ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM

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"I began seminary with limited English and no theological background.  Fuller's ESL built my foundation." - M.Div. Student from Japan

ABOUT ESL

English Language Requirements

Fuller ESL Program

ESL Program Chart

ESL Program Mission Statement

ESL Program Learning Outcomes

Advantages of Fuller's ESL Program

ENGLISH LANGUAGE REQUIREMENTS
If English is your second language, you are required to take the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL) or the International English Language Testing System (IELTS) Academic Format as part of your application to Fuller Theological Seminary. Most applicants can obtain a TOEFL Bulletin by visiting the TOEFL website (www.toefl.org), by writing to TOEFL Services, Educational Testing Service, PO Box 6151, Princeton, NJ, 08541-6151, USA, or by calling (609) 771-7100. IELTS is offered in over 100 countries. Most applicants can obtain IELTS Academic Format information by going to the IELTS website (www.ielts.org). The following scores are required for non-native English speakers applying to Fuller:

English as a Second Language Program (ESL)

School of Theology and School of Intercultural Studies

Please note the following: 

1. All TOEFL and IELTS scores must be less than two years old.
 
2. The TOEFL is administered in three formats: paper, computer, and internet. In most countries it is administered as a computer-based test, while in others it is available only as a paper test. Since paper tests are given on a limited basis each year, and preregistration is required, the student should allow sufficient time for the results to be included in the admission process. In addition, the TOEFL Internet-based test (iBT) has recently been introduced (please click here for more information about the TOEFL iBT).

3. The IELTS  is offered in two test formats: Academic and General Training. Fuller will only accept the IELTS Academic Format for admission.

4. ThM and Doctoral applicants are required to have a TOEFL score of 250 (600 paper, 100 iBT) or IELTS score of 7.0 to enter their degree program.  If ThM or Doctoral applicants have not met the TOEFL or IELTS requirement, they may 1) study at an English language school to raise their TOEFL or IELTS score OR 2) voluntarily enroll in Fuller's ESL on the grounds that Fuller's ESL Program is designed for MA and M.Div applicants and can only bring students up to the language proficiency level equivalent of TOEFL 240 (587 paper).  These students who voluntarily take ESL are not required to pass the ESL Exit Exam before leaving the Program.  After Fuller's ESL Program, ThM and Doctoral applicants must then study independently to meet the TOEFL/IELTS language requirement for their degree program.

For more information on application requirements for Fuller, go to the Admissions Homepage.

FULLER ESL PROGRAM

To be eligible for the ESL program, applicants must meet the TOEFL or IELTS requirement and be qualified for admission to a particular degree program at Fuller Theological Seminary in every other way. 

Applicants admitted to the ESL program must take an institutional ESL Placement Test for a nonrefundable processing fee upon arrival at the Fuller campus. Based on the results of the Placement Test, applicants are immersed in full-time, academic Intermediate or Advanced ESL training that practices the language skills used in seminary course work. Students in the ESL Program are limited to a maximum of twelve months of ESL enrollment in the Intermediate and Advanced levels. If students have not passed out of ESL by twelve months, they must either learn English elsewhere or pass the minimal 587 TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS requirement. In addition, any student taking ESL classes is limited to taking the same ESL course twice. Many students complete ESL training within one to two quarters or more, depending on a student's aptitude for English language learning. After successfully completing the ESL program and passing the institutional ESL Exit Exam, students will be eligible to begin regular seminary courses.

In addition, the faculty reserves the right to require any student whose first language is not English to suspend enrollment in regular classes and enroll in the English as a Second Language Program if it is determined by the faculty upon matriculation or anytime thereafter that the student is experiencing academic difficulty due to lack of graduate level proficiency with the English language, regardless of the student's TOEFL or IELTS score or the granting of a waiver.

ESL PROGRAM MISSION STATEMENT

To equip international students with the ESL skills and confidence to succeed academically at Fuller Theological Seminary.

ESL PROGRAM LEARNING OUTCOMES

1. Students function competently in academic English for graduate coursework.
2. Students demonstrate a basic understanding of the English language used in seminary or ministry.
3. Students adapt effectively to the academic standards and cultural norms of graduate study, notably the seminary's educational system.

ADVANTAGES OF FULLER’S ESL PROGRAM

• Academic ESL lessons that practice the language used in seminary course work
• Intensive instruction on campus, four hours a day, Monday to Thursday, during the 10-week quarter
• Small classes focused on students?needs and participation
• Professional faculty with significant training and cross-cultural experience teaching ESL
• Conversation partners with English-speaking Americans
• Regular language assessment and one-to-one counseling
• Fuller’s ESL students qualify as full-time for I-20 visa requirements
• Acceptance into M.A. and M.Div. degree programs by completing the ESL Program and Passing the ESL Exit Exam.
• Noncredit Spousal Conversational classes available to international student wives