Resources for ESOL Students

Conditions permitting, the Academic Support Center may provide ESOL students with the opportunity to take their exams in our office, with the permission of their instructor. Students whose primary language is not English are not entitled to special testing accommodations. Professors have no legal obligation to offer ESOL students alternative testing arrangements. However, many ESOL students find that extra time, and in certain circumstances a word processor, help them demonstrate the true depth of their knowledge. It is the professor's discretion to permit such alternative arrangements. If a student is interested in seeking alternative testing arrangements, they should first see the Director of Academic Support Services so that she can obtain information from the student and assess his or her needs and eligibility for special considerations. A letter may be sent to the student's professors expressing that the student's primary language is not English, and that if the professor allows, the student may take his or her exam in the Academic Support Center. Arrangements must be made well in advance of the exam; no student will be permitted to take their exams in the ASC without first meeting with the Director of Academic Support Services.

Additional Resources for ESOL Students/Instructors

Idiom of the Day: This web site displays a random entry each day from the Cobuild Dictionary of Idioms.

Internet TESL Journal: This is a good resource for teachers of ESL.

Linguistic Funland URI: A good resource for teachers and English students. It is a stepping off point for TESL/TEFL people.

Purdue Online Writing Lab: Students are able to consult with academic peer tutors online. There are also over 300 instructional handouts, ESL help, and other writing resources.