ENGLISH AS A SECOND LANGUAGE PROGRAM

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"Fuller's ESL is incredible!  It gave me the desire to use English!" -Student from France

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FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

Who can take Fuller's ESL?

Can ThM or Doctoral applicants take ESL?

Do I take all the classes?

How many units are the ESL classes?

Do any of the ESL classes count for academic credit?

How long is Fuller's ESL?

How much is tuition?

Can ESL students apply for financial aid?

Am I tested on theology in the ESL tests?

How does an ESL student pass the ESL Program?
What happens when I successfully pass Fuller's ESL Program?

What happens if I do not pass the ESL Exit Exam?

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Who can take Fuller’s ESL?

Two kinds of students benefit from Fuller’s ESL. 

1. ESL Admitted Students:  If you have been admitted to an MA or M.Div degree program in the School of Theology, School of Intercultural Studies (except MAGL), or School of Psychology (except MAMFT), and if you have a TOEFL score from 200 (533 paper, 72 iBT) to 237 (583 paper, 94 iBT) or IELTS score of 5.5 or 6.0, you are eligible to enroll in Fuller's ESL Program to acquire the ESL skills for academic success.
2. Regularly Admitted Students:  Seminary course work in English can still be quite difficult for international students who have passed the 240 (587 paper, 95 iBT) TOEFL or 6.5 IELTS requirement.  In their first quarter, numerous students enroll in ESL to learn how to handle course demands. Returning students who want to understand more of their seminary classes can also improve their English skills here.

Can ThM or Doctoral applicants take ESL?

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 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, 100 iBT).  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.

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Do I take all the classes?

1. ESL Admitted Students:  Possibly.  Based on the ESL Placement Test, if you place in the Advanced level, you enroll full-time in only the Advanced courses.  If you place in the Intermediate level, you first take the Intermediate courses full-time.  After successfully completing the Intermediate level, you graduate to the Advanced courses the next quarter. 
2. Regularly Admitted Students:  No. Students can study regular seminary courses and one (or more) Intermediate ESL class.  Each Intermediate ESL class counts as four noncredit units.  Or students may enroll in Advanced ESL, in which courses must be taken together.
   

How many units are the ESL classes?

Each ESL class is 4 units.  Full-time students are required to take at least 12 units.

Do any of the ESL classes count for academic credit?

Only 2 classes in the Advanced level count for credit: Individualized Distance Learning (IDL) course and EL514 Academic Research &Writing

How long is Fuller’s ESL?

1. ESL Admitted Students:  Our program aims to train you as quickly and strongly as possible.  Fuller's ESL classes last one quarter (10 weeks).  Students may take the same ESL course twice at most.  Students are limited to a maximum of twelve months or four quarters of ESL enrollment. On average, students with high proficiency finish faster in one to two quarters.  Students with low proficiency typically finish the ESL Program in 3-4 quarters. 
2. Regularly Admitted Students:  Like other seminary courses, Fuller’s ESL classes last one quarter (10 weeks).
   

How much is tuition?

Each ESL class costs the same as a master’s-level seminary course.  However, the Advanced Writing Lab is free to those enrolled in the Advanced level. 

Can ESL students apply for financial aid?

Yes.  All ESL students can apply for financial aid.

Am I tested on theology in the ESL tests?

No.  Students are tested on academic English language skills.  While the topics of the ESL Tests discuss theology and missions, particular subject knowledge is not necesssary.  ESL measures:

1. Students' academic English language skills for graduate work at seminary, NOT theology AND
2. Students' English skills to determine what ESL classes, if any, will best equip students to succeed at Fuller.

How does an ESL student pass the ESL Program?

Three ESL instructors assess each student's language proficiency based on 1) the ESL Exit Exam and 2) performance in the ESL classes.  A student who passes the ESL program must function competently in academic English for graduate coursework in the ESL classes and receive 80% on all four sections of the ESL Exit Exam.

What happens when I successfully pass Fuller’s ESL Program?

1. ESL Admitted Students:  After completing and passing Fuller’s ESL, you do not have to retake the TOEFL.  You can now enroll in regular master’s-level seminary courses.
2. Regularly Admitted Students:  Students who take Intermediate ESL classes are not required to take Advanced classes.  While these students take the ESL Exit Exam, they are not required to pass the ESL Exit Exam before returning to their regular degree classes.

What happens if I do not pass the ESL Exit Exam?

ESL students who do not pass the ESL Exit Exam (receives a score below 80%) in all of the language tests cannot pass out of the ESL program.  Intermediate students who do not pass the ESL Exit Exam would move to the Advanced level. 

If Advanced students:

1. Do not pass all of the language skills tests in the ESL Exit Exam, they may repeat the Advanced level (the Advanced level can only be repeated twice)
2. Do not pass one or two language skill tests in the ESL Exit Exam, they will be considered by the ESL staff to take one or two independent directed studies or ESL classes specifically geared for those language skills that need further assistance WHILE simultaneously taking one or two regular Fuller courses.  At the end of the quarter, ESL will assess the student's language proficiency through ESL language skill tests. 
3. Do not pass the ESL Exit Exam, they may opt to study at an adult language school to raise their TOEFL to 587 or IELTS score to 6.5, the minimum requirement for all MA and M.Div programs.

Whether you wish to strengthen your English or sharpen your study skills, Fuller's ESL enables you to transition effectively to Fuller's classes. Join us in one of the greatest investments you could make for your graduate theological education.  Get started on your degree in the USA with Fuller's ESL!