The mission of SLS is to provide academic support to those students whose primary language is not English by aiding them in strengthening their reading, writing, speaking, and listening skills. Support is offered by ESL professionals through intensive English classes, workshops, individual tutorials, self-study materials, a teaching fellows program, an institutional TOEFL program, and a faculty outreach program. The workshops, tutorials, and self-study materials are provided free of charge. It is our hope that no student in need of English language support continues at the University unaided.

We offer intensive English language instruction, tutorials, and support for students interested in studying at an American college or university.

  • Developmental English

    ENG 095 Developmental English Skills I

    This course is appropriate for native English speakers as well as non-native English speakers with a high level of oral fluency, but a need to improve English reading and writing skills for an academic setting. The course provides students with opportunities for and guidance in the development of Academic English writing. Class activities focus on aiding students in improving their academic English reading and writing skills to the proficiency levels required by the University. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of planning, organizing and revising essays, as well as learning how to analyze, summarize, and cite an author's ideas and words.

    Offered in the fall and Summer Session I semesters

    ENG 096 Developmental English Skills II

    A continuation of ENG 095, this course provides opportunities to both native and non-native English speakers for further development of Academic English proficiency. Class activities focus on aiding students in improving their academic English reading and writing skills to the proficiency levels required by the University. Particular emphasis is placed on the importance of planning, organizing and revising essays, as well as learning how to analyze, summarize, and cite an author's ideas and words.

    Offered in the spring and Summer Session II semesters.

  • Freshman Second Language Program (FSL)

    The FSL Program enrolls non-native English speakers who are graduates of high schools accredited in the United States, as well as international students who have achieved a TOEFL score of at least 500 (PBT), 173 (CBT) or 61 (IBT). Other standardized tests that demonstrate academic English proficiency, such as the IELTS, SATs, or ACTs will also be considered for admission. The program typically leads to a baccalaureate degree. The first year of intensive, developmental English courses is complemented by a series of content courses within the College of Arts and Sciences (CAS) and the Sawyer Business School, for which students earn academic credit. This program of study is meant to enable students to acquire the academic skills necessary to successfully obtain a college degree. Upon successful completion of the FSL program, students may go on to pursue a BS or BA in CAS, a BFA degree in the New England School of Art and Design (NESAD), or a BSBA degree in the Sawyer Business School. The length of time needed to obtain a full degree will depend on how quickly students progress in their academic and language skills, and on what major they wish to pursue.

    All students in the FSL Program take the following courses their first year:*

    FSL Program Courses

    Skills Courses

    Through the use of genuine content materials and assignments, these courses offer students the opportunity to practice active critical thinking and study skills as they familiarize themselves with the academic language structures and standards required in an American university setting. They also frequently call upon students to examine their own first language acquisition and reading and writing processes to enable them to apply successful strategies to their university study.

    Content Courses

    These courses provide students with opportunities to apply what they have acquired in the Skills Courses in rigorous content-based settings. These courses offer reading and writing activities which implement skills introduced in ENG 098 and ENG 099.

    Fall semester

    • ENG 098 ESL Reading/Writing: Utilizing a freshman-level English textbook and materials from the content courses, these courses furnish students with active reading strategies and the conventions of academic writing that will be applicable to their collegiate course- work. Students will develop the analytical skills necessary for academic success by producing in-class and take-home essays, participating in debates, and giving oral presentations. Students will be required to work with a course management program and to utilize technology effectively in their writing. The skills obtained in these courses will allow students to participate comfortably in their mainstream college classes.
    • HST 181 American History: This course provides a survey of American history and includes such topics as colonial politics and society; Native Americans; the American Revolution; nation-building and nationalism; sectionalism and slavery; industrialization; and America’s rise as a world power.
    • SF 164 Seminar for Freshman - The End of the World: This course uses materials drawn from several disciplines and is designed to help incoming freshmen develop the skills, habits of inquiry and broadened range of interests necessary to pursue a higher education successfully and independently. This course stresses writing and learning strategies, critical literacy, and academic survival skills, as well as exposure to great works and ideas.
    • Program elective

    Spring semester

    • ENG 099 ESL Reading/Writing: Utilizing a freshman-level English textbook and materials from the content courses, these courses furnish students with active reading strategies and the conventions of academic writing that will be applicable to their collegiate course- work. Students will develop the analytical skills necessary for academic success by producing in-class and take-home essays, participating in debates, and giving oral presentations. Students will be required to work with a course management program and to utilize technology effectively in their writing. The skills obtained in these courses will allow students to participate comfortably in their mainstream college classes.
    • HST 150 Empires and Globalization in World History II: This course provides an overview and integration of major events in world history and their contributions to modern business and globalization. Themes of geography, global issues, and cultural diversity will be emphasized.
    • CJN 177 Professional Communication: This course addresses oral professional communication knowledge and competencies. Students will deliver informative, persuasive, and impromptu presentations. Interpersonal communications will be enhanced as students practice giving and receiving feedback, learn how group dynamics affect team-level communication, and complete and present a team project.
    • Program elective

    *NESAD students’ program may deviate slightly.

