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Experts Discuss English-as-a-Second Language Programs in the U.S.USINFO Webchat transcript, March 23 Larry Francis, the director of the English program at the University of Missouri, Columbia; Timothy Wilson, an instructor at the Center for Multilingual Multicultural Studies at the University of Central Florida; and Alice Chow (Moon Chen), an EducationUSA Advisor at the American International Education Foundation (AIEF), answered questions in a March 23 USINFO webchat on issues related to study in the United States. Following is the transcript: U.S. DEPARTMENT OF STATE EducationUSA: Choices of ESL and Other Certificate Programs in the U.S. Guest: Larry Francis, Timothy Wilson and Moon Chen AIT Moderator: Welcome to our webchat! You are invited to begin submitting your questions now. Simply click on the tab marked "Submit Question or Comment." 您好! 歡迎光臨本次 webchat 活動! 您可以先將您的問題送出。步驟非常簡單，請點一下 [Submit Question or Comment] 的欄位，在文字方塊中填入您的問題，按下 [Submit] 送出即可。 由於網友提問眾多的緣故, 此次Webchat活動將由 WebChat 線上主持人進行過濾與篩選。您的提問將先由 WebChat 主持人篩選後，交由嘉賓回答，之後才會在此視窗出現。 Today's webchat features three experts who will be online to answer your questions: • Moon Chen, American International Education Foundation (AIEF); Larry Francis: Greetings to all! I am Larry Francis the director of the Intensive English Program at the University of Missouri in the City of Columbia, Missouri. Timothy Wilson: My name is Timothy Wilson, and I am an Instructor of International Education at the University of Central Florida, which is located is beautiful Orlando, Florida. At the University of Central Florida, we offer seven and fourteen week English language sessions throughout the year. The classes cover all areas including reading, writing, grammar, communication skills, business preparation, and test preparation (TOEFL, TOEIC). Moon Chen: This is Moon Chen from American International Education Foundation. I am very delighted to be here on the webchat to communicate with you on issues related to study in US. I do hope I can be helpful. Question [Hsin Huan, Juan]: To Larry: Hello, I'm a junior in NTNU. I plan to go to graduate school about English teaching in the U.S. after graduating. But there are so many programs or graduate schools in the States now. So could you give me the suggestion about choosing the ESL graduate school or program? Thank you! Answer [Larry Francis]: There are many graduate schools where students can get a degree in teaching English as a second language. There is an organization called TESOL [Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages, Inc.] that most professional English as a second language teachers in the US and many from around the world belong to. The organization has a list of high quality programs that give degrees in teaching English as a second or a foreign language. I suggest that you look at TESOL's web site. I believe the web address is TESOL.org. Q [Hsu, Ching-Hsuan]: To Tim: Are there so many ways to find financial aid for us to study in America? A [Tim Wilson]: A very good question. I know that studying in the U.S. can be expensive and any financial aid can help. I suggest first talking to your international department of your school to see if they have any partnerships with U.S. universities. This can help because they may have scholarships or exchange agreements with these U.S. universities so that you may pay a reduced a price. Another step would be to go to your American Cultural Exchange Center to see if there are any specific universities that have agreements with Taiwan. I know that at the University of Central Florida has agreements with Japan in this matter. In terms of scholarships, it is best to check with the specific university that you are interested in especially at the undergraduate level. If you are interested in graduate programs, you can tell the university that you are interested in assistantships which are based upon your test scores and grades from your university. Q [AIT Moderator]: To Moon: 是否各大學附屬的英語課程的級數相同? Q [AIT Moderator]: To Moon: 英語課程的種類有那些? A [Moon Chen]: 課程的種類有: 一般密集英語課程、學業準備課程、托福考試預備課程、商用專業英語課程、語文兼戶外活動課程....