All instruction (except in foreign languages) at The American University in Dubai is conducted in English. Therefore, students must have proficiency in English in order to benefit from and succeed in university courses. For students whose English language skills need improvement before admission into university studies, AUD’s Center for English Proficiency (CfEP) offers a non-credit Intensive English Language Program (IELP). Upon successful completion of this program, students may apply for admission to the University with the status of degree candidate. Those meeting AUD’s admissions requirements will be accepted.

In the CfEP, non-native speakers of English receive intensive instruction that uses an integrated skills approach with seven components of language study: listening, speaking, grammar, vocabulary, reading, writing, and culture. All courses in the CfEP are non-credit.

The IELP builds general English proficiency as well as developing the English skills necessary in an academic environment. It is designed for students whose goal is to enter the University, but it is also open for people preparing to enter careers requiring English proficiency, for working professionals, and for those seeking general English skills development. Curricular activities include:

• listening and speaking skills useful in everyday life and in the workplace: discussions, negotiations, role play, conversation practice, oral presentations, tasks with video and audio tapes;
• pronunciation development: sounds, rhythm, stress, intonation, blending, and relaxed speech;
• writing skills: note-taking, e-mails, letters, report writing, academic essays, and editing for grammatical and mechanical correctness;
• grammar focused on communication and content;
• practical vocabulary and idiom usage;
• reading for academic purposes as well as for everyday needs, entertainment, and information;
• computer-assisted instruction: word-processing, Web-based activities, and interactive software for grammar, pronunciation, vocabulary, reading, writing, and listening.

There are five levels of instruction in the IELP: IELP 095 (beginning), IELP 096 (basic), IELP 097 (low intermediate), IELP 098 (high intermediate), and IELP 099 (advanced). Students in each level study in instructor-guided classes for four hours daily, Sunday through Thursday. Each course is approximately seven weeks and develops three skill sets: Reading / Vocabulary, Listening / Speaking, and Writing / Grammar. Initial placement in the IELP must be done through the ACCUPLACER assessment, an on-line test done on the AUD campus.

This course is for beginning non-native speakers of English who need to study and practice fundamental language skills in listening, speaking, reading, writing, and grammar. The course is intensive and focused on written and oral language with relatively more time spent on oral skills than is spent in other IELP courses.

Class activities include grammar practice, oral and written communicative tasks, informal presentations and speaking (e.g. story telling), describing orally and in writing, group projects and basic computer skills.

Students develop their basic skills in listening, pronunciation, and reading, while they build vocabulary and learn to write grammatically correct simple sentences and responses to questions. Finally, they are introduced and practice basic paragraph writing.

It is assumed that an incoming student is able to:

• respond appropriately to simple classroom commands, instructional explanations, and questions;
• write simple grammatically correct sentences in responses to oral or written cues;
• read and understand of level appropriate texts especially main ideas by answering questions; and,
• verbally ask and answer questions and ask for clarification.

For non-native speakers of English who have a basic understanding of English, IELP 096 builds a foundation in speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Students develop their reading skills, build their vocabulary, and learn to write simple paragraphs with grammatically correct sentences. Class activities include oral and written communicative tasks, short presentations, using an English-only dictionary, research projects, and taking notes from a simple lecture. Students also develop their overall competence in listening, grammar, and computer use.

It is assumed that an incoming student is able to:

• write a paragraph (9-12 sentences) containing multiple ideas with a concise topic sentence that uses parallel structure;
• write concluding statement which restates the topic sentence;
• articulate an opinion verbally and in writing through use of descriptive, narrative, and opinion modes;
• use various strategies to read and understand level-appropriate academic texts and academic vocabulary; and,
• understand and respond appropriately to classroom instruction, questions, and directions as well as speak extemporaneously for short periods and deliver short prepared speeches.

For intermediate non-native speakers of English, IELP 097 expands existing proficiency in speaking, writing, reading and listening. It also begins to develop academic skills of students whose goal is to enter the University. Students will build their vocabulary, acquire academic reading strategies, and write complex, well-developed paragraphs with grammatically correct sentences. They participate in group discussions, give informal presentations, and learn to support opinions by giving reasons and explanations. Class activities include grammar review and expansion, oral and written communicative tasks, taking notes from a simple lecture, projects, and computer-based instruction.

It is assumed that an incoming student is able to:

• write a topic sentence using parallel structure with three points of discussion (subtopics);
• write a complex paragraph developing multiple ideas that support the topic sentence and provide adequate explanations and examples;
• write well-developed paragraphs using various rhetorical modes;
• write concise concluding sentences which restate the topic sentence using parallel structure;
• use various strategies to read and understand level-appropriate academic texts and academic vocabulary; and,
• speak extemporaneously on given topics for short periods and deliver short prepared speeches.

For high intermediate non-native speakers of English, IELP 098 expands proficiency in speaking, writing, reading and listening. It also further develops academic skills of students whose goal is to enter the University. Students participate in more complex listening activities such as listening and taking notes from lectures. They also participate in more challenging speaking activities such as giving formal presentations and discussing causes, effects, and solutions to a problem. They continue to build their vocabulary, acquire reading strategies, and review and expand grammar. They write multi-paragraph essays demonstrating mature thought. This course places more emphasis on communicative tasks, projects, and computer-based learning.

It is assumed that an incoming student is able to:

• write a topic sentence using parallel structure with three points of discussion (subtopics);
• write a clear thesis statement using parallel structure indicating the content of body paragraphs in the order presented in essay;
• write a short five-paragraph essay using multiple rhetorical modes that are sufficiently developed and support the thesis statement by providing adequate explanations and examples;
• write a concluding statement which restates the thesis statement using parallel structure;
• use various strategies to read and understand level-appropriate academic texts and develop academic vocabulary; and,
• speak extemporaneously on given topics for short periods and deliver short prepared speeches.

Designed for advanced non-native English speakers bound for university studies, IELP 099 is focused on equipping students with the linguistic and academic competence they will need to succeed in university classes. It focuses on writing essays using sophisticated sentence structure in coherent, well-developed paragraphs. Students will learn to construct an outline, structure an essay, create a thesis statement, provide specific and relevant support, use transitions, and proofread for accuracy. IELP 099 also develops listening and speaking skills useful in university classes, such as note-taking from lectures, writing reports, and making formal presentations. It develops university level vocabulary and advanced proficiency in reading English, with emphasis on using various reading strategies to increase reading speed and comprehension. Vocabulary expansion is accomplished through study of word structure (stems, prefixes, and suffixes), deducing meaning from context, and learning high frequency academic words.