    All FSL courses award academic credit. The amount of credit awarded toward degree requirements varies with the school and major the student matriculates into. The number of credits applied toward graduation is typically distributed: CAS students (24-32), Sawyer Business School students (24-32), and NESAD students (24-30).

    FSL Program Policies

    Due to the developmental nature of its courses, the FSL Program is a two-semester commitment. FSL students participate in summer orientation and begin their program in the fall. Once a student has begun the FSL Program, he or she may not place out of it with an advanced standardized test score. To exit the FSL Program, students must pass all FSL courses; if they do not, they may be asked to leave the University. During the second semester of the program, students take a written exit exam. Students who are unable to pass the exam are required to enroll in an additional intensive writing course.

    Advising

    The Coordinator of the FSL Program, Elaine Pascale, officially advises FSL students during the program and offers assistance throughout their time at Suffolk. To schedule an appointment, please call (617) 973-5392.

    Tutoring

    Individual and small group tutoring is available free of charge to all second language students through the SLS Office. Writing and grammar tutoring is offered by ESL professionals, and workshops are also conducted in a variety of areas, including Academic Writing, TOEFL Preparation, Graduate Writing, and Classroom Conversational Skills and Pronunciation.

  • English Language for Internationals Program (ELI)

    The ELI Program is an intensive, non-degree English as a Foreign Language program, designed for international students planning to attend Suffolk University or other American universities. The ELI classes help students develop English proficiency and prepare them to matriculate into a college setting. Because this is a language immersion program the classes are non-credit. The program is appropriate for students who need language instruction at the intermediate to advanced level; it is not designed for individuals with little or no knowledge of English.

    The ELI Program offers seven levels of instruction. Each level may be completed within a semester of study. Four semesters of study are offered a year. The fall and spring sessions are 14-week programs, while the summer sessions meet for six weeks. Placement into and progression through each level is determined using a variety of assessment tools, including coursework and institutional TOEFL/TWE scores.

    All levels require 20 hours of class instruction per week, including:

    • 12 hours a week of skills instruction (grammar, reading, writing, speaking, listening, note taking, and research)
    • 3 hours a week in the computer and/or language lab (TOEFL preparation, pronunciation and accent reduction, and academic computing skills)
    • 5 hours a week of cultural and academic activities (including research and guest lectures)

    Conditional Acceptance

    Students may apply directly to the ELI Program or be referred by an Admissions Counselor. Students applying to a degree program who are academically admissible, but whose language proficiency is not acceptable, may be offered a conditional admittance, contingent upon successful completion of the ELI Program. Suffolk University reserves the right to make the final determination as to when program requirements have been successfully completed and when a student may qualify for admission to a degree program.

    Attendance Policy

    For students enrolled in the ELI Program, attendance and completion of assignments is vitally important to their progress. In addition, it is important for students to understand that regular attendance is a requirement of the Immigration and Naturalization Service for students with an F-1 visa. The current policy allows for students to miss a total of 20% of their classes without penalty. Missing between 20 and 40% of the classes will have a negative effect on a student’s average and evaluation. Missing more than 45% of the scheduled classes without justification or permission from the Director of Second Language Services or the Dean of Students Office will result in a grade of “F” for that class. Grades of “W” or “I” will not be given in cases where a student’s work is incomplete due to frequent unexcused absences. It is important to note that for students who have been conditionally admitted to a program at Suffolk University, a negative evaluation or failing grades could result in a denial of their application.

    Advising

    Charlotte McAleer, the ELI Coordinator, officially advises ELI students during the program and offers assistance throughout their time at Suffolk, should they matriculate into a Suffolk degree program. To make an appointment, please call 617.994.4215.

    Field Trips and Guest Speakers

    ELI students may participate in field trips as part of their coursework throughout the semester. Past trips have included the Computer Museum, the State House, the Boston Stock Exchange, and the Suffolk County Courthouse. Guest speakers are often invited to the American Culture Lab.

    Tutoring

    Individual and small group tutoring is available free of charge to all second language students through the SLS Office. Tutoring is offered by ESL professionals in a variety of areas including: Language Skills, Academic Writing, TOEFL Preparation and Classroom Conversation Skills and Pronunciation.

Eli Courses

  • ELI-021 Low Intermediate English Listening/Speaking Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low intermediate level (340-393 paper-based TOEFL, 63-90 computer-based, 20-29 Internet-based/1-1.5 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-022 Low Intermediate English Reading / Writing Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low intermediate level (340-393 paper-based TOEFL, 63-90 computer-based, 20-29 Internet-based/1-1.5 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-023 Low Intermediate English American Culture Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low intermediate level (340-393 paper-based TOEFL, 63-90 computer-based, 20-29 Internet-based/1-1.5 TWE) who need to acquire communicative fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, values, and institutions, giving students a content-driven opportunity to practice the English language skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-024 Low Intermediate English Academic Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low intermediate level (340-393 paper-based TOEFL, 63-90 computer-based, 20-29 Internet-based/1-1.5 TWE) who need to acquire academic English fluency in American English. The focus is on classroom behavior, note-taking, asking questions and classroom discourse. This course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-031 Intermediate English Listening/Speaking/ Pronunciation Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a intermediate level (425-450/110-133 CBT TOEFL/2.5-3.0 TWE) who need to acquire aural fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in listening comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-032 Intermediate English Reading, Writing, And Grammar Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low intermediate level (425-450/110-133 CBT TOEFL / 2.5-3.0 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-033 Intermediate English - American Culture Lab

