About Us

 

The English Language Institute at California State University, Sacramento (Sacramento State), provides international learners with an excellent education while becoming familiar with people and cultures from around the world. Located in the capital of California, Sacramento State is a safe, friendly campus that offers a variety of educational and recreational opportunities. This environment creates an ideal atmosphere for you if you want to learn and perfect your English language skills.

 

As a prospective student, you may be planning to enter an American college or university. Or you may be a professional who needs to improve your English language for travel, business, and professional development. The English Language Institute (ELI) at Sacramento State provides the resources needed to improve your English skills in a productive and effective environment.

The goal of ELI is to:

 

  • Help you develop the skills necessary to gain fluency in English as a Second Language (ESL)
  • Prepare you to communicate effectively in English
  • Provide general English skills for business, travel and educational purposes
  • Transition you from an intensive English program to an academic program within a college or university
  • Introduce you to various aspects of American culture and society

 

Courses

ELI offers specially designed English language courses for students who wish to live and study in California. The intensive English language curriculum prepares you to enter American colleges and universities and helps you develop communication skills for professional and social settings. Grammar, Composition, Listening/Speaking and Vocabulary classes are taught by highly qualified master TESOL instructors at five different levels of English proficiency. You will attend at least four hours of class every school day (Monday through Thursday). Various extracurricular activities are also available to help you practice and utilize your English skills.

Small and personalized classes are characteristic of the ELI program; this enables you to receive the close, individualized attention that you may not receive at a larger institution. Our class sizes are capped which allows you to fully participate in the instructional process. Because of this, your development of English skills will occur at a faster pace.

 

Workshops and Supplemental Learning Experiences

Classes at ELI are supplemented by optional afternoon workshops and learning activities. A typical workshop may include TOEFL test preparation, a study of American idioms, or a forum on cultural issues. Guided trips to the Sacramento State library and movie viewing are examples of other educational exercises to fill your day. In addition, an ELI newsletter, the International Inquirer, gives you the opportunity to express your interests and observations as well as practice your writing skills.

 

Open University for advanced Levels 6 and 7

Through the Sacramento State Open University program, students in levels 6 and 7 have the option of substituting regular Sacramento State classes for an ELI class. No additional tuition fee is required for this privilege. If you participate in Open University, you will receive semester based special session academic credit, which may be transferable if you decide to matriculate to an accredited college or university. You may also audit an Open University course.

 

Computer Lab

You will have access to a computer lab and many ESL computer programs. You can use these ESL programs to better understand coursework or use your computer lab time to explore a wide variety of interactive software. The lab is supervised at all times and students will be recognized for outstanding participation. The ELI computer lab has access to the Internet so you may access e-mail or conduct research for class projects.

 

Features

CSUS’s ELI offers a high quality, intensive English language program. The following are the beneficial features of our program:

 

  • Small class size
  • 20 hours of instruction each week
  • Classes held on the Sacramento State campus
  • Year-round instruction in five levels (basic to advanced)
  • Professional staff
  • Excellent instructors (with master’s degrees in TESOL and international teaching experience)
  • Residential campus in Northern California with access to campus activities
  • Social and cultural activities
  • Conversation partners
  • Immigration counseling available
  • Open University courses and assistance from an academic advisor
  • Official certificate of completion

 

Click here to view a PDF of the brochure

Click here to view a PDF of the application