
Levels and Curriculum (IEP)

A curriculum designed for success
Each session in the Intensive English Program (IEP) at the University of Delaware's English Language Institute provides students with approximately 28 hours per week of instruction in the classroom, in computer laboratories, and in private tutoring meetings.
Levels of Instruction
There are six (6) levels of English instruction at the ELI. To determine a student’s English level, all new students must take a placement test during ELI Orientation.
The levels are as follows:
General English
- Level 1: Beginner
- Level 2: High Beginner
- Level 3: Intermediate
- Level 4: High Intermediate
English for specific purposes
- Level 5: Advanced
- Level 6: High Advanced

Focus Areas
Students in Levels 1, 2, 3 and 4 enroll in our General English classes, focusing on English foundations.
Students in Levels 5 and 6 can enroll in any of the focus areas. For more information about the different focus areas, see Focus Areas.
Courses
Each student enrolls in two courses that fall into two categories: Listening/Speaking and Reading/Writing.
Listening/Speaking
Listening/speaking courses develop students’ language skills in areas such as fluency, oral grammar, pronunciation, and listening comprehension.
The courses use current, proven methods that help students use English in meaningful ways to communicate ideas and needs, solve problems, and participate in American life on campus and in the community.
10 hours per week
Reading/Writing
Reading/writing courses develop students’ language skills in areas such as reading, writing, grammar, vocabulary, and research/library skills.
Instruction integrates these skills to improve written communication and reading comprehension, using a progressively challenging curriculum from beginning to advanced levels.
10 hours per week
Tutoring
The ELI offers one of the only Intensive English Programs in the United States to offer personal one-on-one tutoring with trained tutors in its regular Full Intensive Program at no extra charge.
The student and tutor together make a plan, which might include:
- assistance with class assignments,
- work on individual problems,
- questions about English or American culture, or
- conversation skills practice.
Listening Laboratory
Using a variety of video and audio materials, the listening lab provides students additional practice with listening comprehension and vocabulary acquisition.
2 hours per week