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at intermediate level (425-450/110-133 CBT TOEFL/2.5-3.0 TWE) who need to acquire communicative fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, value and institutions, giving students a content driven opportunity to practice English language skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-034 Intermediate English - Academic Skills Lab

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native speakers assessed to be at intermediate level (425-450/110-133 CBT TOEFL/2.5-3.0 TWE) who need to acquire communicative fluency in American English. The focus is on computer skills needed to be a successful student at an American college. Skills include internet usage, word processing and spreadsheets, graphics creation, language drills, and TOEFL preparation. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-041 High Intermediate Listening/Speaking/ Pronunciation Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI Students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native speakers assessed to be at the high intermediate level (450-475/110-133 CBT TOEFL/2.8-3.3 TWE) who need to acquire aural fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in listening comprehension, speaking and pronunciation. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded. Co-Requisite courses: ELI 042, ELI 043, ELI 044

  • ELI-042 High Intermediate Reading/Writing/ Grammar Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at high intermediate level intermediate level (450-475/110-133 CBT TOEFL/2.8-3.3 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-043 High Intermediate Eli American Culture

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high intermediate level (450-475/133-153) CBT TOEFL / 2.8-3.3 TWE) who need to acquire academic fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, values, and institutions, giving students a content driven opportunity to practice the English language skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for five hours a week.

  • ELI-044 High Intermediate English - Academic Skills Lab

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high intermediate level (450-475/133-153 CBT TOEFL / 2.8-3.3 TWE) who need to acquire academic writing skills. The focus is on research skills needed to be a successful student at an American college. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-051 Low Advanced Listening/Speaking/ Pronunciation Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at low advanced level (475-500/3.0-3.5 TWE) who need to acquire aural fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in listening, comprehension, speaking and pronunciation. The course meets or six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-052 Low Advanced Reading/Writing/Grammar Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low advanced level (475-500/153-173 CBT TOEFL /3.0-3.5 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-053 Low Advanced American Culture Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low advanced level (475-500/153-173 CBT TOEFL /3.0-3.5 TWE) who need to acquire communicative fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, values, and institutions, giving students a content driven opportunity to practice the English skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-054 Low Advanced Research Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a low advanced level (475-500/153-173 CBT TOEFL/ 3.0-3.5 TWE) who need to acquire academic writing skills in American English. The focus is on research skills needed to be a successful student at an American college. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded. The course meets five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-061 High Advanced Listening/Speaking/ Pronunciation Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (500-525/173-193 CBT TOEFL / 3.5-4.0 TWE) who need to acquire aural fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in listening comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-062 High Advanced Reading/Writing/Grammar Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (500-525/173-193 CBT TOEFL / 3.5-4.0 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English for an academic setting. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar. The course meets for six hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-063 High Advanced American Culture Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (500-525/173-193 CBT TOEFL / 3.5-4.0 TWE) who need to acquire academic fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, values, and institutions, giving students a content driven opportunity to practice the English language skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-064 High Advanced Research Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (500-525/173-193 CBT TOEFL / 3.5-4.0 TWE) who need to acquire academic writing skills in American English. The focus is on research skills needed to be a successful student at an American college. The course meets for five hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-071 Special Advanced Listening/Speaking/ Pronunciation Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For graduate level, non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (525-550/ 190-200 CBT TOEFL / 4.0-4.5 TWE) who need to acquire aural fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in listening comprehension, speaking, and pronunciation; the content is derived from Harvard Business School Case Studies. The course meets for six hours a week.

  • ELI-072 Special Advanced Reading/Writing/Grammar Skills

    Prerequisites:

    ELI students only

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    For graduate level, non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level (525-550/ 190-200 CBT TOEFL / 4.0-4.5 TWE) who need to acquire written fluency in American English. The focus is on intensive practice in reading, writing, and English grammar; the content is derived from business texts and Harvard Business School Case Studies. The course meets for six hours a week.

  • ELI-073 Spec Adv Amer Culture Lab

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    A course for graduate level, non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level of proficiency (525 - 550 PBT/ 193 - 213 CBT/ 70 - 79 IBT/ 3.5 - 4.0 TWE), who need to acquire communicative fluency in American English. The focus is on American culture, values, and institutions, giving students a content driven opportunity to practice the English skills introduced in the other ELI courses. The course meets for four hours a week. College credit is not awarded.

  • ELI-074 Spec Adv Research Skills

    Credits:

    0.00

    Description:

    A course for graduate level, non-native English speakers assessed to be at a high advanced level of proficiency (525 - 550 PBT/ 193 - 213 CBT/ 70 - 79 IBT/ 3.5 - 4.0 TWE), who need to master graduate-level academic skills such as library research, evaluation of sources, quoting, paraphrasing and citation methods, and TOEFL preparation. The course meets fours hours a week. College credit is not awarded.