等 Q [jchow]: To Larry: How old do I have to be to apply for ESL program? A [Larry Francis]: Most ESL programs that are part of a university require their students to be at least 17 years old. Most also require their students to have finished high school or have an equivalent level of education. ESL programs that are proprietary may be able to accept students who are younger than 17 years old. Q [Chat Participant]: To: Tim 是否修完學校的語言課程就不必再考托福? Is it true that I do not have to take the TOEFL after completing school-based ESL program? A [Tim Wilson]: This will depend on the ESL program that you are attending. At the University of Central Florida, you still must pass the TEOFL before entering the university as a full-time student. However, there are various university-based ESL programs where you do not have to take the TOEFL. The best way to find this out is to look at university-based ESL programs (not independent ones) and ask them if you can go directly into the university upon completing the ESL program without taking the TOEFL. Q [AIT Moderator]: To Moon: 申請前的考慮要點為何? A [Moon Chen]: 首先要確立目標才能選擇適當的課程，再來是估計費用以決定課程期數。由於寒暑假為旺季，申請名校的同學必然會發現同一班級中會碰上許多台灣同學而發出怨言。想避免這種情況的話, 可以盡量申請非大城市或對台灣同學較不知名的學校，這些學校的教學品質也具同樣水準。 Q [AIT Moderator]: To Moon: 住宿的種類有那些? A [Moon Chen]: 住宿的種類有: 校園內部學生宿舍、住宿家庭以及校外租屋等。 Q [Chat Participant]: To Moon: 是否各大學附屬的英語課程的級數相同? A [Moon Chen]: Generally, English programs in the language institute or center go with the school semester or quarter, i.e. English class in the language institute or center starts or ends with the semester or quarter calendar. But there are exceptions for certain schools. Programs offered, such like legal English, medical English, business English, etc. are varied from school to school anyway. Q [Veronica Chang]: Dear Sir or Madam, since there will be a webchat on March 23rd, here is my question. I would like to ask if there is any universities offering short-term certificate programs. To Larry: Is there any fastest way to get all the information? For instance, is there any websites collecting information about TESOL Certificates offering by every university instead of login on to each university and then search in their TESOL departments? A [Larry Francis]: The TESOL (Teachers of English to Speakers of Other Languages) website provides very useful information about which universities have TESOL certificate programs. Q [Hsin Huan, Juan]: To Tim: Is it that I take the ESL program then I'm qualified to teach English as a second language in Taiwan or anywhere? Or [do] I still have to pass some kind of exam to be qualified after taking the program? A [Timothy Wilson]: After completing an ESL program, you are generally not qualified to teach English. If you are looking to be certified as an English teacher, I would look into programs that offer what are called Certificates in Teaching English as a Second Language (TESOL) or to be even more competitive look at a Master's Degree in TESOL. An ESL program will prepare for the certificate program by gaining the English skills needed to pass any exams (i.e., TOEFL, GRE) needed to enter these graduate programs. Q [Yeh, Flora]: To Larry: I hope I could get my TESL/TEFL Ph.D degree in the U.S. Could you tell me how many credits I have to take? How much tuition I have to pay? How much tuition about one credit in state and non-state university? How many school-years of the education system about the Ph.D? Do I need to pass TOEFL and GRE tests? If yes, how many points should I achieve? Which state is more inexpensive about the tuition and the other daily fee? A [Larry Francis]: I recommend that you contact one of the education advising centers, either AIEF or Fulbright. They have counselors and a reference library that will be helpful in answering these specific questions. Q [liang-ray, chang]: To Tim: I have heard that students who apply for the Ph.D program is easier to get fellowship or financial aid than those for the Master degree program, is that true? thank you. A [Timothy Wilson]: Yes, I would say that this is generally true. The reason that it is easier to get financial assistance is because the Ph.D programs are more competitive and accept a smaller number of students than a Masters Degree program. In addition, most universities have a set number of students they accept based upon the financial assistance they can give. For example at the University of Central Florida, most Ph.D programs offer full financial assistance for every Ph.D student which is not the case for a Masters Degree. Q [liang-ray, chang]: To Moon: As you know the "GI BILL program" offered amounts of scholarship to support student to pay for the college. Is that also suitable for foreigner students or just only for Americans. thank you. A [Moon Chen]: No, I don't think that international students in U.S. are eligible for GI BILL scholarships. 彰師大人管所雯惠mico: 關於諮詢，我有幾個問題： 1.請問是不是有工作經驗之後才能申請證照課程呢?! Do I need prior work experience before applying for a certificate program? 2.是否需要先通過托福考試才能申請證照課程呢? Do I need to take the TOEFL to apply for certificate program? 3.有哪些單位或是網站有證照課程的資訊呢?!還是都分布在學校的網站中呢?! Can you recommend some useful website to find these certificate programs? Can I find the information in the school's website? 4.