MISSOURI STATE UNIVERSITY

Located on the beautiful campus of Missouri State University (MSU) in Springfield, the English Language Institute (ELI) is a multi-level course of study for students whose primary language is not English. Most of our students are preparing to enter an American university to earn a bachelor's degree or a master's degree. Other ELI students study in our program for a semester or two to improve their English skills for professional or personal reasons. In addition to our reputation for excellence as an academic preparation program, low tuition and low student-to-teacher ratios are two important factors that many students cite as their reason for choosing the ELI at Missouri State University.

Diverse Student Population
Our program offers an exciting opportunity to learn with students from all over the world. Among the nations represented in our classes are Algeria, Argentina, Belgium, Bolivia, Brazil, Republic of China, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, Egypt, Hungary, India, Indonesia, Israel, Ivory Coast, Japan, Jordan, Malaysia, Mali, Mexico, Mongolia, Oman, Panama, Peru, Poland, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Sudan, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Ukraine, Venezuela, and Yemen. The diversity of nationalities gives all of us a greater global perspective as we share traditions and customs of our cultures with each other.

Enthusiastic and Caring Faculty
Our professional teaching staff is dedicated to the ELI mission of "providing English language skills for academic and career success." Each of the full-time instructors has a masterÕs degree in English with TESOL emphasis and several years of teaching experience, both here and abroad. In addition to the instructors, graduate students in the TESOL program at MSU also bring their expertise and enthusiasm to the ELI. Moreover, we offer a native conversation partner program for all ELI students and an Academic Lecture Series in which university professors visit our classes as guest lecturers.

Calendar
The ELI follows the MSU semester schedule with a 16-week Fall semester (mid-August through early December), a 16-week Spring semester (mid-January through early May) and an 8-week Summer semester (early June through early August). During the week, students spend 23 to 25 hours in class, including weekly computer and language labs. There are no classes on Friday afternoons, Saturdays, or Sundays.

ELI Classes
The ELI offers classes in five levels, from basic to advanced. At the beginning of each semester, placement tests are given to new students to determine their level of proficiency. In each level, Writing/Grammar, Reading, Speaking/Listening, and Computer Lab are core classes. The lower levels teach the foundational components of grammar and speech and their function in written and oral communication, and emphasis is placed on vocabulary development. In the more advanced levels, students are exposed to the principles of American academic written discourse, research techniques, diverse reading assignments, and development of critical thinking skills. Each semester, GMAT Preparation is also offered as a supplemental course for both international and American students.

Although the focus of the ELI program is academic, we also find time to enjoy picnics in the park, field trips to points of interest in the Ozarks, and cultural events such as concerts and theatrical performances. In our region are many beautiful lakes for recreation and fishing, rivers for canoeing, mountains for hiking, and, for the adventurous, caves to explore.  

ELI students have access to all student facilities, events, and services on the MSU campus, including healthcare facilities, computer services, shuttle service, recreational facilities, library, sporting and cultural events, and University-sponsored extracurricular activities.

Housing
We encourage our students to live on campus with American roommates to practice speaking English, to build vocabulary, and to better understand American culture. For on-campus housing information, call 417-836-5536 or check their website at www.missouristate.edu/reslife.

About Missouri State University
Missouri State University offers over 140 academic programs at the undergraduate level and 40 graduate programs, including an MBA program that is one of the top-ranked in the nation. Although student enrollment is more than 18,000, the campus is compact and easily accessible. MSU, providing a safe environment for its students, is among a very select group of colleges in the country to have a city police department substation on campus. For more information about MSU, visit the University website at www.missouristate.edu.

Conditional Admission
Conditional admission to MSU is available to ELI applicants with adequate grade point average who have applied to both the ELI and MSU. You may apply online to MSU at www.international.missouristate.edu

International students are an important part of the Missouri State University community and, if they desire to improve their language proficiency, they are encouraged to apply to the English Language Institute. All students successfully completing the ELI program may apply for admission to Missouri State University without submitting a TOEFL score.