Utah State University

Intensive English Language Institute

IntroductionThe Intensive English Language Institute (IELI) is an academic English as a

Second Language (ESL) program for international undergraduates an graduates who have been admitted to Utah State University and for students who want to study only English. IELI defines academic English as the teaching of the skill areas of reading, writing, speaking, and listening in content-based language courses for the purpose of developing the language ability necessary to study in a major field offered by the university. The content courses also incorporate cultural information and study skills to assist the students in negotiating the university system. Four levels of instruction are offered. Students in each level take 18 credits of course work per week. Level 4 is the exit level, and completion of this level satisfies the university’s requirement for English language proficiency.

In addition to assisting international students in acquiring the language and cultural skills necessary for successful academic study, IELI serves the Office of the Provost by permitting visiting scholars and their spouses to audit IELI course. The School of Graduate Studies employs IELI to teach two teacher-training workshops for international students who may serve their departments as graduate instructors and to conduct follow-up observations of those students who are teaching. IELI cooperates with the Office of International Cooperative Education and Initiatives by offering IELI courses at two universities in China. IELI serves the Master’s of Second Language Teaching program by supporting a graduate instructor, and IELI faculty are often invited to teach courses in this program. These activities support, in part, the University’s plan for internationalizing the campus.

Tenured and tenure-track IELI faculty teach three semesters (Fall, Spring, Summer) for a total of 27 credits over an 11-month period. IELI recruits and retains faculty who have either a Master’s Degree in Teaching English as a Second Language or a closely related field and/or a PhD in Applied Linguistics or a closely related field. IELI faculty have a teaching, research or creative activity, and service role.

IELI is accredited by the Commission on English Language Program Accreditation, which is recognized the U.S. Department of Education as a reliable authority on the quality of English language programs and institutions.

TeachingPromotion to associate professor with tenure

IELI faculty believe excellence in teaching is necessary for promotion and tenure. IELI identifies excellence in teaching as

having a methodology and philosophy that presents challenging goals for students

an awareness of the cultural differences in learning styles and approaches to learning held by non-native speakers of English

student evaluations of teaching that are consistently high or show a pattern of growth over time

a record of commendatory peer evaluations proficiency in curriculum design as evidenced by instructional materials,

course design, and syllabi consulting, presenting papers or workshops at refereed conferences, and

mentoring graduate students These can be evidenced by means such as ethnographic evaluations, self-evaluations of teaching, and a consistent trajectory of involvement in activities that support the art of teaching.

Research/Creative ActivityPromotion to associate professor

The candidate will be expected to show a continuous record of scholarly activity that makes a practical or theoretical contribution to the field of ESL. IELI expects these scholarly activities to support the candidate’s academic emphasis and to demonstrate rigor. Periods of time without scholarly activity will need to carry a statement of circumstance. Scholarly activities must undergo national peer review, and can include bur are not limited to the following:

evidence of scholarship being applied in the classroom articles in print or electronic journals textbooks books, or chapters in books instructional materials editing journals participation in workshops presenting papers at professional conferences

In line with the MLA guidelines, IELI does not distinguish between print or electronic publication when determining the value of an activity. Also, in line with the practices in TESOL ( Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages), the giving of papers at conferences is a necessary step in professional development.

ServicePromotion to associate professor

IELI expects the candidate to give diverse service to the IELI program and to the profession as primary service activities during this period in the candidate’s career. Service to IELI may include several or all of the following:

participating on the curriculum committee serving as a sponsor for the IELISA (IELI student organization) monitoring and grading the placement exam mentoring the graduate instructor serving on the textbook selection committee

The newly employed candidate usually begins professional service in Intermountain TESOL. IELI expects the candidate to maintain membership in professional organizations and serve in these organizations as well as serving the college and the university.