ELC Student Advisors Answer
5 Important Questions from IEP Students
The ELC Student Advisory Committee gathered these unedited questions about the ELC from their IEP classmates.
Here, we have attempted to answer some of them.
Student Question #1: There are many policies in ELC, one of them that when students fail in one class, they have to
repeat the whole semester again: What are the benefits of this policy? Why does the ELC use this style whereas many
institutes do not?
The ELC curriculum is designed to lead students from point X to point Y in their language learning in 15 weeks. It is a
general but reasonable plan of advancement which most students are able to achieve. Our system is designed to allow
us to assume that the student who was unable to pass all classes did so for some reason, and that this reason must be
examined. This is why the policy is stated as, “failure to pass all classes will result in a student being unable to automatically advance to the next level.” ‘Automatically’ is the operative word. When a student fails in one class or more, the student’s situation is examined carefully by a review of current course grades and teacher comments (both mid-term and
final), test scores (if applicable), and previous grades and instructor comments. Through this review, the ELC is generally
able to gauge if the student has failed due to a pronounced lack of language skills, a problem in study habits or attitude,
an interpersonal or personal problem, an adjustment issue, etc. And depending on how significant the issue is, the student may or may not be advanced, ultimately. The guiding principle for placement is: how best can the ELC ensure the
success of the students toward meeting their educational goals and how can we ensure that a student who enters into
the academic course program does not cause unreasonable burden, due to poor language skills, on the professor, the
classmates and the educational system? This well thought out system is applied specifically for use within the context of
Michigan State University in order to meet the needs of the student, the Center and the university.
Student Question #2: Why the semester in ELC is too long? Why ELC has holiday on Wednesday? We can finish the
semester earlier and make the program more intensive.
The ELC schedule follows that of Michigan State University for fall and spring semesters. The ELC summer schedule
starts at the same time the university summer session begins, but the program ends one week earlier than the university
second summer session does. You can find the university calendar at http://www.reg.msu.edu/ROInfo/Calendar/Academic.asp. The ELC will always follow the university calendar; therefore, the semester will not end earlier.
Wednesday is not a holiday. In addition, for students who have trouble waking up on time for 8 am or 9 am classes, it
helps to break up the monotony of daily schedule pressures. It is a day that all IEP students have flexibility in scheduling,
so the ELC can offer required workshops or schedule field trips to avoid weekend crowds.
Student Question #3: After level 4, will we take part time class or full time?
The answer to this question is different for provisionally admitted students and for Language Training students.
After Level 4, students who are accepted into a MSU degree program (BA, MA or PhD) will take full-time, part-time or no
EAP classes depending on the results of the Exit MSUELT. Language Training students (ELC, Eurocentres or Government
Sponsored) will take EAP classes (ESL 220, 222 and 223) full-time.
Student Question #4: MSU can accept EAP classes to go to the college without taking TOEFL test?
In the case of undergraduate students, successful completion of EAP classes with a 2.0 grade or higher is accepted by
MSU as one method by which to meet the university minimum proficiency requirement in English.
In the case of graduate students, successful completion of EAP classes is accepted by most departments. However,
graduate programs may and often do have (1) a higher requirement (3.5 grade minimum), (2) dual requirements – submission of a TOEFL iBT score in addition to completion of EAP classes, and/or (3) other requirements (check with your
department).
Student Question #5: How can I skip EAP? Which score I should get in MSUELT test to skip that level? How can ELC
students move to regular class next semester?
These questions apply to MSU provisionally admitted students, only. Language Training students (ELC, Eurocentres, and
Government Sponsored) are not eligible to take academic classes.
The first step toward satisfying the MSU minimum proficiency requirement in English, through ESL classes, is to pass all
classes in your current level. Then, you can apply the MSUELT results flow chart to your MSUELT results to determine
placement eligibility into any level higher. http://elc.msu.edu/files/2113/3038/0584/msueltflowchart.pdf