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Institute for English Language Programs

About the Program


The Institute for English Language Programs (IEL) emphasizes academic English and offers fall- and spring-term noncredit courses to assist students in achieving the English proficiency they need to succeed in several types of jobs and courses of study. Every IEL class begins with a common reading and features study of a novel or nonfiction book; these texts are meant to help students to connect their classwork and their lives in the wider American society.

In addition to the courses listed below, IEL offers the Diploma in English for Graduate and Professional Studies (DGP), a one-year program that combines language instruction with courses selected to help international students succeed in their chosen fields of study in American graduate or professional schools.

IEL students may listen to materials in a variety of media in the Harvard Language Resource Center (LRC) and use the computing facilities at 53 Church Street as well as the library facilities and computers in the Grossman Library. At some levels of proficiency, conversational practice is offered with volunteers who are members of the Harvard Institute for Learning in Retirement (HILR). Each semester, students may compete for scholarships and book prizes awarded by the Emanuel and Lilly Shinagel Essay Prize Fund, and may nominate instructors for cash prizes that are awarded for excellence in teaching and the promotion of IEL's mission.

Registration and Placement


Enrollment in IEL classes is limited. To enroll, students must first submit a registration form with complete payment of tuition and fees, and then take the Harvard University English Language Placement Test at one of the times listed below. Students should take the test as early as possible. When choosing classes, students should list alternate sections on their registration forms. Students who cannot be placed in IEL classes receive a full tuition refund.

Placement Test Schedule


Fall term
Saturday, August 28, 10 am Science Center B
Tuesday, August 31, 6 pm Science Center B
Wednesday, September 1, 6 pm Science Center B
Thursday, September 9, 6 pm Science Center B

Spring term
Tuesday, December 14, 6 pm Science Center B
Saturday, January 8, 10 am Science Center B
Tuesday, January 18, 6 pm Science Center B
Wednesday, January 19, 6 pm Science Center C

Students should allow 2.5 hours for taking the placement test.

Classes and Levels
Students are expected to attend all classes throughout the term. IEL classes are designed for students at five levels of proficiency.

Level A (Beginning) classes are for students with limited experience in using English who need extensive practice and instruction in all aspects of the language. At Level A, IEL offers Survival English classes as well as intensive and nonintensive Integrated Skills classes.

Level B (Intermediate) classes are for students with a basic knowledge of English who need to practice oral and written structures and expand their vocabulary in order to develop a broad general competence in the language. Students scoring at Level B may only take intensive or nonintensive Integrated Skills classes.

Level C (High Intermediate) classes are for students who wish to increase the accuracy, range, and complexity of their oral and written communication by using the language in many contexts and eliminating areas of weakness.

Level D (Advanced) classes are for students who already demonstrate knowledge of the language and who wish to expand their proficiency for competent, extended performance in a variety of academic and professional circles. At Levels C and D, students may choose to take intensive or nonintensive Integrated Skills classes, or any of the following Specialized Skills classes: Listening and Speaking, Academic Discussion, Academic Writing, or Communication in Business.

Level E (High Advanced) classes are for students with very high levels of proficiency who are engaged in professional study or work that regularly challenges them to appreciate the nuances of English on the global scene and use the language with ease. At Level E, students may enroll in intensive or nonintensive Integrated Skills classes or any of the following workshops or seminars: Professional Communication Workshop, Professional Writing Workshop, Communication in Business Seminar, or Teaching in Multicultural Classrooms.

Courselist

Survival English (Level A)

Integrated Skills (Levels A-E)

Specialized Classes (Levels C and D)

Seminars and Workshops (Level E)

Survival English (Level A)

IEL E-5 Survival English
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (12433) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 2-4 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (12436) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Fall term, section 3 (12437) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 2-4 pm.

Fall term, section 4 (12439) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (22241) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 2-4 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (22245) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 3 (22246) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 2-4 pm.

Spring term, section 4 (22247) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

This course is designed to prepare recent immigrants or others who do not use English on their own to perform job and life tasks successfully. Classes focus on the needs of students to find information, make themselves understood in speech and writing, and learn the structures used in a variety of work and social situations in America. Some financial aid is available for students in this course: for information write, call, or e-mail the IEL Office.
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Integrated Skills (Levels A-E)

IEL E-10 Integrated Skills
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (10839) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 9-11 am.

Fall term, section 2 (10901) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Fall term, section 3 (10800) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Fall term, section 4 (12431) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 2-4 pm. (Levels A and B)

Fall term, section 5 (10802) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 6 (10803) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Fall term, section 7 (10804) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 9-11 am.

Fall term, section 8 (10805) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Fall term, section 9 (12432) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 2-4 pm. (Levels A and B)

Fall term, section 10 (10900) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (20793) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 9-11 am.

Spring term, section 2 (21153) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 3 (20753) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Spring term, section 4 (22240) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 2-4 pm. (Levels A and B)

Spring term, section 5 (20755) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 6 (20756) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 7 (20757) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 9-11 am.

Spring term, section 8 (20758) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Spring term, section 9 (21722) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 2-4 pm. (Levels A and B)

Spring term, section 10 (21152) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Students who wish to develop balanced proficiency in the four major communicative skills--listening, reading, speaking, and writing--should enroll in an Integrated Skills class. The class prepares students to use English in academic and social contexts by offering opportunities to practice the methods used in American universities, particularly in doing group and individual oral and written assignments, reading novels and other forms of contemporary literature, and responding to information presented in many types of spoken English in different media. Students are also guided to appropriately incorporate Internet and print resources in their own academic work.
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IEL E-20 Intensive Integrated Skills
Noncredit $1,300. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (10811) (Print View): Monday-Thursday, Sept. 20, 9-11 am.

