English Language Program

Mission Statement

The English Language Program (ELP) supports the educational mission of DEREE – The American College of Greece by providing high quality instruction in English to non-native English-speaking students who need to improve their English language skills for study at the institution. The ELP also provides English placement testing to incoming students who are non-native speakers of English.  Focusing on English for Academic Purposes (EAP), the ELP aims to:

• Provide non-native English-speaking students with the resources and opportunities to develop their reading, writing, listening and speaking skills to a level appropriate for college study;
• Equip students with the academic skills needed to help them participate more fully and effectively in college courses;
• Offer a well-researched curriculum that responds to the unique and diverse needs of the College’s non-native English speaking student population and makes use of educational technology as well as academic support services;
• Provide small, student-centered classes led by dedicated, professionally trained English instructors.

ELP Course Aims

The ELP courses share the following aims:

• to increase confidence in presenting and speaking in English
• to improve academic writing skills, including grammar and style
• to improve academic reading skills
• to improve listening skills (note-taking, extracting information, etc.)
• to increase knowledge and active use of academic vocabulary

ELP Placement
Incoming students who do not provide evidence of English proficiency must take the College’s English placement test. The College uses the Oxford Online Placement Test (OOPT), designed to measure test takers’ ability to function communicatively at different levels of English language proficiency according to the Common European Framework of Reference (CEFR).  For an interactive demonstration of the Oxford Online Placement Test, visit http://www.oxfordenglishtesting.com.

ELP Courses

The ELP offers three levels of full-time intensive academic English instruction.

• EN 1002 - English for Academic Purposes II (6 hours instruction/week)

This Advanced-level course aims to improve and develop students’ English language proficiency within a framework of academic contexts. The main emphasis is on improving students’ confidence and competence in using English in such academic contexts as: listening to lectures, taking notes, reading academic texts, and writing essays at the Advanced level. This course is offered for non-graduation credit.

• EN 1001 - English for Academic Purposes I (9 hours instruction/week)

This Upper-intermediate course focuses on using English in an academic environment. It refines students’ paragraph writing skills while introducing and elaborating on the fundamentals of essay writing. It helps students develop academic reading skills using texts on academic topics; improves their ability to take notes from lectures and readings; encourages speaking on academic topics; and cultivates independent learning skills. This course is offered for non-graduation credit.

• EN 1000 - Fundamentals of Academic English (12 hours instruction/week)

This Intermediate-level course equips students with the English language skills they need for communicative and academic purposes. The course exposes students to a variety of texts and reading practices. Students practice the fundamentals of paragraph development and acquire the intermediate-level spoken English skills necessary for social and academic interaction. This course is offered for non-graduation credit.

-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

English Language Program Contact Information

Tel.: 210 600 9800, ext. 1501

elp@acg.edu