證照課程的時間通常為其多久呢?!! How long are most certificate program? 因為對證照課程有興趣卻很少看到相關的資訊，麻煩顧問指正我的問題，非常期待您的回應，謝謝!! A: [Timothy Wilson]: It really depends on the certificate program you are applying for. Since most certificate programs are graduate based, you would need a undergraduate degree (in a specific area related to the certificate) and may need to meet certain pre-requisites before the program. Therefore, you do not necessarily need prior work experience. Most certificate programs are about one-year in length as compared to about two-years for a Master's Degree. To find the certificate programs a school offers, I would go to their website and look under "graduate programs" and then look for "certificate programs." If this does not work, then perhaps look at the specific department you are interested in, and they should have a listing of certificate programs. Is there a specific certificate program you are interested in? Most universities that I have worked with do require the TOEFL to enter a certificate program. AIT Moderator: We are in the process of answering your questions in order. 我們正在回答個位的問題. Q [liang-ray, chang]: To Larry: Dear Sir/Mad: Some schools said in admission form that "GRE subject test is recommended, not require." But in your opinion, do you think if we can take test is helpful for obtain scholarship? Thank you very much. A [Larry Francis]: The GRE score can be important for admission to a graduate department. It is especially important if the student's undergraduate grades are a little weaker than the department would like. Having a high GRE score can help compensate for the lower grades the student earned and may persuade the department to accept the student. If the student has good grades for his undergraduate work and excellent GRE scores, this might make the student eligible for a scholarship. Q [Yeh, Flora]: To Tim: May I ask about the financial aid for the Ph.D student: how much every student could get in the University of Central Florida? I am from Taiwan, if I go there to study, could I get the financial aid as same as the U.S. students? A [Timothy Wilson]: The amount of financial aid that will be given is based upon the university as well as the department. Most departments at the University of Central Florida offer full tuition waivers for Ph.D applicants, but the number of students accepted is very limited. For examples, the Economics Department at UCF only accepts 10 students and all receive full-tuition waivers and must assist professors in either teaching or research as part of their responsibility. Q [netyale]: To Moon: I'm applying for the green card. But it could possibly take effect on 2008. Could I have the reduction of the tuition fee? A [Moon Chen]: It depends on where you live and where you want to study. If an American citizen who lives in Texas, he or she has to pay the non-resident tuition fee for state-supported schools in the first year if he or she moves to California or any other state. But he or she becomes resident automatically in the second year, and then will pay the resident tuition fee which is much, much lower than the non-resident tuition fee. In your case, if you get green card in 2008 and go to study in any of the states in U.S., you have to pay the non-resident tuition fee in the first year accordingly. Take California for example, tuition fee for California State University is approximately $11,000 for non-residents, it is about $3,000 approximately for residents. You can see the difference. Q [HSU, JU-TING]: To Larry: 三位嘉賓好：請問若是在台灣唸書唸完專科學校想繼續到美國唸書，可以直接唸大學或是必須先補修學分？又應該在什麼地方唸呢？謝謝！ If I am in a 5-year college program in Taiwan, can I go directly in a U.S. college program or do I need to complete some required credit? What schools do you recommend? A [Larry Francis]: The admissions office at each college or university in the U.S. determines what criteria the student must meet to be admissible. You may want to consider enrolling at a community college in the U.S. for the first year or two and then transferring to a four-year school to complete coursework for the bachelors degree. Q [彰師大人管所雯惠mico]: To Tim: 如果我要申請暑期或是秋寄的語言課程，大概需要提早多少申請呢?! If I want to apply for summer or fall ESL program, when should I apply? How much time is needed? A [Timothy Wilson]: It is best to apply about three or four months before the semester begins. This time will depend on how long it will take for you to get a student visa. Right now, it is very easy for Taiwanese students to get a student visa so you could still apply later the three to four month time period. Once you have filled out the application and provided the ESL program with the needed documentation, they can generally issue you the I-20 within a week. AIT