English as an Additional Language
Welcome!
The English as an Additional Language (EAL) Program offers curricular and extra-curricular support to Columbia College students whose core literacy instruction occurred in languages other than English through specialized course offerings and individual tutoring. “International” sections of Writing and Rhetoric I and II, College Reading, and Oral Expression are specifically designed to serve a multilingual cohort of students, to build from the international perspectives students bring to the classroom, and to offer EAL support with small class sizes. These courses meet the college-wide LAS Core Curriculum requirements in Writing and Rhetoric and Oral Communication.
Students are advised to take EAL/ International courses based on their iBT (or comparable exam) scores and/or results from the COMPASS test. Students who have home/heritage languages other than English and who have been in the United States for less than 6-8 years should also enroll in the international sections of the courses. All of the courses share goals, objectives, and course design with non-international sections, but they are designed to specifically address the needs of EAL students in the following ways:
- International sections are taught by faculty who specialize in working with EAL students.
- International sections limit enrollment to 12 students so that teachers are able to spend more time with individual students.
- International sections build from the diverse perspectives and cultural and linguistic experiences that student bring with them and provide targeted instruction for the cultural and linguistic challenges that students may
- face in the US classroom.
- International sections of Writing and Rhetoric and Oral Expression provide weekly, one-hour tutoring sessions with EAL specialists in the Columbia College Writing Center.
The Academic EAL Program is part of the college-level, academic program at Columbia College, and does not have a separate application for admissions. Visit our International Admissions page for more information.
Faculty can find resources for working with international students here (link to resources for faculty page).
Questions? Contact:
Suzanne Blum Malley, Director of EAL
Phone: (312) 369-8111
Fax: (312) 369-8001
Suzanne Blum Malley
Associate Professor of English /
Director of EAL
Columbia College Chicago
sbmalley@colum.edu
