The English Language Center (ELC), located on the main campus of Old Dominion University, offers a full range of intensive courses in English as a Second Language.

Mission Statement of the English Language Center

The English Language Center promotes effective, high quality instruction of English for speakers of other languages. It develops in students a respect for the dignity and worth of the individual, a capacity for critical reasoning, a general desire for learning, and the capacity to evaluate their own language learning needs. It fosters the on-going improvement of its faculty by encouraging research, scholarship, and professional development. The English Language Center is committed to presenting important aspects of the culture of the United States, while encouraging a lively curiosity about all cultures of the world among students and faculty.

Intensive English Program

The ELC offers six seven-week sessions each year. Each week, full-time students spend at least twenty hours in class studying grammar, reading/vocabulary, speaking/listening, and writing.

There are five levels of regular day-time classes. Students will be assigned to the appropriate level of English instruction based on the placement test given at the beginning of each session. Proceeding to a higher level normally requires two seven-week sessions.

A special course in TOEFL preparation is available to upper level students. Students may also participate in conversation exchanges with U.S. students in the Conversation Partners Program.

The Undergraduate Bridge Program

The Undergraduate Bridge Program is a university program designed for conditionally admitted undergraduate students who are nonnative English speakers with TOEFL scores between 500 and 550 (iBT 61-80). The Undergraduate Bridge Program curriculum combines credit courses with non-credit courses in English.

In addition to the credit courses, the undergraduate Bridge student enrolls in 8-hours per week of noncredit ESL instruction. The curriculum for this noncredit class is designed to provide personalized assistance, as well as general language instruction to improve the writing, reading, listening/note-taking and speaking skills needed for success at Old Dominion University.

The Graduate Bridge Program

Like the Undergraduate Bridge Program, the Graduate Bridge Program is a special course for graduate students who have been conditionally admitted to Old Dominion University and have TOEFL scores between 500 and 550 (iBT 61-80). The curriculum for the semester-long Graduate Bridge combines 7 hours per week of English instruction with one 3-hour credit course from the student's graduate program.

Housing

There is much off-campus housing available locally for students. A member of the ELC staff will assist students in finding housing, obtaining utility and telephone services, opening bank accounts, and so on. In addition, ELC students are eligible for on-campus housing on a space-available basis during May, June, and July. Students who are planning to study at the ELC for a year or more are eligible for dormitory housing.

Medical Care Insurance

Health care in the United States can be extremely expensive. An accident and health insurance policy is mandatory for ELC students. A group plan is available which is payable on or before the first day of classes.