Moderator: You can meet the speakers at the AIEF Education Fair in Taipei from 3/24-25 at the Howard Plaza Hotel, on 3/26 at the Grand Han-Lai Hotel in Kaohsiung, on 3/27 at the Evergreen Hotel in Taichung. Q: If I want to apply to your graduate school program, will taking ESL courses help my application? A [Timothy Wilson]: This will ultimately depend on the university that you are applying to, so I would check the university that you are interested in. At the University of Central Florida, going to our ESL program does help with graduate admittance. It helps by allowing you to apply under the U.S. deadline rather than the international deadline, and with some departments they are willing to receive a lower TOEFL score than the standard requirement. However, attendance at the ESL program does not guarantee admittance into a graduate program. A [Larry Francis]: The admissions policies at the graduate level vary greatly from one university to another. The policies can also vary at the same university. For example, at the University of Missouri-Columbia, each department has a great deal of flexibility in deciding to accept a student for admission. Several graduate departments have accepted students whose TOEFL scores were slightly below the department's official requirement if the student had attended our university's English language program. The departments accepted the student because they know that the students had acquired many skills that are not necessarily measured by the TOEFL or IELTS, for example, presentation skills and note-taking. Q: To Moon: What is the best location to choose for ESL program? A [Moon Chen]: You may go on the web site to locate proper ESL programs at proper schools. There are also some publications on it, but I think going on web site is faster and easier. AIT Moderator: Our web chat session today will end in 5 minutes. We welcome additional questions for our speakers. To find out how to get more information and talk to an EducationUSA Advisor, log-on to: www.educationusa.org.tw. Q [Yeh, Flora]: To Tim: Before going to the U.S. to get my Ph.D degree, I hope that my vocabulary size and vocabulary knowledge are enough. May I ask a question about: how many words are enough (vocabulary size) for me to study in U.S. university and live there to deal with everything or communicate with native English speakers? Thank you very much? A [Timothy Wilson]: There is no specific size of vocabulary that will guarantee you will do well at the Ph.D level. The common measurements most universities use are the TOEFL and GRE exam. If you are able to understand and do well on the verbal section of the GRE exam, I would say that your vocabulary size is adequate. However, other ways to improve your vocabulary would be to watch English speaking TV or radio on a regular basis to see how much you comprehend. In addition, you can contact the specific Ph.D program you are interested in and find out the textbooks they use in some of their classes and then order them in advance to see how familiar you are with the English terms of your specific area. Q [Chrisine, Wang]: To Tim: 需要推薦函嗎 Do I need a letter of reference for ESL program? A [Timothy Wilson]: For most ESL programs, you do not need a letter of reference for an ESL Program. [Moon Chen]: Well, I hope what I have done here is helpful to you all. You are most welcome to visit the American education fair tomorrow and day after at Howard Hotel (Foo Hua ). See you there, then. [Timothy Wilson]: Thank all of you for taking the time to ask such great questions! I hope that I will be able to meet with you and answer any other questions that you may have at the AIEF Education Fair this weekend in Taipei. Thank you again, and I look forward to meeting you in person, Tim Wilson. [Larry Francis]: Thank you for all of your great questions! I will be happy to try to answer any other questions you have. I will be at the AIEF education fair this weekend in Taipei, Kaoshiung on Monday and Taichung on Tuesday. Please stop by to my booth to meet me. AIT Moderator: Thank you all for joining us today. We hope you found it helpful. Please join us on 4/25 for another session on financial aid and scholarships. Q [eh, Flora]: To Tim: If I go to study in the U.S., which state is warmer and it is similar with Taiwan's climate? Actually, I am afraid that the weather is too cold or too hot; then, I couldn't have a good performance about my studying in the USA. Thanks a lot. A [Timothy Wilson]: I personally believe that Florida and other states like Texas or Georgia would be places that are similar in climate to Taiwan. Created:23 Apr 2007 Updated: 23 Apr 2007
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