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Washington University in St. Louis
English Language Program
English Advantage: Intensive Language Training for Academic and Professional Communication
June 17-July 26, 2013
Gain an advantage in developing the robust language skills you need for a demanding degree program! English Advantage at Washington University in St. Louis (WUSTL) immerses you in 20 hours per week of English language training for academic and professional communication.
Prerequisite:
- Admission to a WUSTL degree program, or
- Minimum score of 79 on the TOEFL iBT or equivalent, and admission to the English Language Programs (ELP)
Download the English Advantage brochure or read on for details.
About the Courses | Activities Outside the Classroom | Costs
Admission, Immigration Information, and More
About the Courses
English Advantage serves students at an advanced level of English proficiency who aim to polish their language skills in order to transition more easily into an academic program in an English language environment.
One section of each course focuses on general academic language skills, while separate sections address the distinctive language demands of students entering graduate/professional programs in law and business. LLM and MBA sections are offered only when there is sufficient enrollment.
The Listening/Speaking course (Monday-Friday, 8:45-11:00 a.m.) focuses on the following skills:
- LLM section: Understanding lectures and participating in discussions about law-related topics, giving oral presentations about legal cases
- MBA section: Understanding lectures and participating in discussions and negotiations on business-related topics, giving presentations for business purposes
- General Academic section: Understanding lectures on a range of academic topics, participating in class discussions, giving oral presentations, and improving pronunciation
The Reading/Writing course (Monday-Friday, 12:45-3:00 p.m.) focuses on the following skills:
- LLM section: Strategies for reading and briefing legal cases, developing academic (especially legal) vocabulary, improving grammatical accuracy and clarity in writing, drafting and revising analytical and persuasive writing about legal topics
- MBA section: Strategies for reading business school case studies; developing vocabulary specific to this same genre; improving paragraph structure, clarity, and grammatical accuracy in writing; and revising drafts in the editing process
- General Academic section: Reading strategies, developing academic vocabulary, improving clarity and grammatical accuracy in writing, drafting and revising academic writing
Activities Outside the Classroom
English Advantage participants regularly enjoy local off-campus trips and other activities led by their instructors. These activities are designed for participants to exercise their English skills, build their understanding of U.S. culture, and get to know the St. Louis community. In recent years, activities have included trips to the Gateway Arch and Museum of Westward Expansion, Missouri Botanical Garden, St. Louis Art Museum / Forest Park, and Tower Grove Park.
The staff of the English Language Programs (ELP) and Office for International Students & Scholars (OISS) will be glad to assist you with any questions or concerns you have about life in St. Louis.
Costs
The estimated costs for English Advantage are as follows. Please note that some costs, such as tuition, are fixed; other costs, such as housing, may vary depending on a student's choices.
| Tuition | $4880 |
| Health Insurance* | $150 (estimate) |
| Housing* | $1586 |
| Meals* | $756 |
| Incidental Expenses* | $400 |
| TOTAL | $7772 |
* The actual cost for summer health insurance will be posted here after it becomes available in late spring. Housing, meals, and incidental expenses are expenses that vary for each individual. The estimate of housing expenses is based on costs for housing on campus.
Tuition - Students in English Advantage who will start a WUSTL degree program in the fall will be billed for tuition on their student account. Tuition may be paid through the payment methods described by the Office for Student Accounting. Students taking only English Advantage will pay the full program tuition at the time of registration.
Health Insurance - University health insurance is mandatory for English Advantage students. Health insurance coverage for students enrolled in English Advantage begins on June 1. This coverage is for the duration of English Advantage only--it does not include coverage for the academic year.
Important: No health insurance coverage is available for dependents through the student's university health insurance until August 1. Options for English Advantage students with spouses and children include:
1. Buy separate, short-term health insurance coverage for your dependents for the time period between their arrival and August 1. OISS maintains a list of insurance companies that may be willing to sell you such coverage. However, please note that insurance companies generally do not sell short-term health insurance coverage for individuals with a "preexisting condition" such as pregnancy, and are likely to limit their coverage in other ways.
2. Have your dependents wait to join you in the U.S. until after August 1.
Further information about mandatory student health insurance and university health services is available from WUSTL's Student Health Services.
Housing and Meals - The estimate of housing expenses is based on costs for 45 nights in a single room for one person in a WUSTL residence hall on campus. You may reserve a room on campus in a residence hall, or you may arrange to live off campus. See "Admission, Immigration Information, and More" for the link to more information about campus residence halls. You may purchase food at campus dining facilities whether you live on or off campus. See the WUSTL Dining Services web site for more information about food service on campus.
Incidental Expenses - Incidental expenses are personal expenses that vary for each individual, including books, entertainment, clothing, laundry, and other costs.
Admission, Immigration Information, and More
- If you have been admitted to a WUSTL degree program that will start in the fall, see this information about your visa documents and other steps to join English Advantage.
- If you have NOT been admitted to a WUSTL degree program and wish to complete English Advantage as a stand-alone intensive English program,, see this information about applying for admission and more.
- If you are already a member of the St. Louis community, a WUSTL student, or a WUSTL employee, you are also welcome to participate in English Advantage. See this information about registering for English Advantage courses.