Mini Courses

Even with tools like ChatGPT to help us, strong personal writing skills are key to academic and professional success. In this course, you’ll learn how to leverage the writing you are doing for your U-M courses to become a strong, effective writer who can easily transition to graduate school or the professional job market. We will examine the crossovers and connections between different types of academic essays and reports, personal bio statements, emails, and resumes/ cover letters. Using feedback from your instructor and classmates, you will learn how to improve your writing process and how to productively and ethically make use of GenAI resources like Chat GPT to make your writing sound like it came from a human, not a robot!

in this course you will:

• Complete short writing assignments that develop your confidence and fluency writing in English
• Workshop your writing with other students to learn to give and receive feedback on writing
• Meet regularly one-on-one with the instructor to discuss your writing and strategies for improving it
• Practice using resources (including AI!) to improve the grammatical accuracy and flow of your writing
  

Intended Audience:

This course welcomes students at any stage of their undergraduate studies who seek to improve their academic and professional writing, including international, multilingual, visiting/non-degree, and first-gen students.

Class Format: Online Synchronous

(2 credits)

(Meets with ELI 541)

Learn relevant cultural information for everyday conversations in the U.S. in order to communicate confidently and fluently on and off campus. Gain strategies to bridge cultural differences and discuss “challenging topics” such as cultural values and social justice issues. Practice socializing in English to feel more comfortable and confident in social interactions and making connections across cultures. Explore your own identity and culture(s) and become comfortable talking about your culture(s) in English.

Course activities include:

• Weekly short discussions on topics in US culture
• Pair and group discussions
• Visiting speakers on topics in US culture
• Discussions with US-raised U-M students
  

(1 credit)

Intended Audience:

This course welcomes students at any stage of their undergraduate studies who seek to improve their English communication skills, including international, multilingual, visiting/non-degree, and first-gen students. This course can be taken alongside other speaking ELI courses.(1 credit)

(Meets with ELI 534)

10-Week Course. Meets once a week for 90 minutes

Polish your interactive speaking skills to participate confidently and fluently in class discussions and other formal and informal speaking situations. Practice leading and participating in discussions and refine your ability to speak up and be heard in challenging, dynamic speaking situations.  Learn to express your ideas clearly, respond politely to opposing viewpoints, and clarify misunderstandings. 

Course activities include:

• In-class discussions
• Office hour role plays
• Listening assignments
• Interviews with community members
  

(1 credit)

Intended Audience:

This course welcomes students at any stage of their undergraduate studies who seek to improve their English communication skills, including international, multilingual, visiting/non-degree, and first-gen students. This course can be taken alongside other speaking ELI courses.(1 credit)