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Eli Hinkel, PhD, Director
Objectives
The Culture and Language Bridge program prepares non-native speakers of English for a productive academic career at Seattle University. The primary goal of the program is to provide admitted Seattle University students with a background in American academic culture and language skills essential for success in their studies. The courses offered in the program are highly advanced, with a specific focus on university-level reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills. The program is offered during the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Courses are not offered in the summer.
Description of Courses
During their first quarter at Seattle University, students at the beginning of their academic careers are usually expected to take courses in English Syntax for Writing (CLBR 086), Academic Reading and Writing (CLBR 087), Classroom Communication (CLBR 088), and one additional class based on the recommendation of their advisor. In their second quarter, first-year students are usually required to take Basic Writing (ENGL 101) and two additional courses.
Graduate students are expected to take courses that advance their strategic vocabulary, grammar, and reading (CLBR 080), reading and writing (CLBR 090), and academic speaking skills (CLBR 091) essential for success in their disciplines. Graduate students with TOEFL scores ranging from 190/520/68 to 210/547/77 (inclusive) are required to take the Academic Vocabulary and Grammar course (CLBR 080) before they can enroll in Advanced Academic Writing (CLBR 090). The course work for graduate students concentrates on American academic culture and specific preparation for requirements at Seattle University. Graduate students enrolled in the Albers School of Business attend a supplemental course in conjunction with a five-credit-hour class, Management 280. MGMT 280, Business Communications, satisfies the communications proficiency requirement in the Albers School of Business and Economics, it must be taken in the student’s first quarter of attendance, and a grade of B or higher must be earned. These students are also required to take Advanced Academic Discourse (CLBR 091) during their first quarter at Seattle University and have the option of taking Advanced Academic Writing (CLBR 090) in the same or the subsequent quarter.
The Program Schedule
The program is offered during the fall, winter, and spring quarters. Courses are not offered in the summer.
English Proficiency Admission Requirements (Policy 2008-01)
All non-native speakers of English whose TOEFL (Test of English as a Foreign Language) score (or a MELAB/IELTS equivalent) is between 227/567/87 and 233/577/91 (inclusive) are required to take the Placement Essay Test upon their arrival at Seattle University. Students are supported by the Culture and Language Bridge Program when their writing skills as demonstrated on the Placement Essay Test, combined with their English proficiency scores at admission, indicate that their academic success at Seattle University requires it.
Placement Essay Test
The purpose of the Placement Essay Test is to allow students an opportunity to demonstrate the quality of their writing. Placement Essay Tests are evaluated by the university faculty and the staff of the Culture and Language Bridge Program based on such considerations as language fluency, rhetorical development, logical organization, and sentence structure.
Students whose writing skills require additional improvement need to take courses in the Culture and Language Bridge Program. If a student’s writing in English appears to be in need of substantial work, the student may be required to enroll in Academic Reading and Writing (CLBR 087) and the CLB section of Basic Writing (English 101). Moderate writing skills, as determined by the essay evaluators, require students to take the Basic Writing course (English 101 CLB section). On the other hand, students whose writing abilities are deemed sufficient for success in their academic studies do not need to enroll in the program.
Students whose TOEFL scores are 237/580/92 or above are not expected to take the Placement Essay Test or enroll in the Culture and Language Bridge Program. However, they have the option of taking classes in the program if they choose to.
Program Requirements
In the Culture and Language Bridge Program, students’ work is evaluated with the goal of preparing non-native speakers for success in their studies at Seattle University. In keeping with this objective, a student must earn a grade of C or better in all CLBR courses required based upon the individual’s TOEFL score and Placement Essay Test. Grades below C are considered to be insufficient for progression and thus must be repeated until a grade of C or better is achieved. |