Current Students: English Language Program

The English Language Program offers academic English as a Second Language (ESL) classes that prepare non-native speakers of English for study at the graduate or undergraduate level. ELP classes are open to all non-native English speaking RU students with the permission of the ELP director.

The RU English Language Program (ELP) offers speaking/listening, grammar, reading and writing courses at three levels of instruction: beginning, intermediate and advanced. There is one additional composition course at the transition level. All students who enter the English Language Program complete proficiency placement testing to determine the courses that they will take.

Upon entering ELP, students are given a written test and oral interview to determine their English proficiency. Based on their English Language Proficiency test results, students enroll for either a full-time load of ELP classes (four classes) or a combination of ELP and other University classes. Degree-seeking students must complete all ELP classes that are required on the basis of their proficiency tests results. Degree-seeking students at the advanced level may be permitted to combine ELP course work with other University classes.

For more information, call (312) 341-3717 and be sure to check out our blog - elpcommunicate.

English Language Proficiency Testing

All non-native speakers of English who study at Roosevelt University must meet the University’s language proficiency requirement. They may do this by providing TOEFL and TWE or IELTS scores at the required levels requirement or by taking the Roosevelt University English Language Proficiency Test and completing all English courses required on the basis of test results. For more information, visit the English Language Proficiency admission requirements page.

Test Description

The Roosevelt University English Language Proficiency Test allows trained faculty to evaluate whether a student has sufficient English language skills to study at Roosevelt University. The test also serves as a placement tool which faculty use to assign required ELP courses to any student who needs to develop his or her English skills further.

There are three parts to the Roosevelt University English Language Proficiency Test:

Acuplacer: a computer-based test that consists of language use, reading skills sentence meaning, and listening sections. Practice questions are available on the Acuplacer website.
A composition test.
An oral interview.
After completing all parts of the language proficiency test, a student meets with an ELP faculty member to receive test results, placement requirements and academic advising. Degree-seeking students must complete all ELP courses that are required on the basis of their placement tests result.

Test Registration Information

The Roosevelt University English Language Proficiency Test is administered free of charge to non-native speakers of English who have been accepted for study at Roosevelt University and need to demonstrate their language skills. Students who have not yet submitted an application to Roosevelt University programs may not be tested. New international students usually take the ELP Test during orientation week before classes start in fall and spring terms. New students who live in the Chicago area can register for one of the regularly scheduled ELP Tests offered at two locations.