: The core of the ELI’s offerings consists of a full range of credit-bearing English for Academic Purposes courses for international graduate students in all U-M schools and colleges. In the fall and winter semesters, ELI offers over 30 EAP courses, which students take concurrently with their graduate coursework. Our EAP curriculum incorporates the findings of the latest research in discourse and genre analysis in order to provide students with the linguistic and communicative skills they need to become effective, fully-participating members of the academic community at U-M and to excel in their academic and professional careers in the future.
GSI Program: A comprehensive program of language and pedagogy courses for prospective and current graduate student instructors (GSIs) in LSA and other U-M schools. This program directly supports the instructional mission of the University by providing international GSIs with instruction and practice in the language of the classroom and techniques for establishing effective relationships with their students and leading effective discussions and lab sessions.
ESL/EFL Teacher Education: ESL/EFL teacher preparation courses which prepare undergraduates to teach English to nonnative speakers in local communities or abroad. These courses provide prospective teachers with a foundation in the principles of second language acquisition and approaches to second langauge teaching. They also incorporate a strong focus on service learning in order to encourage the development of a reflective, socially-engaged teaching practice.
Summer Intensive Programs: Full-time summer intensive programs for students who have been accepted into degree programs at the University of Michigan or other US institutions of higher education. We currently offer three programs: English for Academic Purposes, English for Business Studies, and English for Legal Studies.
Courses for Visiting Scholars, Researchers, Faculty, Staff, Post-Docs: Fee-based courses for members of the Michigan community not currently enrolled in a U-M degree program. These courses are designed to provide language skills and academic acculturation which enables participants to succeed in their scholarly, instructional, and professional endeavors and to make the most of their time on campus.
Clinics: The English Language Institute offers several Language Clinics which provide international graduate students, GSIs, scholars, faculty, and staff with one-on-one language and academic support. Clinics are staffed by ELI lecturers or by GSIs working under close supervision of experienced faculty. ELI Currently offers Graduate Writing Clinic, Graduate Speaking Clinic, and GSI Speaking Clinic.
Conversation Circles: In ELI Conversation Circles, volunteer facilitators who are current U-M students, faculty, or staff members, lead a small group of international graduate students for an hour of conversation a week. Conversation Circles provide international students with opportunities to practice spoken English in an informal setting and facilitators with the opportunity to learn about other cultures.
