Courses
At the ELI we offer a variety of
English courses. We offer six sessions a year. Students can enter
in any session. You can study for a session or for a two-session discounted
block. Read a summary
of our course tuition.
Instructors
ELI Instructors are professionals
in the field of English language instruction. You may meet
our staff.
Do you have a question for our
instructors? Send
us an email!
Our Instructors
- have Masters or Doctoral degrees
in language teaching and related fields (except one who has extensive education
and experience)
- know the latest theories and
practices in language teaching
- have extensive experience
teaching university and professional students from all cultures
- have taught credit courses
in the university
- have taught in other countries
- understand the problems of
cultural adjustment and language learning
- counsel ELI students in adjusting,
solving problems, and learning quickly
- give students extra help after
class
- receive high evaluations from
students
Students
Approximately 90 students study
in the ELI each session.
Would you like to ask a current
student a question? Send
us an email!
ELI Students
- come with all levels of English
skill, from no English to above TOEFL 550 proficiency
- come from all over the world
- are 55% male, 45% female
- are 17 through 64 years old
(25 years old, on average)
- study for academic or career
goals
- study to improve daily language
- come to learn about and experience
American culture, business practices and daily living
- study major fields ranging
from computer science, medicine and business to the liberal arts
- come to meet people from
cutures all over the world and make lasting friends
Fall 2002 Statistics
| ELI
Student Home Countries |
|
| South/Central
America/Mexico |
31% |
| Middle
East |
21% |
| Europe |
4% |
| Asia |
44% |
|
Breakdown
of Asia |
|
|
|
Japan |
9% |
|
|
Korea |
11% |
|
|
Taiwan |
10% |
|
|
China
PRC |
4% |
|
|
Other |
10% |
|
|
|
|
|
ELI Laboratories
and Support Equipment
ELI students have daily access to
three laboratories:
- the Sony computerized language
laboratory, where students practice the basics of pronunciation, listening
and speaking.
-
![[ELI Laboratories]](images/p9.gif)
the
Multimedia laboratory with materials and state-of-the-art equipment (video,
audio, audiotronic, textual, realia, and game) which students use in the
afternoons to improve their language skills. Our materials reflect our commitment
to serve a broad range of student interests and needs.
- the Computer laboratory where
students practice typing skills, vocabulary building, grammar, reading,
listening, writing,
TOEFL, GRE, GMAT, and pronunciation. A special Visipitch station is available
for intensive pronunciation work. Computers with Internet access are
available every day during independent lab hours and class hours.
Activities
ELI students need more than classes
to have a successful term of study. Students must make new friends, discover
the new culture, visit areas of interest and relax a little, too. Activities
at the ELI are designed to help students with these needs.
ELI Student Activities
- special classes allow students
to meet one another
- introduces ELI students to
university student organizations
- university activities entertain
and help ELI students increase their circle of friends
- special afternoon activities
such as tours, sports, meetings and movies entertain and encourage English
practice
- volunteer programs place students
with English speakers
- fieldtrips take ELI students
to interesting sites like NASA or Galveston resort island
- special meals and parties
reflect cultural events
- class trips to museums or
areas of interest in town add to the fun!
Conversation Partners
Some levels of ELI students meet
with a conversation partner who is working toward a degree at the University
of Houston Downtown.
Students
- practice English and discover
how to handle miscommunication
- experience English idioms,
shades of meaning, and culture
- learn about nonverbal language
and paraverbal language
ELI Instructors
- help students plan their strategy
to handle conversational problems
- provide assignments for conversational
topics
Conversation Partner:
- are not trained professionals
- are interested in meeting
people from other cultures
Orientations and Handbooks
The New Student Orientation and Luncheon
during the first week of classes![[Image: Orientation with Gail]](images/p1.gif)
- introduces the university
and its amenities
- describes the U.S. educational
system
- defines what instructors will
expect of students
- introduces ELI rules and procedures
- explains immigration rules
and procedures
The ELI Student Handbook
- contains information about
the university and the ELI
- gives an overview of Houston
-- shopping, entertainment, housing, transportation
- advises on common problems,
such as getting a driver's license or finding a doctor
The International Student Office
provides information:
- income tax filing and immigration
regulations
- the academic class registration
process
- academic class rules and regulations
Safety
In general, safety in the United
States is no different from safety in any other large city of the world. Students
should be reasonably careful. We encourage students to follow some simple safety
precautions, such as not carrying large sums of money. We present these simple
safety tips in orientation and provide students with an illustrated safety pamphlet.
In Houston
- crime has decreased sharply
in the past five years
- special programs make the
streets of the city safer
- the Houston police force is
helpful and friendly
At the University of Houston - Downtown
- our student safety record
is excellent
- city buses and trains deliver
students to our front door
- shuttle buses deliver students
from the parking lot to our front door
- university security officers
are ready to help students at all times
- we have the best safety record
of any university in the Houston area
Health
Health is important, and medical
care is expensive in the United States. All international students using a student
visa (F1) are required to have insurance coverage. Students may purchase it
from UHD or elsewhere as long as the coverage has US$55,000.00 major medical
and US$5,000.00 repatriation coverage. For other students, insurance is optional.
Houston
- is world-famous for its medical
center
- has many specialists and doctors
- has many doctors from other
cultures who speak other languages
University of Houston-Downtown Student
Health Center
- provides medical services
to students
- provides some free medicines
- provides referrals to doctors
for special problems
University of Houston-Downtown health
insurance
- costs ELI students $224.00
per two session block
- has no deductible when students
are referred from Student Health Center
- allows the use of any licensed
doctor
- covers most health areas (a
brochure is available if desired)
Main
ELI Page