Fall term, section 2 (10851) (Print View): Monday-Thursday, Sept. 20, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (20764) (Print View): Monday-Thursday, Jan. 31, 9-11 am.

Spring term, section 2 (20765) (Print View): Monday-Thursday, Jan. 31, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Meeting twice as often as IEL E-10, described above, this class multiplies the opportunities for students to enhance and deepen their study of English while receiving individualized instruction.
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Specialized Classes (Levels C and D)

These classes are intended for students who wish to concentrate on improving either their writing or their oral communication skills.

IEL E-30 Listening and Speaking
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (12446) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (12029) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 3 (10842) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (22253) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 11:05 am-1:05 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (21749) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 3 (20796) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

In this class, students discuss a variety of cultural and topical events appearing in different media. In making individual and group oral presentations about these issues, students are guided to observe and master norms of oral communication and to practice offering helpful feedback to their classmates.
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IEL E-31 Academic Discussion
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (11700) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (12130) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (21526) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (21966) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

This class is for students who plan to attend an English-speaking university and those who need to understand and take notes about academic topics presented in different media; participate actively and effectively in classroom and professional discussions; and deliver formal oral presentations. Students observe lectures and debates in order to analyze academic issues across the curriculum and master the techniques and skills involved in such interactions. To assist students to develop the confidence that can face careful review, successive oral presentations are videotaped and critiqued by their peers and instructors.
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IEL E-32 Academic Writing
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (12308) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (10818) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (22123) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (20772) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

In developing the ability to present and defend their own points of view clearly and concisely in writing, students undertake close readings of a wide variety of academic texts. In this way, students learn to recognize and emulate the many strategies, structures, vocabulary, and styles that are appropriate to formal writing. Students in this class practice the process method by producing several increasingly refined drafts of academic papers. Students also work to master the norms for citing and attributing data from print and other sources, and to observe the methods of acknowledging the research findings of others.
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IEL E-33 Communication in Business
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (12131) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (10819) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Fall term, section 3 (11983) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Fall term, section 4 (10820) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (21967) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (20773) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 3 (20852) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 5:30-7:30 pm.

Spring term, section 4 (20774) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

This class is for students who wish to improve their English language skills in order to function competently in business contexts where they must demonstrate social awareness, historical perspective, moral understanding, scientific competence, and analytical and critical thinking. Students use a variety of texts that expand their structural control of the language and provide broad cultural knowledge. Individual and group assignments guide students to develop the listening, reading, speaking, and writing abilities that are appropriate for doing business in English around the world.
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Seminars and Workshops (Level E)

IEL E-51 Professional Communication Workshop
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term (11536) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term (21383) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

In this workshop, students whose jobs or studies require them to present professional papers and lead or participate in academic discussions are offered the opportunity to explore topics across the intellectual spectrum and to analyze their own performance as well as that of their classmates. Students read professional and contemporary literature, attend or view tapes of academic lectures, critique and discuss examples of professional communication, present their own formal talks, and engage in debates and town meetings. To assist students to develop professional aplomb, oral presentations are videotaped and subjected to careful peer and instructor review.
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IEL E-52 Professional Writing Workshop
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term (10828) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term (20782) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Students in this workshop, coming from a wide range of professional and academic disciplines, examine the features that are particular to writing in different fields of specialization and work to enhance their control of the finer stylistic aspects of contemporary and professional literature. Students have opportunities to engage in quick-writing and to craft and peer-edit a number of extended formal papers; these procedures lead them to appreciate nuances and different registers of English and meet the challenge of producing increasingly sophisticated versions of their writing during the term.
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IEL E-53 Communication in Business Seminar
Noncredit $650. Limited enrollment.

Fall term, section 1 (11703) (Print View): Monday, Sept. 20 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Fall term, section 2 (12132) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 1 (21529) (Print View): Monday, Jan. 31 and Wednesday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Spring term, section 2 (21968) (Print View): Tuesday, Feb. 1 and Thursday, 7:35-9:35 pm.

Designed for students with very strong proficiency in English, this course emphasizes the importance of effective communication skills and cultural urbanity for achieving success in a wide range of business venues that value and reward social awareness, historical perspective, moral understanding, scientific competence, and analytical and critical thinking. Students conduct close readings of business writing, cases, and contemporary literature in order to examine sociocultural norms, participate in group and seminar discussions, and write a variety of papers that reflect the demands and opportunities presented in different business media.
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IEL E-100 Teaching in Multilingual Classrooms
Workshop. 4 units. Undergraduate credit $780, graduate credit $1,400.

Fall term (12411) (Print View): Tuesday, Sept. 21, 0:-0: am.

*** IEL E-100 (Fall term) has been CANCELLED.***

Spring term (22216) (Print View): Lilith M. Haynes, PhD, Director, Institute for English Language Programs, Harvard University. Tuesday, Feb. 1, 5:30-7:30 pm, 51 Brattle Street, Room 325.

This course examines myths and theories of language learning, and evaluates procedures and outcomes of content-based instruction across the curriculum. Students explore sociolinguistics and second-language acquisition, practice constructing and delivering effective pedagogical modules, and produce final projects of relevance to their respective teaching environments. Prerequisite: for non-native speakers of English, a minimum score of 75 on the Harvard University English Language Placement Test.
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